Category: Labor & Workforce Development
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What Will Shape Construction in 2026? Interest Rates, Labor Gaps and Market Shifts
Growth in the construction industry plateaued over the past year — and in 2026, look for that trend to continue. Faced with labor shortages, supply chain issues and economic pressures like high interest rates and tariff uncertainty, construction will need to adopt more disciplined habits and embrace both technological and cultural innovation in order to…
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QBE: Labor Gaps, Higher Costs Shape 2025 U.S. Commercial Construction Outlook
QBE North America has released its 2026 U.S. Commercial Construction Outlook, developed with Control Risks, outlining key pressures and opportunities for the industry. The report, which is based off of 2025 reports, says commercial construction faces continued labor shortages, driven by an aging workforce and immigration limits, even as overall employment remains high. Material costs…
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Winter 2025 Burnout Risk Index Highlights Pressures Facing Construction and Trade Workers
A new analysis from Vegas Insider ranks burnout risk across 50 job categories heading into winter 2025, offering insight into how seasonal pressures and working conditions affect construction, trades and other labor-intensive fields. While healthcare and social services still top the overall list, the report notes that many construction and trade occupations face elevated burnout…
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Construction Industry Adds 19,000 Jobs in September as Unemployment Ticks Up
The construction industry added a net 19,000 jobs in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Industry employment is up 38,000 jobs over the past year, a 0.5% increase. Nonresidential construction added 16,300 positions, with gains across all subcategories. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors…
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ABC Elects Thomas “Murph” Murphy as 2026 National Chair
Associated Builders and Contractors has elected Thomas “Murph” Murphy, vice president of Power & Construction Group in Scottsville, New York, as its 2026 national chair. The vote took place during the association’s annual Leadership Institute in Marco Island, Florida. Murphy, who began his career in the field, said he aims to support ABC’s advocacy efforts…
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CSP Consultants Reports Strong 2025 Project Pace, Forecasts Growth Into 2026
CSP Consultants Group reports steady project activity through 2025, with 77 projects completed so far this year and 33 more underway. Several of the active projects rank among the largest in the company’s portfolio. The firm has posted compound annual growth of 40% to 50% since 2016, driven by a model that combines design, procurement,…
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Gen Z Revitalizes the Skilled Trades Amid Construction Labor Shortages
As Baby Boomers retire, they take with them decades of accumulated skill, leadership and institutional knowledge, and presently, there are not enough new workers to replace them. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports that the median age of a construction worker has reached 42, about a year older than the national labor force…
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U.S. Construction Backlog Slips in October as Contractor Outlook Weakens
Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.4 months in October, based on a member survey. The figure is down slightly from September and the same as that in October 2024. Backlog held steady or increased across the three major industries tracked in the survey. However, contractors that do not…
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Veterans Strengthen the Construction Industry Amid Skilled Worker Shortages
In a world built on progress, few industries rise and fall with changing times as much as the construction industry. This field never stands still, as skilled workers shape skylines and neighborhoods, laying the backbone of our cities. As demand grows and skilled hands become harder to find, the answer stands in plain sight: veterans.…
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ABC: Pre-Shutdown Nonresidential Construction Spending Slips in August
National nonresidential construction spending edged down 0.2% in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau data. On a seasonally adjusted annual rate, spending reached $1.24 trillion. Ten of the 16 nonresidential subcategories posted monthly declines. Private nonresidential spending fell 0.3%, while public-sector spending dipped 0.1%. Industry economist Anirban…