Modest Increase in Nonresidential Spending in April, Says ABC

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. Read the rest of entry »

April Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 49 States Year Over Year, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, May 29—In April, for the second month in a row, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 49 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. Mississippi was the only state with an increase, where construction unemployment rose from 9.2% in April 2018 to 10% in the most recent report. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Comments on President Trump’s New Immigration Proposal

WASHINGTON, May 16—Associated Builders and Contractors President and CEO Michael Bellaman commented today on President Trump’s new immigration proposal, which would create a “merit-based” visa system to address the workforce needs of U.S. industries
like construction. Bellaman said: Read the rest of entry »

Construction Input Prices Continue to Rise, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, May 9—Construction input prices increased 0.9% in April on a monthly basis and 2.4% compared to the same time last year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today. Nonresidential input prices rose 0.9% compared to March and are up 2.8% on an annual basis. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Executive Wins 2019 Gold Circle Award for Excellence in Association Communications

WASHINGTON, May 7—Construction Executive, the magazine for the business of construction, won an ASAE 2019 Gold Circle Award in the e-newsletter category for CE This Week. The customizable weekly newsletter was launched in 2018 along with a newconstructionexec.com website to celebrate the magazine’s 15th anniversary as the leading source for news, market developments and business issues impacting the construction industry. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Report: Safety Best Practices Can Make Construction Companies 680% Safer

WASHINGTON, May 6—Associated Builders and Contractors released its 2019 Safety Performance Report today, an annual assessment that furthers the construction industry’s understanding of how to achieve world-class safety through its STEP Safety Management System. Published in conjunction with Construction Safety Week, the report documents the dramatic impact of using proactive safety practices to reduce recordable incidents by up to 85%, making the best-performing companies 680% safer than the industry average. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Job Growth Strong in April, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, May 3 – The construction industry added 33,000 net new jobs in April, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released today. Compared to the same time last year, industry employment is up by 256,000 jobs, an increase of 3.5 percent. Read the rest of entry »

March Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 49 States Year Over Year, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, May 2—Estimated March not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 49 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. Nebraska was the sole outlier, where construction unemployment rose from 5.1% in March 2018 to 5.3 in this latest report. The country and 31 of the states posted their lowest March construction unemployment rates on record. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Spending Falls Slightly in March, But Private Construction Hits a New High, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, May 1— According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today, national nonresidential construction spending declined 0.3% in March 2019. On a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $775.2 billion for the month, which represents a 4.8% increase compared to the same time last year. Read the rest of entry »

U.S. Economic Growth Crosses 3% Threshold to Begin the Year, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, April 26— The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized 3.2% rate during the first quarter of 2019, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors assessment of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The pace of growth exceeded expectations, as many economists predicted growth would be closer to 2.5%. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Members Invest $1.6 Billion in Workforce Development Annually, New Survey Finds

WASHINGTON, April 17—According to the results of Associated Builders and Contractors’ 2019 Workforce Development Survey, ABC members invested $1.6 billion to educate their employees in 2018, up from $1.1 billion in 2013. The 45% increase in spending resulted in nearly twice as many course attendees—more than 980,000—receiving craft, leadership and safety education to advance their careers in commercial and industrial construction. Read the rest of entry »

Making Tax Deductions Permanent Will Expand Economic Growth, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, April 15—According to Associated Builders and Contractors, the U.S. construction industry is still benefiting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which has helped small business owners grow their companies and workforce since its passage in December 2017. On Tax Day, ABC called on Congress to make the individual and pass-through small business deductions permanent—currently scheduled to sunset in 2025—and repeal the alternative minimum tax and the estate tax. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Input Prices Increase for the Second Straight Month, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, April 11—Construction input prices rose 1.7% in March on a monthly basis, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today. On a year-over-year basis, construction input prices are up 2.5%, and following a stretch of four consecutive months of input price decreases, March was the second straight month prices have risen in the aggregate. Inputs to nonresidential construction also increased 1.7% on a monthly basis and are up 3.2% compared to one year ago.  Read the rest of entry »

Construction Sees Minor Job Growth in March, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, April 5—The construction industry added 16,000 net new jobs in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics today. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment is up 246,000 jobs, representing a 3.4% increase. Nonresidential employment added 3,200 net new jobs last month, with the bulk of growth among nonresidential specialty contractors, which added 5,500 net new jobs. Heavy and civil engineering added 600 jobs, while the nonresidential building category lost 2,900 positions.  Read the rest of entry »

February Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 46 States Year Over Year, Says ABC

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. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Spending Expands Again in February, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, April 1—According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today, national nonresidential construction spending rose 1.2 percent in February. Seasonally adjusted nonresidential spending totaled $773.8 billion, a 4.8 percent increase over the same time last year. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Honors Student Winners of Annual Construction Management Competition

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.  Read the rest of entry »

ABC Backs Bill to Increase Competition on Taxpayer-funded Construction Contracts

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.   Read the rest of entry »

ABC Announces National Diversity Excellence Award Winners

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.

Read the rest of entry »

ABC Honors Contractors Leading the Industry in Safety Performance

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. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Names 2019 Young Professional of the Year

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.
Read the rest of entry »

ABC Congratulates 2019 National Craft Champions

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. Read the rest of entry »

Associated Builders and Contractors Honors America’s Top Construction Projects

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. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Names 2019 Craft Instructor of the Year

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.   Read the rest of entry »

ABC Names the 2019 Craft Professional of the Year

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. Read the rest of entry »

Associated Builders and Contractors Names MAREK Contractor of the Year

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. Read the rest of entry »

New Kentucky Law a Win-Win for Construction Industry, State Economy, Says ABC

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. Read the rest of entry »

Milwaukee Tool Signs on as Platinum Sponsor of ABC Convention, Official Tool Sponsor for National Craft Championships

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 Read the rest of entry »

January Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 48 States Year Over Year, Says ABC

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. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Names Finalists for Craft Professional, Instructor of the Year Awards

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. Read the rest of entry »

2019 Starts Off with Expansion in Nonresidential Spending, Says ABC

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. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Input Prices Rise for First Time Since October, Says ABC

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.  Read the rest of entry »

Jobs Decline in Construction Sector for the First Time in More Than Two Years, Says ABC

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. Read the rest of entry »

U.S. Economic Growth Softens in Final Quarter of 2018, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28—The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Year-over-year GDP growth was 3.1 percent, while average growth for 2018 was 2.9 percent. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Construction Spending Flat in December; Public Sector Down Slightly, Says ABC

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.  Read the rest of entry »

Construction Input Price Declines Carry into 2019, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14—Construction input prices fell
0.7 percent on a monthly basis in January yet are up 1.6 percent year-over-year
according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics data released today. Construction input prices have declined
for three consecutive months and in four of the previous six months. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Lauds Workforce Development, Infrastructure Priorities in President Trump’s State of the Union Speech

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5—Associated Builders and Contractors President and Chief Executive Officer Michael D. Bellaman issued the following remarks on President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Construction Spending Dips in November, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1—National nonresidential construction spending declined 1 percent in November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today. The release of November data, originally scheduled for Jan. 3, was delayed by the partial government shutdown.   Read the rest of entry »

Construction Employment Surges to Start Year, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1— Construction employment expanded by 52,000 net new jobs in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Industry employment is up by 338,000 net jobs on a yearly basis, which represents an increase of 4.7 percent. Nonresidential construction employment grew by 28,600 net new positions on a monthly basis, although the nonresidential building sub-sector lost 800 net positions.  Read the rest of entry »

December Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 44 States Year Over Year, Says ABC

 WASHINGTON, Jan. 30—Estimated December not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 44 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.  Read the rest of entry »

Construction Input Prices Continue to Fall in December, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15—Construction input prices declined 1.7 percent in December on a month-over-month basis yet are 3.5 percent higher than the same time last year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today. In December, nonresidential construction prices fell 1.6 percent but are up 4.1 percent compared to one year ago. Read the rest of entry »

November Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 44 States Year Over Year, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7—Estimated November construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 44 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. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Employment Rises to Close Out 2018, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4—According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by today the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction employment expanded by 38,000 net new jobs in December. Across the industry, employment is up by 280,000 year-over-year, an increase of 4.0 percent. Read the rest of entry »

Price of Construction Materials Declines in November; ABC Predicts Moderate Increases in Early 2019

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11—Construction materials prices fell 1.8 percent in November, according to Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today. Despite the monthly decline, materials prices are still 5.3 percent higher than they were on a year-over-year basis. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Construction Employment Slows Down in November, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7—Construction employment expanded by 5,000 net new jobs in November, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data conducted by Associated Builders and Contractors today. During the past 12 months, the industry has added 282,000 net new construction jobs, which translates into a 4 percent increase in total industry-wide employment.  Read the rest of entry »

ABC Predicts Construction Sector Will Remain Strong in 2019

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4—Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu forecasts another strong year for construction sector performance, yet warns about inflationary pressures, according to a 2019 economic outlook published today in Construction Executive magazine. Read the rest of entry »

Nonresidential Spending Rises Modestly in October

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3—National nonresidential spending increased 0.1 percent in October, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today. Total nonresidential spending for the month stood at $763.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, which represents a 7.3 percent increase over the same time last year. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Releases Annual Merit Shop Scorecard

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28—Associated Builders and Contractors released its 2018 Merit Shop Scorecard today, an annual state ranking based on policies and programs that encourage open competition, education and job growth, and award construction contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation. Read the rest of entry »

October Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 45 States Year Over Year, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27—Estimated October construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 45 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. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Elects 2019 National Chair, Executive Committee

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 14―The Associated Builders and Contractors Board of Directors elected Tony Rader, telecom vice president for National Roofing Partners, to serve as the 2019 national chair during the association’s annual Leadership Institute in Las Vegas. Ray Zamora, president of AnchorBuilt Inc., was elected chair-elect, and Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering, Keller Inc. was elected secretary. Read the rest of entry »