2024 Construction Workforce Shortage Tops Half Million, Says ABC

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The construction industry will need to attract an estimated 501,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2024 to meet the demand for labor, according to a proprietary model developed by Associated Builders and Contractors. In 2025, the industry will need to bring in nearly 454,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand, and that’s presuming that construction spending growth slows significantly next year. “ABC estimates that the U.S. construction industry needs to attract about a half-million new workers in 2024 to balance supply and demand,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and … Read more

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ABC: Monthly Construction Input Prices Surge 1%

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Construction input prices increased 1% in January compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.9% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 0.4% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction materials prices are 0.7% higher. Prices increased in 2 of the 3 energy subcategories last month. Crude petroleum input prices were up 6.1%, while unprocessed energy materials prices were up 3.8%. Natural gas prices decreased 2.4% in January. “Construction materials prices surged in January, ending a … Read more

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National Construction Leader Stephanie Schmidt-Lehmann Joins ABC

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Stephanie Schmidt-Lehmann has been named executive vice president of industry relations and member value at Associated Builders and Contractors. In this role, Schmidt-Lehmann will bring leadership, vision and strategic thinking to ensure the association’s delivers on its value proposition for its 68 chapters, 22,000 member companies and the overall construction industry. Schmidt-Lehmann will develop programs and services that help ABC members win and deliver work safely, ethically and profitably while creating and deploying an effective business development strategy. She will lead ABC’s communications, events, strategic partners, member services and marketing teams, as well as its inclusion, diversity and merit initiatives. … Read more

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ABC: Monthly Construction Input Prices Fall Sharply in December

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Construction input prices decreased 0.6% in December 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 decreased 0.4% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 1.2% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 1.6% higher. Prices decreased in two of the three energy subcategories last month. Crude petroleum input prices were down 13.2%, while unprocessed energy materials were down 9.1%. Natural gas prices rose 1.5% in December. “Construction input prices fell sharply in December,” said ABC Chief … Read more

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Construction Job Openings Rise to Highest Level Since 2022, Says ABC

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The construction industry had 459,000 job openings on the last day of November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings increased by 43,000 last month and are up by 111,000 from the same time last year. “The number of open, unfilled construction positions increased to the highest level since the end of 2022,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “November’s 5.4% job opening rate is … Read more

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