Construction Spending Extends Year-to-Date Gains in August, Contractors Struggle to Find Workers

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Construction spending increased 0.1 percent from July to August and 5.3 percent for eight months of 2018 combined, with continued year-to-date gains for major public and private categories, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that these spending figures showed strong demand in construction across the country but that growth in the construction industry still depends on contractors’ ability to find sufficient qualified workers, urging public officials to step up support for career and technical education and to allow employment-based immigration. “Nearly all categories of construction spending continued to … Read more

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Contractors Identify Strong Safety Programs to Address Skilled Labor Scarcity, Substance Abuse

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Q3 2018 USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index recently released indicates skilled labor shortages will have the greatest impact on commercial construction businesses over the next three years. The report revealed 88 percent of contractors expect to feel at least a moderate impact from the workforce shortages in the next three years with over half (57 percent) expecting the impact to be high/very high. The skilled labor shortage has been consistently identified as a major issue facing the industry, but it is now reported by 80 percent of contractors to be impacting worker and … Read more

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Construction Industry’s 2019 Economic Forecast Debuts at Dodge Data & Analytics 80th Annual Outlook Executive Conference

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NEW YORK, N.Y. –Dodge Data & Analytics will hold its 80th annual Dodge Construction Outlook Executive Conference Oct. 24-25 in National Harbor, Maryland. To register, visit 2019 Dodge Outlook. The annual Dodge Outlook Conference is the cornerstone event for building product manufacturers, construction service providers, contractors, engineers, industry associations and other professionals serving the construction industry to gain critical insights into the economic forecast for the North American construction industry. The forecast, presented by Dodge Chief Economist Robert Murray, also offers critical data for members of the media covering economic and sector-based trends. The 2019 Dodge Construction Outlook Executive Conference … Read more

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Construction Employment Rises in 287 Metro Areas Between August 2017, 2018 says AGC

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Construction employment increased in 287 out of 358 metro areas (80 percent) between August 2017 and August 2018, declined in 35 (10 percent) and was unchanged in 36, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that further gains depend on finding enough qualified workers and urged federal officials to improve career and technical education funding and reform immigration policies. “The increases in construction employment have been showing up in more and more metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Moreover, the gains should continue. Three … Read more

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Construction Employment Rises in 45 States, D.C. from August 2017 Year-Over-Year

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45 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between August 2017 and August 2018, while 33 states added construction jobs between July and August, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials welcomed the job gains but noted that the numbers would have been higher if contractors could only find more qualified workers to hire. “Only three states experienced a decline in construction employment over the past year, the fewest number with a decrease since May 2015,” said chief economist Ken Simonson. “These results show that contractors still expect … Read more

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