Construction Industry News

WASHINGTON (May 3, 2021) – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today that it has scheduled the eighth annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction for May 3-7, 2021. OSHA encourages construction employers and other stakeholders to join the event to promote awareness and training to address one of the industry’s most serious dangers.

WASHINGTON (April 30, 2021) — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) recently published their 2021 Safety Performance Report, an annual assessment that furthers the construction industry’s understanding of how to achieve world-class safety by deploying its STEP Safety Management System.

WASHINGTON (April 28, 2021) – According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, 842 people died in highway work-zone crashes compared to 757 the year before. The 11.2% increase is the largest percentage increase of highway work-zone fatalities since 2006.

WASHINGTON (April 28, 2021) — Construction employment is holding its own, although it is not back to pre-pandemic levels, according to state-by-state analysis of United States Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for March 2021. These data show that on a year-over-year basis, the not seasonally-adjusted construction unemployment rates rose nationally and in 33 states, fell in 15 states and were unchanged in tw

WEST FARGO, N.D. (April 22, 2021) – Doosan Bobcat North America is celebrating the completion of a $26 million expansion at its manufacturing facility in Litchfield, Minn. The 15-month project nearly tripled the size of the facility, from 70,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space to nearly 200,000 square feet and will create a significant number of new jobs in the community.

WASHINGTON (April 23, 2021) — The Republican Party has drafted an alternate infrastructure plan to the one proposed by President Biden. This proposal would cut infrastructure spending by up to 75% — $568 billion over 5 years as opposed to Biden's $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan. 

WASHINGTON (April 21, 2021) - During Second Chance Month, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has highlighted the programs, partnerships and involvement of its chapters and members across the country in educating, upskilling and hiring reentering citizens.

HAMILTON, N.J. (April 15, 2021) — Dodge Data & Analytics (Dodge) and The Blue Book Building & Construction Network (The Blue Book) announced that they are combining their businesses in a merger. Dodge’s owner, Symphony Technology Group (STG)  facilitated the transaction. 

WASHINGTON (April 14, 2021) — President Biden has nominated Doug Parker to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Parker is currently the chief of the California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Before that, Parker served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy in the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration.

ARLINGTON, Va.  (April 9, 2021) — A recent report from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) reveals that record-high prices and supply issues for materials are causing hardships for contractors on nonresidential projects. The association has issued a statement urging President Biden to put a stop to tariffs on imports to ease the issue.

HAMILTON, N.J. (April 7, 2021) – A report released by Dodge Data & Analytics shows that gains for the month were related to increases in health care and lab projects. March also saw a more broad-based selection of project types including education and recreation buildings.

WASHINGTON (April 2, 2021) — An Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of data released last week by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 110,000 jobs in March. Employment is now 1.7% higher than this time last year. This coincides with unemployment numbers dropping to 6% from 6.2% in February.

WASHINGTON (April 2, 2021) — Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has detailed one of the top priorities for the upcoming infrastructure bill from the Biden administration: the $11.6 billion Hudson River Tunnel project in New York City. The project’s goal is to repair and replace sections of the tunnel damaged by saltwater in 2012.

WASHINGTON (March 31, 2021) — President Biden detailed his next legislative push Wednesday — an economic stimulus with a focus on infrastructure and creating jobs. The plan would spend $2.5 trillion over an 8-year period, paid for by a corporate tax increase to 28%, up from the current rate of 21%. According to the White House, the plan would be funded by the tax hike in 15 years.

WASHINGTON (March 26, 2021) — President Biden’s advisors are said to be working on a $3 trillion economic package that will have a major infrastructure component. More details are expected on March 31, when the president will travel to Pittsburgh to announce more details on the upcoming push. Gina McCarthy recently discussed the infrastructure plans, which will include efforts to combat climate change and work toward a greener economy.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 24, 2021) — Construction Business Owner, the leading business magazine for contractors, is pleased to announce a free webinar presented in partnership with AvidXchange.

The live, online event, “The Future of Payments: What's Next for AP?” will take place April 29, 2021, at 1 p.m. CDT, and will explore the era of automation and what it means for construction businesses.

Registration is free at constructionbusinessowner.com/webinars.

WASHINGTON, (March 23, 2021) — According to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) study of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released this week, the construction industry will need to hire 430,000 workers in 2021. The analysis also revealed that every $1 billion in extra construction spending generates an average of at least 5,700 construction jobs.

WASHINGTON (March 23, 2021) — Former Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has been confirmed as secretary of labor in a Senate vote this week. Walsh is notable in that he is the first union leader to serve in the position in more than 40 years. Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) released a statement supporting the appointment and encouraging Walsh to focus on the construction industry.

WASHINGTON (March 18, 2021) — The PPP Extension Act of 2021 passed the House of Representatives in a 415-3 vote this week, extending the program to May 31 from the current application deadline of March 31. The Senate is expected to approve the bill this week. The push to extend the program follows the passing of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which includes $7 billion to expand the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

HAMILTON, N.J. (March 16, 2021) — A report recently released by Dodge Data & Analytics shows that construction starts fell 2% in February to an adjusted rate of $797.3 billion. Nonresidential and residential building starts both declined.