Monthly Construction Input Prices Rise in January, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15—Construction input prices rose 3.5% in January 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 increased 3.1% for the month.

ABC’s Construction Backlog Slips Again in January; Contractor Confidence Inches Lower

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 8.0 months in January, according to an ABC member survey conducted Jan. 20 to Feb. 4. The reading is down 0.2 months from December 2021, but up 0.5 months from January 2021.

Safety Veteran Joins ABC as Senior Director of Health and Safety

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced it has hired Joseph Xavier, a safety and workforce expert with more than 30 years of experience, as its senior director of health and safety. Xavier will lead and contribute to the development and deployment of the overall health, safety and environment strategy for the association, its 69 chapters and its more than 21,000 member companies.

ABC: White House Union Report Fails to Create Opportunities for All of the Construction Industry

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7—Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment report on how to boost union membership in the federal government and public and private sectors.

ABC: State Construction Unemployment Is Down in Every State From a Year Ago

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7—The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate plunged 4.6% in December 2021 from a year ago, down from 9.6% to 5%, while all 50 states had lower unemployment rates over the same period, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. This substantial improvement occurred even as the omicron COVID-19 variant was sweeping the nation.

Despite Impressive January Jobs Report, Nonresidential Construction Employment Declines by 9,000, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4—The construction industry lost 5,000 jobs on net in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the industry has recovered slightly more than 1 million (91%) of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the pandemic.

President Biden’s Pro-PLA Executive Order Will Increase Costs to Taxpayers and Exacerbate Skilled Labor Shortage, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3—Associated Builders and Contractors today blasted President Biden’s executive order, which encourages the use of controversial project labor agreement mandates on federal construction projects that are funded by taxpayers.

Nonresidential Construction Spending Declines in December, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1—National nonresidential construction spending fell 0.7% in December 2021, 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 $820.7 billion for the month.

U.S. Economy Grows in Fourth Quarter, But Investment in Structures Declines Again, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27—The U.S. economy grew at a 6.9% annualized rate in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Investment in nonresidential structures decreased at an annual rate of 11.4% for the quarter and has now contracted in eight of the past nine quarters.

ABC Cheers Supreme Court OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate Ruling

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13—Associated Builders and Contractors today applauded the U.S. Supreme Court for reinstating the stay on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard, which applies to employers with 100 or more employees. On behalf of the construction industry, ABC filed one of the emergency appeals to the Supreme Court leading to this successful outcome.

Monthly Construction Input Prices Increase in December, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13—Construction input prices rose 0.6% in December compared to the previous month, 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 also rose 0.6% for the month.

ABC’s Construction Backlog Slips in December; Contractor Confidence Continues to Improve

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11—Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.2 months in December, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Dec. 16 to Jan. 4. The reading is down 0.2 months from November 2021, but up 0.9 months from December 2020.

Nonresidential Construction Employment Up 27,000 in December, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7—The construction industry added 22,000 net jobs in December, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the industry has recovered slightly more than one million (92.1%) of the jobs lost during earlier pandemic stages.

Nonresidential Construction Spending Flat in November, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3—National nonresidential construction spending was virtually unchanged in November on a monthly basis, 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 $820.6 billion for the month.

ABC: Florida Is the No. 1 Construction Business Climate State

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21—Associated Builders and Contractors today released its seventh annual Merit Shop Scorecard, a ranking based on state policies and programs that encourage workforce development, grow career and technical education, strengthen careers in construction and advocate for fair and open competition for taxpayer-funded construction projects.

ABC Appeals OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS Argument to the Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20—Associated Builders and Contractors today issued the following statement announcing its appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard.

ABC: Construction Backlog and Contractor Confidence Rebound in November

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14—Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.4 months in November, according to an ABC member survey conducted Nov. 19 to Dec. 3. The reading is up 0.3 months from October 2021 and 1.2 months from November 2020.

Monthly Construction Input Prices Continue to Climb in November, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14—Construction input prices increased 1.4% 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 also increased 1.4% for the month.

ABC Wins Key Nationwide Challenge Against Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7—Associated Builders and Contractors today applauded a federal court for granting a nationwide preliminary injunction order against the federal contractor vaccine mandate. The ruling came from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.

ABC Unveils Safety Technology Guide

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6—Associated Builders and Contractors today issued its online Safety Technology Guide, a resource for contractors looking to implement construction technology for the best possible safety performance.

Nonresidential Construction Employment Rises in November, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3—The construction industry added 31,000 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. Overall, the industry has recovered 998,000 (89.7%) of the jobs lost during earlier pandemic stages.

Nonresidential Construction Spending Increases Nearly 1% in October, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1—National nonresidential construction spending was up 0.9% 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 $814.2 billion for the month.

ABC Responds to Biden Administration Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Increase

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22—Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division’s final rule increasing the minimum wage on federal contracts from $10.95 to $15 per hour beginning in early 2022, superseding a scheduled increase to $11.25 that will occur on Jan. 1.

ABC Announces 2022 National Chair, Executive Committee

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22—Associated Builders and Contractors’ Board of Directors has elected Stephanie Schmidt, president of Poole Anderson Construction, State College, Pennsylvania, as the 2022 ABC national chair of the board of directors during a meeting at the association’s annual Leadership Institute in Aventura, Florida.

ABC Director of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Honored for Construction Diversity Efforts by Maryland Minority Contractors

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19—The Maryland Minority Contractors Association has awarded Tia Perry, Associated Builders and Contractors’ director of inclusion, diversity and equity, its annual Professional Commitment Award. Perry was honored for her leadership connecting minority businesses with general contractors to help them win work and providing educational opportunities to minority businesses across the country.

Passage of Partisan Reconciliation Bill Harmful to U.S. Economy, Construction Industry, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19—Associated Builders and Contractors released the following statement on today's passage of the partisan reconciliation bill by the U.S. House of Representatives.

ABC Challenges Federal Contractor COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate in Georgia and Texas

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18—Associated Builders and Contractors and its chapters in Georgia and Texas today announced filings in support of pending suits by multiple states challenging President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate for federal contractors. ABC contends the unprecedented executive order exceeds the administration’s authority and is likely to increase costs and undermine economy and efficiency in federal contracting.

ABC Publishes Inaugural Construction Technology Report

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18—Associated Builders and Contractors today released its inaugural Tech Report, a study of the innovative technology and tools that ABC contractor members are using on jobsites to be safer, more profitable and primed to win more work. The report was sourced from a survey conducted from March through May 2021. It details opportunities for construction contractors to improve their operations in project coordination, planning, estimating, production and scheduling.

ABC Seeks to Overturn OSHA COVID Vaccination and Testing ETS

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9—Associated Builders and Contractors and its Alabama chapter today filed a petition for review with the U.S. Court of Appeals in the 11th Circuit against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for its COVID-19 vaccination and testing Emergency Temporary Standard, which applies to employers with 100 or more employees.

Construction Input Prices See Largest Monthly Increase Since June, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9—Construction input prices increased 1.5% in October, 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 increased 1.4% for the month.

ABC’s Construction Backlog Rebounds in October; Contractor Confidence in Sales and Profit Margins Falls

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9— Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.1 months in October, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Oct. 20 to Nov. 2. The reading is up 0.5 months from September 2021 and 0.4 months from October 2020.

Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Holds Promise and Peril, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5—Associated Builders and Contractors released the following statement on today’s passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill creates an opportunity to effectively modernize our nation’s most critical infrastructure, and ABC and our members stand ready to do the important work to bring America’s infrastructure into the 21st century,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO. “However, ABC remains wary of some of the bill’s exclusionary provisions and statements from the Biden administration that could restrict the eligibility of America’s workers to compete for and participate in these construction projects.

Nonresidential Construction Employment Rises in October, Says ABC

The construction industry added 44,000 jobs on net in October, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the industry has recovered 963,000, or 86.5%, of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the pandemic.

ABC Statement on OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4—Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s issuance of its COVID-19 vaccination and testing Emergency Temporary Standard, which applies to employers with 100 or more employees as required by President Biden’s Path Out of the Pandemic COVID-19 Action Plan.

ABC to Congress: College Degrees Do Not Define Career Success

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4—Today, longtime construction industry leader, instructor and military veteran Frank Boecker testified on behalf of Associated Builders and Contractors before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development on the indispensable role that community colleges, trade schools and career and technical education programs play in the construction industry.

State Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 49 States From a Year Ago, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3—The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate dropped 2.6% in September 2021 from a year ago while 49 states had lower unemployment rates over the same period, according to state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. Only one state, Alaska, had a higher estimated rate than it did in September 2020.

Nonresidential Construction Spending Contracts 0.6% in September, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1—National nonresidential construction spending contracted 0.6% in September, 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 $791.2 billion for the month.

GDP Report: Investment in Nonresidential Structures Falls 7.3% in Third Quarter of 2021, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28—Investment in nonresidential structures contracted at an annual rate of 7.3% during the third quarter of 2021 and has now contracted during seven of the past eight quarters, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The overall economy expanded at a 2.0% annualized rate during the third quarter of 2021.

ABC Announces New Chief Editor of Construction Executive Magazine

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced that it has hired Christopher Durso as the new editor-in-chief of Construction Executive, the magazine for the business of construction.

Report: Nonunion Workers Suffer Up to 34% in Wage Theft Under Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22—Associated Builders and Contractors today calls attention to a new report that highlights the negative economic impact of controversial government-mandated project labor agreements on nonunion construction workers, who comprise 87.3% of the construction industry workforce. The study found that the limited number of nonunion craft professionals permitted to work on construction projects subject to a government-mandated PLA suffer an estimated 34% reduction in wages and benefits.

Construction Inclusion Week Will Build Stronger Diversity Strategies, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18—Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement about the importance of Construction Inclusion Week, which runs Oct. 18-22.

Input Prices Decline in September but Remain Higher on a Yearly Basis, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14—Construction input prices declined 0.5% in September, 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 0.4% for the month.

ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Inches Lower in September; Contractor Confidence Down for Second Consecutive Month

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12—Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 7.6 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Sept. 20-Oct. 4. The reading is down 0.1 months from August 2021, but up 0.1 months from September 2020.

Nonresidential Construction Employment Rises Slightly in September, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8—The construction industry added 22,000 jobs on net in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the industry has recovered 912,000 (81.9%) of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the pandemic.

ABC Announces 2021-2022 Tech Alliance Members

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced the members of its second annual Tech Alliance—a consortium of firms that create construction technology and innovative solutions for ABC contractor members, the majority of which primarily perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors. Consisting of 15 companies, the Tech Alliance will leverage technology solutions to help ABC members develop people, win work and deliver work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work.

Nonresidential Construction Spending Dips in August, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1—National nonresidential construction spending fell 0.4% in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Nonresidential spending totaled $788.6 billion in August on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, down 3.0% from August 2020.  

ABC, CISC Caution OSHA About Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27—Associated Builders and Contractors, a steering committee member of the Construction Industry Safety Coalition, released the following statement on CISC’s letter sent today to James Frederick, acting assistant secretary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, voicing concerns related to OSHA’s forthcoming COVID-19 vaccination and testing Emergency Temporary Standard, which will apply to employers with 100 or more employees as required by President Biden’s Path Out of the Pandemic COVID-19 Action Plan.

Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate Guidance Raises Concerns, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24—Associated Builders and Contractors released the following statement in response to guidance issued today by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force about what is required of federal contractors with respect to a vaccine mandate for employees as a result of President Biden’s Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors.

ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Plummets in August; Contractor Confidence Down

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14—Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell sharply to 7.7 months in August, according to an ABC member survey conducted Aug. 19 to Sept. 1. The reading is down 0.8 months from July 2021 and down 0.3 months from August 2020.

Monthly Construction Input Prices Inch Lower in August, But Are Still Elevated Year Over Year, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10—Construction input prices declined 0.6% in August compared to the previous month, 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 0.4% for the month.