WASHINGTON, (Feb. 5,2024 ) — The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate at 4.4% was unchanged in December 2023 from the previous year, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
Welcome to our Construction Industry News page, where we bring you the latest updates on mergers and acquisitions, key new hires, and significant industry shifts. Stay informed with breaking news and in-depth reporting to keep up with the fast-paced changes shaping the construction business.
Pasadena, Calif. (Feb. 5, 2024) — Bluebeam, a developer of solutions and services for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals worldwide, added two new talents into its leadership team to support the company’s growing customer base and strategic markets.
Mary Santoro has been promoted to chief sales officer from her previous role as vice president of global sales.
DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (Feb. 5, 2024) — Mears Broadband, LLC, a turnkey fiber broadband network construction contractor, announced that as of Jan. 1, it has officially launched as a standalone entity under the Quanta Services umbrella. As a standalone entity, Mears Broadband has more flexibility and agility in responding to the fast-paced, evolving needs of the fiber broadband industry.
ARLINGTON, Va. (Jan. 31, 2024) — Each year, the Electrical Safety Foundation (ESFI) collects information on fatal occupational electrical injuries using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries (SOII), as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) Accident Investigation reports. ESFI then publishes the information in tabular and graphical form to esfi.org.
BEDFORD, Mass. (Jan. 18, 2024) — Total construction starts grew 20% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.12 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts rose 37% during the month, while residential starts gained 8% and nonbuilding starts improved by 13%.
ZUG, Switzerland (Jan. 28, 2024) — Holcim announced its intent to list its North American business in the U.S. with a full capital market separation. The newly listed business will be committed to driving long-term growth in the rapidly expanding North American market and unlocking value for all its stakeholders. Holcim post U.S. listing of North America is expected to remain included in the Swiss Market Index. The Board has tasked Jan Jenisch to lead the planned U.S.
DENVER (Jan. 22, 2024) — After more than three decades in the construction technology space, pioneering construction software provider ToolWatch announced that it has rebranded to Align Technologies to better reflect the company’s current capabilities and position it for future growth.
PASADENA, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2024) — Bluebeam, a developer of solutions and services for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals worldwide, is introducing two new artificial intelligence (AI) features in the works for early 2024 and Bluebeam Labs, a collaborative, co-creation workspace in Bluebeam Cloud.
WASHINGTON (Jan. 16, 2024) — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.6 months in December from 8.5 months in November, according to an ABC member survey conducted Dec. 20 to Jan. 4. The reading is down 0.6 months from December 2022.
View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index tables for December.
ATLANTA (Jan. 23, 2024) — Corpay, a FLEETCOR brand, announced the launch of Corpay Complete, a next-generation spend management platform for corporate payments and spending. The payment solution is now available to new customers in the United States and Canada and to eligible existing customers.
TOWSON, Md. (Jan. 18, 2024) — DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand and provider of total jobsite solutions, announced the launch of DEWALT POWERSHIFT, an equipment system to optimize the workflow of concrete jobsites through electrification.
WOODLAND, Wash. (Jan. 17, 2024) — Crewtek, an eight-week accelerator program designed to prepare students for entry level load handling positions, announced that its first cohort of students has graduated.
MESA, Ariz. (Jan. 16, 2024) — A recent research study has raised significant concerns about the dangers of asbestos exposure for workers in the construction industry. The study, published in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health, reveals that the installation and removal of asbestos cement products pose grave risks, with exposure levels far exceeding the occupational limits set in the United States.
CHICO, Calif. (Jan.10, 2024) — Work Truck Solutions has released its 2023 Annual Commercial Vehicle Market Analysis.
IRVING, Texas (Jan. 8, 2024) — Caterpillar Inc. announced it has signed an electrification strategic agreement with CRH to advance the deployment of Caterpillar’s zero-exhaust emissions solutions. CRH is an aggregates producer in North America and the first company in that industry to sign such an agreement with Caterpillar.
ATLANTA (Jan. 11, 2024) — Sage, a software provider for small and midsized businesses (SMBs) in the construction industry, today announced the acquisition of Bridgetown Software, owner of BidMatrix — a cloud-native bid analysis tool for the construction industry. This is Sage’s second acquisition in the construction sector within a year.
BEDFORD, Mass. (Jan. 8, 2024) — The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, rose 3% in December to 186.6 (2000=100) from the revised November reading of 181.5. Over the month, commercial planning grew 1.0% and institutional planning improved 6.1%.
WASHINGTON (Jan. 3, 2024) — National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.1% in November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau on Jan. 2. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.143 trillion.
SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 19, 2023) — Pacific West Environmental & Infrastructure, formerly known as Pacific West LLC, is launching a new brand and new messaging to reflect its enhanced capabilities and expanded service area.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 19, 2023) — JE Dunn Construction, Middle Tennessee’s largest general contractor, and LG Chem, a global science-oriented chemical company, broke ground on the new battery material manufacturing facility located in Clarksville, Tennessee. This project, kicking off with $1.6 billion injection for the first phase, represents one of the largest foreign direct investments in Tennessee’s history.