WASHINGTON, April 3—Estimated February not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 46 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors.

LONG BEACH, California, March 29—Twenty-one teams of undergraduate students from colleges and universities nationwide put their construction project leadership skills to the test during Associated Builders and Contractors’ annual Construction Management Competition at ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California, March 24-28. The four-person teams, which were assigned to complete the same construction management project over two days, received awards in five categories at the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony at the convention’s conclusion. 

WASHINGTON, March 28—Associated Builders and Contractors today voiced its strong support for the Fair and Open Competition Act (H.R. 1858/S. 907), which will benefit taxpayers by encouraging more qualified construction companies to compete for federal and federally funded construction projects. The bill, introduced by Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), prevents federal agencies and recipients of federal funding from requiring contractors to sign controversial project labor agreements as a condition of winning federal or federally assisted construction contracts.  

LONG BEACH, California, March 29—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced that Lance Arvel, business development, Group Contractors, LLC, received ABC’s annual Young Professional of the Year Award. Arvel was honored during the Careers in Construction Awards at ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California.

LONG BEACH, California, March 29—Associated Builders and Contractors announced the winners of the 32nd annual National Craft Championships today during its Careers in Construction Awards at the conclusion of ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California.

LONG BEACH, California, March 28—Associated Builders and Contractors honored 92 projects collectively worth nearly $3.7 billion at the 29th annualExcellence in Construction® Awards gala during ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California. The EIC awards program is the industry’s leading competition that honors both general and specialty contractors for innovative and high-quality merit shop construction projects.

LONG BEACH, California, March 28—Associated Builders and Contractors announced the winners of the 2018 National Safety Excellence Awards during the 29th annual Excellence in Construction® Awards at ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California. A total of 42 ABC member companies were recognized for their safety performance at a gala on March 27.

LONG BEACH, California, March 29—Associated Builders and Contractors announced today that Clemon Prevost, a senior talent development specialist for Fluor’s U.S. Gulf Coast Craft Training Center in Pasadena, Texas, was named the 2019 Craft Instructor of the Year. Prevost was honored during the Careers in Construction Awards at ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California.  

LONG BEACH, California, March 28—Associated Builders and Contractors announced that Adrian Rios of McCullough Construction in Arcata, California, was named the 2019 Craft Professional of the Year. Rios was honored during the Careers in Construction Awards at ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California.

LONG BEACH, California, March 28—Associated Builders and Contractors has named the winners of the National Diversity Excellence Awards, an annual recognition of ABC members that display exemplary diversity leadership in their workforce, supply chain and community with best-in-class recruitment policies, retention practices and education and mentoring programs. The winners were honored at the 29th annual Excellence in Construction® Awards during ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California.

LONG BEACH, California, March 28—Associated Builders and Contractors named MAREK, headquartered in Houston, as its 2018 Contractor of the Year, an award that recognizes companies for corporate integrity, commitment to safety, professional development and expert craftsmanship. Mike Holland, chief operating officer of MAREK, accepted the honor at the 29th annual Excellence in Construction® Awards gala during ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California, March 27.

WASHINGTON, March 25—Associated Builders and Contractors lauded Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) today for signing into law the Fair and Open Competition Act (HB 135), which ensures all of Kentucky’s skilled construction workforce and qualified businesses can compete on a level playing field for contracts to build state and local public works projects.

WASHINGTON, March 22—Associated Builders and Contractors announced today that Milwaukee Tool is a platinum-level sponsor for its 2019-2021 ABC Conventions and the official tool sponsor of the National Craft Championships. An industry-leading manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools, hand tools, accessories, jobsite lighting and storage solutions, Milwaukee Tool will provide tools and safety equipment for NCC competitors.“We’re so excited to have Milwauk

WASHINGTON, March 19—Construction industry leaders remained confident regarding the nonresidential construction sector’s prospects during the January 2019, according to the latest Construction Confidence Index released today by Associated Builders and Contractors., March 19—Construction industry leaders remained confident regarding the nonresidential construction sector’s prospects during the January 2019, according to the latest Construction Confidence Index released today by Associated Builders and Contractors.

WASHINGTON, March 20—Estimated January not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 48 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors.

WASHINGTON, March 19—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator contracted to 8.1 months during January 2019, down 0.8 months or 9.3 percent compared to 8.9 months in the fourth quarter of 2018.

WASHINGTON, March 18—Associated Builders and Contractors named the finalists today for the 2019 Craft Professional and Craft Instructor of the Year awards. The winners of both awards will be announced at the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony on March 28 during the ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California.

WASHINGTON, March 13—National nonresidential construction spending rose 2.4 percent in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today. At a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, nonresidential spending totaled $762.5 billion for the month, an increase of 4.8 percent over the previous year. Public nonresidential construction spending expanded 4.9 percent in January and private spending increased 0.8 percent. Both public and private nonresidential spending are up 8.5 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively, on a yearly basis.

WASHINGTON, March 13—According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today, construction input prices rose 0.9 percent monthly in February and 1.8 percent in the past 12 months. Inputs to nonresidential construction were up 1 percent monthly and 2.7 percent on a yearly basis. This is the first time that input prices have risen since October 2018, when prices increased by 0.5 percent. 

WASHINGTON, March 8—According to an analysis by the Associated Builders and Contractors of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry lost 31,000 net new jobs in February. Overall, nonresidential employment decreased by 20,400 net new positions compared to January, with losses split between nonresidential building (-3,000), heavy and civil engineering (-13,200) and nonresidential specialty contractors (-4,200). However, industry employment is up 223,000 jobs since February 2018, an increase of 3.1 percent.

WASHINGTON, March 4—National nonresidential construction spending remained virtually unchanged in December, according to Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today. Nonresidential spending totaled $750.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis in December, up 4 percent year over year.