Construction Employment Rebounds in March, Rising Costs + More Threaten Outlook Says AGC

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Construction employment climbed by 110,000 in March as the industry recovered from severe winter weather that pushed employment down by 56,000 in February, according to a recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials said they were encouraged by the recent job gains and the potential for new infrastructure investments. But they cautioned that rising prices and erratic delivery schedules for key construction materials — as documented in their recent Construction Inflation Alert – and continued project cancellations could undermine the sector’s recovery. “The rebound in March is certainly good news, but contractors face […]

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Dodge Data & Analytics Reports National Construction Starts Continue Decline in February

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Total construction starts fell 2% in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $797.3 billion. Nonbuilding construction starts posted a solid gain after rebounding from a weak January, however, residential and nonresidential building starts declined, leading to a pullback in overall activity. The Dodge Index fell 2% in February, to 169 (2000=100) from January’s 171. “With spring just around the corner, hope is building for a strong economic recovery fueled by the growing number of vaccinated Americans,” said Richard Branch, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “But the construction sector will be hard-pressed to take advantage of this […]

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AGC Reports Soaring Materials Costs, Supply-Chain Problems + Project Cancelations Continue to Impact Construction Industry

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One year after the pandemic struck, construction firms are experiencing soaring materials costs, widespread supply-chain problems and continuing project deferrals and cancellations, according to a new survey that the Associated General Contractors of America has released. Association officials urged Congress and the Biden administration to take steps to eliminate tariffs on key materials, address shipping backups and boost funding for new infrastructure to help the industry recovery.   “The survey results make it clear that the construction industry faces a variety of challenges that threaten to leave many firms and workers behind, even as some parts of the economy are […]

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Construction Industry Needs to Hire 430,000+ Craft Professionals in 2021, Says ABC

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In 2021, construction companies will need to hire 430,000 more workers than they employed in 2020, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by Associated Builders and Contractors. The analysis also revealed that every $1 billion in extra construction spending generates an average of at least 5,700 construction jobs. “According to forecasts analyzed during the COVID-19 pandemic, an impressive 430,000 more construction workers still need to be hired in 2021 to meet the demand, evidence that the construction industry is powering America’s recovery and economic engine,” said ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman. “ABC’s annual […]

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Construction Employment Declines, Severe Weather Compounds Falling Demand for Nonresidential Projects, says AGC

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Construction employment declined by 61,000 in February, while the sector’s unemployment rate soared to 9.6% amid severe winter weather and continuing weakness in new nonresidential projects, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials urged Congress and the Biden administration to focus on new infrastructure funding, address rising materials prices and avoid disruptive measures like the PRO Act to stem further construction job losses. “The steep decline in construction employment in February continues a downward trend in nonresidential activity that began before the disruptions caused by last month’s freezes and power losses,” […]

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