Outlook on Commercial Construction Lifts on Rising Revenue Expectations

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Data from the first quarter U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index reveals contractors are growing more optimistic, mostly driven by a rise in revenue expectations. They also have better outlooks on hiring and equipment spending plans as business concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic lessen. In the first quarter of this year, 36% of contractors expect their revenue to increase over the next year, a jump of 11 percentage points from 25% in Q4 2020. Eighty-seven percent expect their revenue to either stay the same or increase, up from 86% last quarter. Most (86%) contractors also report a moderate … Read more

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Nonresidential Construction Spending Remains Flat in October, Residential Construction Expands, says AGC

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The construction industry’s fortunes continued to diverge in October, as residential construction expanded again while nonresidential construction remained largely unchanged from a month ago and is down compared to last year, according to an analysis of new federal construction spending data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that demand for nonresidential construction is being hit by private sector worries about the coronavirus, tighter state and local budgets and the lack of new federal pandemic relief measures.   “The October spending report shows private nonresidential construction is continuing to slide,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. … 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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NEXT Coalition Launches Construction Safety Challenge in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak

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Swinerton is the latest general contractor to join the NEXT Coalition made up of critical infrastructure and construction companies to promote and share industry safety best practices. Black & Veatch, DPR Construction, Haskell, McCarthy Building Companies and Swinerton are leveraging their deep safety expertise and best practices in a campaign to ensure the well-being of crews and office team members facing complex challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak. The coalition seeks to identify and advance processes and technologies most likely to bolster construction safety in response to the “next normal” ushered in by COVID-19. To that end, the coalition is … Read more

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New Data Shows Signs of Construction Recovery, Need for Federal Assistance

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A new survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, and data from construction technology firm Procore, show that construction activity is returning to pre-coronavirus levels in many parts of the country and some firms are adding workers.The new economic data, however, also shows some future projects are being canceled and many others are being delayed by supply chain issues and labor shortages, underscoring the need for additional federal recovery measures, association officials noted. “Many of the immediate economic impacts of the coronavirus have passed and, as a result, activity and hiring are up, a bit,” said Ken Simonson, the … Read more

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