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ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Inches Higher in December, Contractor Confidence Improves

Associated Builders and Contractors reported today 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…

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Final Independent Contractor Rule Will Create More Confusion and Litigation Chaos

Associated Builders and Contractors today released a statement from Vice President of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs Ben Brubeck opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s independent contractor final rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act. “By undermining the flexible, independent work for millions of Americans, President Joe Biden’s DOL is…

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Construction Job Openings in November Rise to Highest Level Since 2022

The construction industry had 459,000 job openings on the last day of November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is…

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Nonresidential Construction Spending Dips 0.1% in November

National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.1% in November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors 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. Spending was down on a monthly basis in 11 of the 16…

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Construction Materials Prices Dip 0.3% in November

Construction input prices decreased 0.3% in November compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices decreased 0.3% for the month as well. Inputs to construction are still nearly…

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Construction Adds 2,000 Jobs in November, up 200,000 Year Over Year

The construction industry added 2,000 jobs on net in November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has increased by 200,000 jobs, an increase of 2.6%. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 1,400…

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Georgia Is the No. 1 State for Construction

For the first time, Georgia was named the top state for construction in Associated Builders and Contractors’ annual Merit Shop Scorecard. The scorecard, released yearly since 2015, ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on policies and programs that strengthen career pathways in construction, encourage workforce development…

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Nonresidential Construction Spending Inches Higher in October, Up 20% Over the Past Year

National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in October, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.1 trillion. Spending was up on a monthly basis in 8 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories.…

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ABC: Construction Input Prices Decrease 1.2% in October, Driven by Lower Energy, Lumber and Steel Prices

Construction input prices declined 1.2% in October on a monthly basis, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 1.1% for the month. Construction input prices are 1.1% lower than a year ago,…

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ABC Slams OSHA’s Worker Walkaround Rule for Failing to Promote Workplace Health and Safety

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14—On Nov. 13, Associated Builders and Contractors filed comments opposing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process proposed rule, which would allow employees to choose a third-party representative, such as an outside union representative or community organizer, to accompany an OSHA safety inspector into nonunion…