ABC issues news releases on the latest workforce, policy and industry issues, as well as construction-related economic data and trends. Commercial and industrial construction economic analyses include federal data on construction spending, employment, job openings and the Producer Price Index. 

In addition, ABC produces the Construction Backlog Indicator, the only economic indicator that reflects the amount of work that will be performed by commercial and industrial construction contractors in the months ahead, and the Construction Confidence Index, a diffusion index that signals construction contractors’ expectations for sales, profit margins and staffing levels. Methodology for both indicators can be found hereABC construction economic releases are published according to this schedule for 2023 

 

News Releases

Monthly Construction Input Prices Rise 1.3% in April, Says ABC

Thursday, May 13, 2021 9:53 AM

WASHINGTON, May 13—Construction input prices increased 1.3% in April 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 increased 1.6% for the month.

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ABC to the White House: Do Not Exclude 87% of America’s Construction Industry From Your Infrastructure Plan

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 11:45 AM

WASHINGTON, May 11—Today, Associated Builders and Contractors and more than 900 member companies and chapters from 47 states sent a letter to the White House highlighting concerns with President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan and recommendations to improve it, streamlining the permitting process and supporting bipartisan workforce development efforts. The letter also voiced strong opposition to the Protect the Right to Organize Act.

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Inches Up in April; Contractor Optimism Slips

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 9:45 AM

WASHINGTON, May 11— Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 7.9 months in April, according to an ABC member survey conducted April 20-May 5, 0.1 months higher than in March 2021 and April 2020.

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Construction Employment Unchanged in April, Says ABC

Friday, May 7, 2021 10:17 AM

WASHINGTON, May 7—Construction industry employment remained unchanged in April, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the last year, the industry has added 917,000 jobs, recovering 82.4% of the jobs lost during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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ABC Slams DOL Withdrawal of Independent Contractor Rule

Wednesday, May 5, 2021 12:46 PM

WASHINGTON, May 5—Associated Builders and Contractors Vice President of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs Ben Brubeck released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Labor’s announcement that it will withdraw the independent contractor rule.

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Nonresidential Construction Spending Decreases 1.1% in March, Says ABC

Monday, May 3, 2021 11:45 AM

WASHINGTON, May 3—National nonresidential construction spending declined 1.1% in March, 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 $778.5 billion for the month.

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ABC’s 2021 Safety Performance Report: Construction Companies Can Be 655% Safer With These Best Practices, Says ABC Report

Friday, April 30, 2021 9:50 AM

WASHINGTON, April 30—Today, Associated Builders and Contractors announced the findings in its 2021 Safety Performance Report, an annual assessment that furthers the construction industry’s understanding of how to achieve world-class safety by deploying its STEP Safety Management System. Published to coincide with Construction Safety Week, May 3-7, the annual report details the drastic impact of using proactive safety practices to reduce recordable incidents by up to 85%, making the best-performing companies more than six times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average.

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GDP and Construction: Investment in Nonresidential Structures Declines 4.8% in Q1, Says ABC

Thursday, April 29, 2021 9:11 AM

WASHINGTON, April 29The U.S. economy expanded at a 6.4% annualized rate during the first quarter of 2021; however, investment in nonresidential structures declined at a 4.8% rate for the quarter, according to analysis conducted by Associated Builders and Contractors of data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

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President Biden’s Tax Plan Would Hit Small and Family-owned Businesses the Hardest, Says ABC

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 5:44 PM

WASHINGTON, April 28—In response to reports that President Biden will tonight announce tax increases as he details his American Families Plan, Associated Builders and Contractors released the following statement.

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ABC Statement on President Biden’s First 100 Days in Office

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 12:50 PM

WASHINGTON, April 28—Ahead of President Joe Biden’s first congressional address, Associated Builders and Contractors issued the following statement from Michael Bellaman, its president and CEO, on key merit shop construction industry priorities that should be considered by the administration.

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Drop in State Construction Unemployment Rates Points to Industry Recovery, Says ABC

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 9:50 AM

WASHINGTON, April 28—Construction employment is holding its own, although it is not back to pre-pandemic levels, according to state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors for March 2021. These data show that on a year-over-year basis, the not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates rose nationally and in 33 states, fell in 15 states and were unchanged in two states, Oklahoma and Washington.

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ABC Reacts to Republican Lawmakers’ Infrastructure Framework

Thursday, April 22, 2021 3:56 PM

WASHINGTON, April 22—Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement in reaction to the Republican lawmakers’ infrastructure framework.

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Clemson University Named Overall Winner of ABC Construction Management Competition

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 7:50 AM

WASHINGTON, April 14—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced the winners of its annual Construction Management Competition, held virtually for 12 teams of undergraduate students from colleges and universities nationwide. Clemson University was named the overall winner of the 2021 competition, with the highest cumulative points in the five competition categories.

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Slips in March; Contractor Optimism Continues to Improve

Tuesday, April 13, 2021 9:50 AM

WASHINGTON, April 13—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 7.8 months in March, according to an ABC member survey conducted from March 22 to April 5, a decrease of 0.4 months from both the February 2021 and March 2020 readings.

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ABC: It’s Second Chance Month, and Construction is Looking to Hire Reentering Citizens

Monday, April 12, 2021 9:50 AM

WASHINGTON, April 12—Associated Builders and Contractors is committed to shaping an industry that welcomes all people. As part of Second Chance Month, ABC has highlighted the programs, partnerships and involvement of its chapters and members across the country in educating, upskilling and hiring reentering citizens.

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Monthly Construction Input Prices Rise in March, Says ABC

Friday, April 9, 2021 10:25 AM

WASHINGTON, April 9—Construction input prices rose 3.5% in March 2021, 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 increased 3.5% for the month.

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DEWALT Named Program Sponsor of ABC’s National Student Chapter Network

Thursday, April 8, 2021 2:30 PM

WASHINGTON, April 8—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced that DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand and U.S. manufacturer of professional products, will power the National Student Chapter Network as the program sponsor for the next three years.

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Construction Adds 110,000 Jobs in March: Here Comes the Tsunami of Growth, Says ABC

Friday, April 2, 2021 9:45 AM

WASHINGTON, April 2—The construction industry added 110,000 jobs in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry has added 931,000 jobs since April 2020, recovering 83.6% of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Nonresidential Construction Spending Down 1.3% in February, Says ABC

Thursday, April 1, 2021 11:33 AM

WASHINGTON, April 1—National nonresidential construction spending declined 1.3% in February, 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 $789.5 billion for the month.

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ABC Calls for Fair and Open Competition, Bipartisan Ideas in Infrastructure Plan

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 11:42 AM

WASHINGTON, March 31—Associated Builders and Contractors President and CEO Michael Bellaman today issued the following statement responding to President Biden’s announcement of a multitrillion-dollar infrastructure plan.

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ABC and Milwaukee Tool Announce Strategic Partnership

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 9:50 AM

WASHINGTON, March 31—Associated Builders and Contractors and leading tool manufacturer Milwaukee® Tool, headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, today announced a strategic partnership that will provide ABC chapters and contractor members with solutions for a safer, profitable and more productive jobsite. Milwaukee Tool is the only manufacturer of power tools, hand tools, storage and accessories to be named as an ABC strategic partner.

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ABC Announces New Director of National Craft Championships

Thursday, March 25, 2021 1:31 PM

WASHINGTON, March 25—Associated Builders and Contractors announced today that it has hired Jarrell Jackson as the director of ABC’s National Craft Championships and Construction Workforce Awards.

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ABC: The Construction Industry Needs to Hire an Additional 430,000 Craft Professionals in 2021

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 4:25 PM

WASHINGTON, March 23—In 2021, construction companies will need to hire 430,000 more workers than they employed in 2020, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. The analysis also revealed that every $1 billion in extra construction spending generates an average of at least 5,700 construction jobs.

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ABC Statement on Senate Confirmation of Mayor Marty Walsh as Labor Secretary

Monday, March 22, 2021 6:00 PM

WASHINGTON, March 22— Associated Builders and Contractors President and CEO Michael Bellaman released the follow statement on U.S. Senate confirmation of Mayor Marty Walsh as the secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Monthly Construction Input Prices Rise 2.1% in February, Says ABC

Friday, March 12, 2021 9:44 AM

WASHINGTON, March 12—Construction input prices rose 2.1% in February 2021, 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 increased 2.1% for the month.

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ABC Condemns Biden Administration’s Proposals to Rescind DOL’s Joint Employer and Independent Contractor Final Rules

Thursday, March 11, 2021 11:43 AM

WASHINGTON, March 11—Associated Builders and Contractors released the following statement from Vice President of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs Ben Brubeck on the Biden administration’s proposals to rescind the U.S. Department of Labor’s joint employer and independent contractor final rules.

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ABC Announces Awards for Top Construction Projects, Safety and Diversity Excellence, Contractor of the Year and Careers in Construction Honorees

Thursday, March 11, 2021 9:50 AM

GRAPEVINE, Texas, March 11—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced the winners of its annual national awards—the Excellence in Construction,® Safety and Diversity Excellence, Contractor of the Year and Construction Workforce Awards—during ABC Convention 2021 in Grapevine, Texas.

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ABC Announces Award-Winning Construction Projects of 2020

Thursday, March 11, 2021 9:50 AM

GRAPEVINE, Texas, March 11—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced the presentation of the Excellence in Construction® Awards to 87 projects collectively worth nearly $2.7 billion during ABC Convention 2021 in Grapevine, Texas, on March 10. The EIC awards program is the construction industry’s leading national competition that honors general and specialty contractors for world-class, safe and innovative construction projects from across the nation.

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ABC Announces National Safety Leaders in the Construction Industry

Thursday, March 11, 2021 9:50 AM

GRAPEVINE, Texas, March 11—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced the 39 winning contractor companies of the 2020 National Safety Excellence Awards, which were presented at the 31st annual Excellence in Construction® Awards during ABC Convention 2021 in Grapevine, Texas, on March 10.

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ABC Announces 2020 National Diversity Excellence Award Winners

Thursday, March 11, 2021 9:50 AM

GRAPEVINE, Texas, March 11—Associated Builders and Contractors has named the winners of the 2020 National Diversity Excellence Awards, an annual recognition of ABC members that display exemplary diversity leadership in their company, workforce, supply chain and community with best-in-class recruitment policies, retention practices and training and mentoring programs. The winners were honored at the 31st annual Excellence in Construction® Awards at ABC Convention 2021 in Grapevine, Texas.  

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Associated Builders and Contractors Names Big D Metalworks 2021 Contractor of the Year

Thursday, March 11, 2021 9:50 AM

GRAPEVINE, Texas, March 11Associated Builders and Contractors today named Big D Metalworks, headquartered in Dallas, as its 2021 Contractor of the Year, an award that recognizes companies for corporate integrity, commitment to safety, professional development and expert craftsmanship. The award was presented at the 31st annual Excellence in Construction® Awards gala during ABC Convention 2021 in Grapevine, Texas, on March 10.

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ABC Names 2021 Craft Instructor of the Year

Thursday, March 11, 2021 9:50 AM

GRAPEVINE, Texas, March 11—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced Todd Swan, a carpentry instructor for the Franklin County Career and Technology Center, a training affiliate of the ABC Cumberland Valley Chapter, was named the 2021 Craft Instructor of the Year. Swan was honored at ABC Convention 2021 in Grapevine, Texas, on March 9.

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ABC Names the 2021 Craft Professional of the Year

Thursday, March 11, 2021 9:00 AM

GRAPEVINE, Texas, March 11—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced Pat Willburn, senior superintendent, DynaTen Corp., Alvarado, Texas, was named the 2021 Craft Professional of the Year. Willburn was honored at ABC Convention 2021 in Grapevine, Texas, on March 9.

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ABC Names the 2021 Young Professional of the Year

Thursday, March 11, 2021 9:00 AM

GRAPEVINE, Texas, March 11—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced Jim Ellis, vice president, Price Electric, Robins, Iowa, received ABC’s 2021 Young Professional of the Year Award. Ellis was honored at ABC Convention 2021 in Grapevine, Texas, on March 9.

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ABC Applauds NEPA Reform Bills to Modernize Permitting Process

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 2:50 PM

WASHINGTON, March 9—Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement applauding Sen. Mike Lee (R - Utah) for introducing the UNSHACKLE Act, along with several other pieces of legislation, today to improve and modernize the federal permitting process under the National Environmental Policy Act.

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Rose Sharply in February; Contractor Optimism Builds

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 9:50 AM

WASHINGTON, March 9- Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.2 months in February, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Feb. 22 to March 3. This is up 0.7 months from January’s reading, but is still 0.7 months lower than in February 2020.

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ABC: House Vote on the PRO Act Would Strip Workers of Their Privacy, Freedom and Choice

Monday, March 8, 2021 2:45 PM

WASHINGTON, March 8—Associated Builders and Contractors President and CEO Michael Bellaman today released the following statement strongly opposing the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (H.R. 842). The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the PRO Act this week.

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ABC Announces the 2021 Top Performing U.S. Commercial and Industrial Construction Member Companies

Monday, March 8, 2021 10:55 AM

WASHINGTON, March 8—Associated Builders and Contractors today released its third annual Top Performers lists, which recognize ABC member contractors’ achievements in safety, quality, diversity, project excellence and special designations, ranked by work hours.

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Nonresidential Construction Employment Decreases in February, Says ABC

Friday, March 5, 2021 9:43 AM

WASHINGTON, March 5—The construction industry lost 61,000 jobs on net in February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the last ten months, the industry has added 805,000 jobs, recovering 72.3% of the jobs lost during the earlier stages of the pandemic.

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It’s Time to Overhaul the 90-year-old Davis-Bacon Act, Says ABC

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 9:00 AM

WASHINGTON, March 3—Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement from Ben Brubeck, ABC vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs, on the 90th anniversary of the Davis-Bacon Act, a 1931 law that requires contractors and subcontractors that perform work on federally funded or assisted construction contracts in excess of $2,000 to pay a government-determined prevailing wage and benefit rate on an hourly basis to on-site workers.

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ABC Opposes H.R. 1, an Attack on Free Speech

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 2:45 PM

WASHINGTON, March 2—Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement from Vice President of Legislative & Political Affairs Kristen Swearingen voicing its strong opposition to H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2021, which is expected to be voted on in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 3.

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ABC Launches Construction Technology Marketplace to Grow Contractor Members’ Innovative Initiatives

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 9:50 AM

WASHINGTON, March 2—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced the launch of its inaugural Tech Marketplace, comprised of companies that provide construction technology and innovative digital solutions for ABC contractor members to advance and grow their technology strategies, offerings and abilities.

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Nonresidential Construction Spending Stabilizes in January 2021, Down 5% Since January 2020, Says ABC

Monday, March 1, 2021 11:05 AM

WASHINGTON, March 1—National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.9% on a monthly basis in January 2021 but is down 5% since January 2020, 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 $799.1 billion for the month.

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ABC Applauds Bill to Increase Fair and Open Competition on Taxpayer-funded Construction Contracts

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 4:06 PM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24—Associated Builders and Contractors today voiced its strong support for the Fair and Open Competition Act (H.R. 1284 / S. 403), which was introduced today by Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.).

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Monthly Construction Input Prices Surge 2.5% in January, Says ABC

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 9:35 AM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17—Construction input prices increased 2.5% in January 2021 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 rose 2.1% for the month.

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ABC Statement on Senate Committee Vote Approving Nomination of Mayor Walsh as Labor Secretary

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 5:32 PM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11— Associated Builders and Contractors President and CEO Michael Bellaman released the follow statement on the vote by the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to approve the nomination of Mayor Marty Walsh as secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Construction Backlog and Contractor Optimism Rise to Start 2021, According to ABC Member Survey

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 9:58 AM

WASHINGTON, Feb.9—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 7.5 months in January 2021, an increase of 0.2 months from its December 2020 reading, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Jan. 20 to Feb. 2. Despite the monthly uptick, backlog is 0.9 months lower than in January 2020.

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Nonresidential Construction Loses Jobs in January, Says ABC

Friday, February 5, 2021 10:43 AM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5—The construction industry lost 3,000 jobs on net in January 2021, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the last nine months, the industry has added 857,000 jobs, recovering 77% of the jobs lost during earlier pandemic stages.

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Congress’s Reintroduction of the PRO Act Will Do Anything But ‘Build Back Better,’ Says ABC

Thursday, February 4, 2021 3:48 PM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4—Associated Builders and Contractors President and CEO Michael Bellaman released the follow statement today in response to Congress’s reintroduction of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act

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While State Construction Unemployment Rates End Poorly in 2020, Industry Continues to Perform Better Than Other Sectors Nationally, Says ABC

Thursday, February 4, 2021 9:44 AM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4—As the nation struggles with the economic effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, construction employment continues to perform better than many other occupational groups, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. In December 2020, on a year-over-year basis, not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates rose nationally and in 48 states, and national NSA construction employment was down 125,000 from December 2019. However, national construction employment was only 3% below its pre-pandemic peak in February 2020 on a seasonally adjusted basis.

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For media inquiries, please contact Donna Reichle, ABC’s senior director of communcations and marketing at [email protected]

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