Construction Backlog and Contractor Optimism Rise to Start 2021, According to ABC Member Survey

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Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 7.5 months in January 2021, an increase of 0.2 months from its December 2020 reading, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Jan. 20 to Feb. 2. Despite the monthly uptick, backlog is 0.9 months lower than in January 2020. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales and staffing levels increased in January and remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations of growth over the next six months. The index reading for profit margins remained below that threshold, slipping to 47.5 in January. “Though nonresidential … Read more

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Nonresidential Construction Employment Expands in October, says ABC

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The construction industry added 84,000 net new jobs in October, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the last six months, the industry has added 789,000 jobs, recovering 73% of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the pandemic. Nonresidential construction employment added 59,700 jobs on net in October. All three nonresidential subcategories experienced increases; the largest was registered among nonresidential specialty trade contractors, which added 27,500 positions on net. Heavy and civil engineering added 18,800 jobs while nonresidential building added 13,400. The construction unemployment rate was 6.8% … Read more

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ABC Elects 2021 National Chair, Executive Committee

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Associated Builders and Contractors’ board of directors elected Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering, Keller Inc., to serve as the 2021 ABC national chair during a meeting at the association’s annual Leadership Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona. Stephanie Schmidt, president, Poole Anderson Construction, was elected chair-elect and Milton Graugnard, executive vice president, Cajun Industries LLC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was elected secretary. “The ABC executive committee is committed to ABC’s value proposition to help our members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work,” said Michael … Read more

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Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds in October, Contractor Optimism Rises

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Associated Builders and Contractors reported its Construction Backlog Indicator rebounded to 7.7 months in October, an increase of 0.2 months from September’s reading, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Oct. 20 to Nov. 5. The backlog is 1.2 months lower than in October 2019. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels increased in October. Sales and staffing index readings remained above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations of expansion over the next six months. For profit margins, this is the eighth consecutive month of decreasing readings. “Given political uncertainty, surging COVID-19 infections, a … Read more

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Nonresidential Construction Employment Expands in September, Says ABC

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The construction industry added 26,000 jobs on net in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released recently by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the last five months, the industry has added 689,000 jobs, recovering approximately 64% of the jobs lost since the start of the pandemic. Nonresidential construction employment added 4,000 jobs on net in September. Two subsegments, nonresidential building and nonresidential specialty trade, experienced employment gains, adding 5,300 and 2,100 jobs, respectively. Heavy and civil engineering partially offset those gains, however, losing 3,400 jobs on net. The construction unemployment rate was 7.1% … Read more

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