Spending on Nonresidential Building Construction Continues to Slow

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Spending on nonresidential construction is projected to increase only 1.7% this year and grow very modestly to just 2% next year, according to The American Institute of Architects mid-year Consensus Construction Forecast. The outlook by the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast estimates the commercial sector outlook is about on par with the broader industry, with a projected 1.5% increase this year rising to 3.9% in 2026. Spending on the construction of manufacturing facilities – the industry bright spot in recent years – is expected to decline 2% this year with an additional declined of 2.6% next year. Institutional facilities are expected … Read more

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ABC Reports Nonunion Construction Workforce Tops 80% in 41 States

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Associated Builders and Contractors released an analysis of 2024 state union membership data published by unionstats.com, which found that in 41 states at least 80% of workers in the private construction industry did not belong to a union. At least 90% of workers in the private construction industry did not belong to a union in 29 states in 2024 and 2023, up from 26 states in 2022 and 24 states in 2021. Nationwide, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly 8 million construction industry workers were not members of a union in 2024, a 12,000-person increase from 2023. … Read more

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ABC: June Nonresidential Construction Materials Prices Up 2.5% Year-Over-Year

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Construction input prices increased 0.2% in June compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.3% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 2.1% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 2.5% higher. Prices increased in 2 of the 3 energy categories last month. Natural gas and unprocessed energy materials prices were up 5.9% and 1.4%, respectively, while crude petroleum prices decreased 0.1% in June. “Nonresidential input price escalation has accelerated in 2025, with prices … Read more

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ABC: Contractor Optimism Grows as ABC’s Backlog Indicator Rebounds in June

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Associated Builders and Contractors reported its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.7 months in June, according to an ABC member survey conducted June 20 to July 7. The reading is up 0.3 months since June 2024. The largest contractors have nearly two months longer backlog than they did one year ago. While the smallest contractors have slightly longer backlog on a year-ago basis, backlog has fallen for contractors with $30-$100 million in annual revenues. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for sales and profit margins improved in May, while the reading for staffing levels fell. The readings for all three components … Read more

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ABC: Construction Adds 15,000 Jobs in June

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The construction industry added 15,000 jobs on net in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis’ of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has increased by 121,000 jobs, or 1.5%. Nonresidential construction employment expanded by 9,200 positions on net, with growth registered in just 1 of 3 major subcategories. Nonresidential specialty trade added 12,400 jobs, while heavy and civil engineering and nonresidential building lost 2,800 and 400 jobs, respectively. The construction unemployment rate fell to 3.4% last month. Unemployment across all industries declined from 4.2% in May to 4.1% … Read more

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