New Coronavirus Recovery Measure to Provide Relief for Contractors Coping with Project Cancelations, Falling Demand

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The Associated General Contractors of America’s CEO Stephen E. Sandherr issued the following statement in reaction to the release of compromise coronavirus relief legislation slated for House and Senate votes as early as Dec. 21:   “The new coronavirus recovery measure announced today should provide some needed relief for a construction industry that is coping with project cancellations and job losses in most parts of the country. Most notably, the measure includes $10 billion in needed funding to help address the pandemic-induced shortfalls in state transportation revenues. This new funding should keep a number of road projects from getting canceled … Read more

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Construction Sector Adds 84,000 Workers in October, Project Cancellations Undermine Future Gains, says AGC

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Construction employment increased by 84,000 jobs in October, with jobs added in both nonresidential and residential categories, according to a recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials cautioned, however, that the pandemic is causing a growing number of construction projects to be canceled or delayed, according to a survey the association released in late October.   “The employment data for October is good news, but our latest survey found that only a minority of contractors expect to add to their workforce in the next 12 months,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. … Read more

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Pandemic Prompts Strong Demand for Housing, Undermines Demand for Other Nonresidential Projects, says AGC

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Construction employment increased by 26,000 jobs in September to a total of 7,245,000, but the gains were concentrated in housing, while employment in the infrastructure and nonresidential building construction sector remained little changed, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the pandemic was prompting strong demand for new housing as more Americans work from home, while undermining private-sector development of office, retail and other types of projects and forcing many local and state governments to cut construction budgets.   “Construction is becoming steadily more split between a robust residential component and generally stagnant … Read more

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Two-Thirds of Metros Shed Construction Jobs from August 2019 to August 2020, AGC Urges Congress to Pass COVID Relief

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Construction employment decreased in 241, or 67%, out of 358 metro areas between August 2019 and last month, according to an analysis of new government data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged Congress to pass new coronavirus relief measures before leaving town.   “Although residential construction is picking up in many areas, public and nonresidential construction are shrinking,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Project cancellations are spreading, and fewer new projects are starting up. That combination makes further employment declines inevitable unless the federal government steps up support for infrastructure.”   Simonson noted … Read more

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ABC Receives Pledge to America’s Workers Presidential Award

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Associated Builders and Contractors has received the Pledge to America’s Workers Presidential Award, which was presented last month at a White House event. Among nine recipients, ABC was selected based on its achievements in workforce education and fulfilling its 2018 pledge to recruit and upskill at least 500,000 workers by 2023. In 2019 alone, ABC members invested $1.5 billion to provide more than 1.1 million course attendees with craft, leadership and safety education to build a construction workforce that is safe, skilled and productive. Safety education accounted for nearly half of the total workforce investment, averaging more than $1,100 per … Read more

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