$1 Billion in Additional Construction Spending Creates 6,300+ Additional Construction Jobs

Construction Spending Annual Total Table Total Private Employment Source: Census Bureau Value of Construction Put in Place Survey Annual Historical Data and Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Table 42 Excludes the self-employed. Only annual data are available. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Calls for More Effective and Collaborative Construction Safety Regulations

WASHINGTON, May 23—In testimony before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Kwest Group President and Chairman of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) National Safety and Health Committee Ryan Odendahl called for a collaborative effort between industry and the federal government to increase workplace safety and promote economic opportunity in the United States. Read the rest of entry »

Apprenticeships Must Be Expanded to Meet 21st Century Workforce Needs, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, May 11—According to the final report of the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion, apprenticeship programs offer workers a career path with paid, on-the-job training and provide employers with highly trained workers, but they are insufficient to address the growing skills gap in many industries. Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) commended the secretaries of labor, education and commerce for leading the task force comprised of representatives from industry, education and government to generate new ideas to expand the role of apprenticeships and help more individuals achieve the American Dream. The report was presented to the president in a meeting at the White House on May 10. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Material Prices Surge in April, Says ABC; Crude Petroleum Prices up 35 Percent Year Over Year

WASHINGTON, May 9—Prices for inputs to construction materials expanded 1.3 percent in April and are 6.4 percent higher than at the same time one year ago, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today. This represents the largest month-over-month increase in almost three years and the largest year-over-year increase since October 2011. Prices for nonresidential construction inputs increased 1.6 percent on a monthly basis, and are up 6.3 percent year over year.  Read the rest of entry »

Construction Employment Inches Higher in April, Says ABC; Nonresidential Segment Adds 9,000 Net Jobs

WASHINGTON, May 4—Based on recently released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. construction industry bounced back in April, adding 17,000 net new jobs, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Last month, initial estimates showed a 15,000 jobs loss, though that has since been revised upward to a loss of 10,000 jobs. During the past year, the construction industry has added 257,000 new jobs, representing a growth rate of 3.7 percent.  Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Construction Down in March, Says ABC; Private Sector Falters, Public Sector Unchanged

WASHINGTON, May 1—Nonresidential construction spending declined 0.3 percent in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today. Nonresidential spending, which totaled $740.9 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis, has expanded 2.5 percent on a year-over-year basis. February’s spending estimate was revised roughly $10 billion higher, from $732.8 billion to $742.8 billion, rendering the March decline less meaningful. Read the rest of entry »

March Construction Unemployment Rates Down Year Over Year in 37 States, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, May 1—The March 2018 not seasonally adjusted (NSA) national construction unemployment rate was down 1 percent from March 2017, and estimated construction unemployment rates also fell in 37 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The national unemployment rate was 7.4 percent, the lowest national March rate on record. Read the rest of entry »

Fixed Investment Retains Momentum in First Quarter of 2018, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, April 27—The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized rate of 2.3 percent during the first quarter of 2018, while fixed investment increased at an annualized rate of 4.6 percent according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of today’s advanced estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Keystone Highlights Impact of Apprenticeship Programs in Congressional Testimony

WASHINGTON, April 25—In testimony before a U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee today, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Keystone Chapter President and CEO David Sload, a 39-year veteran of construction workforce development, highlighted the role apprenticeship programs play in equipping workers with the skills necessary to compete in the modern economy. Read the rest of entry »

Tax Reform Enables ABC Members to Hire and Train More Construction Industry Workers

WASHINGTON, April 17—As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December 2017, 55 percent of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) contractor members plan to hire more employees, and 52 percent plan to invest in workforce development, according to a recent poll. In addition, 90 percent of member companies say employees have seen an increase in their paychecks. Read the rest of entry »