WASHINGTON, June 20—Despite ongoing concerns about skilled worker shortages and volatile materials prices, construction executives remain bullish about the prospects for the nonresidential construction sector, according to Associated Builders and Contractors’ April 2019 Construction Confidence Index released today.

WASHINGTON, June 18—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.7 months in April 2019, down 0.8 months or 9% since March, when CBI stood at 9.5 months.

WASHINGTON, June 17—Associated Builders and Contractors announced today that Greg Sizemore, ABC’s vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development, has been appointed to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health. ACCSH provides the U.S. Department of Labor with guidance to improve workplace safety and health in the construction industry. 

WASHINGTON, June 11—Construction input prices rose slightly by 0.3% in May on a monthly basis and are up 0.6% over the last 12 months, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today. Nonresidential input prices were also up 0.3% compared to the previous month and are 1.1% higher than they were a year ago. 

WASHINGTON, June 7 – The construction industry added 4,000 net new jobs in May, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, construction employment has expanded by 215,000 jobs, an increase of 3.0%.Nonresidential employment lost 1,500 net jobs last month but is up by 136,000 jobs compared to the same time last year. 

WASHINGTON, June 4—Associated Builders and Contractors today released its 2019 Top Performers lists, which recognize ABC member contractors’ achievements in safety, quality, diversity and project excellence ranked by work hours, with special designations identified. Published as a supplement to Construction Executivemagazine, the lists identify the Top 150 Performers, Top 50 Performers with Special Designations and Top 20 Performers by Region.

WASHINGTON, June 3—According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today, national nonresidential construction spending rose 0.3% in April, totaling $792.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, which is a 6.4% increase compared to the same time last year. While public nonresidential spending expanded 4.8% on a monthly basis and increased 15.4% since April 2018, private nonresidential spending fell 2.9% in April and is up just 0.6 % year-over-year.

WASHINGTON, June 3—Associated Builders and Contractors today praised Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for signing the Neutrality in State Government Contracting bill (HB 985), which protects Texas taxpayers by ensuring all of Texas’ skilled construction workforce can compete on a level playing field for public works contracts to build projects utilizing state funding or credit.