ABC: Construction Unemployment Rate Plunges to Second Lowest Ever Recorded

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The construction industry added 27,000 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 235,000 jobs, an increase of 2.9%.  Nonresidential construction employment increased by 21,200 positions on net, with growth in all three subcategories. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors added the most jobs for the month, (+9,200 jobs), followed by heavy and civil engineering (+6,300 jobs) and nonresidential building (+5,700 jobs). The construction unemployment rate decreased to 3.3% in June. Unemployment across all industries rose from 4.0 in May to 4.1% last month. “Despite indications that … Read more

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ABC: Flexibility Is Imperative for Effective Heat Safety Protections in Construction

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Associated Builders and Contractors responded to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule. “ABC continues to believe employers should equip their employees and leadership teams to develop their own safety plans, unique to their jobsites, and we strongly encourage review of all applicable OSHA rules and guidelines,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development. “We also provide tools to employers so that they can equip and empower supervisors to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat illness as … Read more

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Gilbane Building Company, Prestige Construction Group Selected to Build Richmond Diamond District Ballpark

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Gilbane Building Company in association with Prestige Construction Group has been selected by the Richmond Flying Squirrels to build a new stadium to support the Richmond Flying Squirrels and Virginia Commonwealth University. The planned 10,000-seat Richmond Diamond District Ballpark will have an industrial, warehouse feel meant to pay homage to Richmond‘s railway lineage. The stadium project, managed by Machete Group, is the cornerstone of the large-scale, multi-billion-dollar Diamond District development. The project will be delivered in under two years, in time for the 2026 baseball season. The project’s goal is to spend 40% of the improvement cost of the entire project on emerging small businesses and minority business enterprises.

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ABC: Nonresidential Construction Spending Slips 0.1% But Remains Elevated

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National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.1% in May, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.21 trillion. Spending declined on a monthly basis in 9 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending decreased 0.3%, while public nonresidential construction spending was up 0.4% in May. Visit abc.org/economics for the Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index, plus analysis of spending, employment, job openings and the Producer Price Index.

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New ABI Report: Architecture Business Conditions Soften

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 The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index score declined to 42.4 in May, as more firms reported a decrease in billings than the month prior. The pipeline of new work coming into firms is showing increasing softness. While inquiries into new projects continue to increase, they did so at a slower pace than in recent months. Additionally, architecture firm billings remained soft across all regions and sectors in May. Billings declined at firms in all regions of the country for the fourth consecutive month, as conditions remained weakest at firms located in the Midwest. The ABI score is a leading economic indicator of construction activity, providing an approximately nine-to-twelve-month glimpse into the future of … Read more

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