Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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How to recruit young workers before it’s too late
With 41% of the construction workforce set to retire by 2031, finding and keeping the next generation of builders is becoming an existential must, writes consultant John Waters.
John Waters • Feb. 27, 2026 -
How to find the balance between profitability and people
Recruiting the next generation of builders may require a cultural shift, but companies also can’t abandon their core values, writes consultant Matt Verderamo.
Matt Verderamo • Feb. 20, 2026 -
If you haven’t adopted stop-work authority on jobsites, what are you afraid of?
The benefits of giving teams the ability to pause a job for concerns of any size far outweigh the delays, writes an environmental health and safety expert.
Travis Irving • Feb. 5, 2026 -
Why the AI boom is different than the dot-com bubble
Real companies with deep pockets are spending hundreds of billions of dollars, creating cash flow for contractors, especially those in the electrical space, write two consultants.
Steven Rathbone and Nick Dreps • Feb. 5, 2026 -
Why the EPA’s proposed WOTUS rule matters for construction
By doubling down on the definition established by the U.S. Supreme Court, the proposal gives clarity to a previously murky designation, write two environmental experts at firm Kimley-Horn.
Charles Jacobi and Merrit Cowden • Feb. 3, 2026 -
Why contractors should hire builders who can sell
A good business development manager can be a game changer for contractors, writes consultant Matt Verderamo, and training a builder to sell is easier than teaching construction expertise.
Matt Verderamo • Jan. 29, 2026 -
Why good subcontractor management matters
Disputes and delays can be avoided with clear planning and strong communication throughout a project’s lifecycle, writes a construction attorney.
Nicole Kwapisz • Jan. 26, 2026 -
How a lack of data standardization is holding AI back in construction
A contech executive advocates for “active governance” and says that clean, structured data should be as nonnegotiable as safety on any build.
Amir Berman • Jan. 21, 2026 -
How a simple fix to the EB-3 visa program could be the answer construction needs
The Dignity Act, which is before Congress now, could address the workforce shortage without raising green card caps, a consultant writes.
John Dorer • Jan. 16, 2026 -
Why OSHA standards shouldn’t be the high-water mark for contractor safety
As 2026 gets underway, a construction injury lawyer argues that government benchmarks represent the bare minimum, not the ultimate goal, for protecting workers.
Ken Fulginiti • Jan. 15, 2026 -
How AI can help builders weather the labor crunch on jobsites
With wage expenses piling up, leveraging the technology lets builders protect their margins and get more value out of existing crews, writes a contech expert.
Alok Chanani • Jan. 14, 2026 -
America’s infrastructure is only as strong as its AI governance
Given the proliferation of tools for both workers and cyber criminals, providing internal safeguards is a critical step for AEC firms, a consultant writes.
Lalitha Krishnamoorthy • Jan. 12, 2026 -
How contractors can navigate cost pressures, labor shortages and regulatory hurdles in 2026
Despite widespread challenges, companies that embrace digital tools and pursue diverse project portfolios will have a strategic edge over the competition.
Danielle Kaiser • Jan. 5, 2026 -
Project decisions, not personal productivity, should be AI’s focus
While getting emails out faster or summarizing meetings is useful, the true game changer from the technology comes down to presenting choices for leaders to make, write two consultants.
Marjan Gholamalipour & Markus Bernhardt • Dec. 19, 2025 -
Why strategy trumps process in pursuing construction bids
Most contractors have trusted go/no-go criteria. But looking at the bigger picture is also important for jobs that create new opportunities, a consultant writes.
Chad Prinkey • Dec. 8, 2025 -
Has your construction firm hit a revenue ceiling? You might be the problem.
When growth stalls in a building business, sometimes an owner’s best move is to get out of the way, writes a construction consultant.
Jerry Aliberti • Dec. 4, 2025 -
Stop emailing people on the jobsite. Talk to them instead.
A newly appointed JE Dunn superintendent writes about why actually speaking face to face in the field can increase the overall efficiency of a build.
Corey Febo • Dec. 2, 2025 -
Why adopting better helmets in construction is a no-brainer
Type II helmets better protect workers from fatal falls, yet are underused, writes the director of Virginia Tech’s helmet safety research lab.
Steve Rowson • Dec. 2, 2025 -
4 strategies to boost recruiting through employer branding
Retaining and upskilling construction workers requires a clear message and follow-through on employer culture, writes a strategic communication leader.
Ayme Zemke • Dec. 1, 2025 -
What commercial builders miss about Gen Z and the labor shortage
It’s not just about attracting younger workers to the industry. It’s also about keeping them once they’re here, writes a construction principal.
Chase Manning • Nov. 25, 2025 -
Want project owners to treat you as a partner? Emit authority, not agreeability.
Although fulfilling requests may keep a customer happy, part of a contractor’s job is to bring experience and perspective. That can mean saying “no,” writes a consultant.
Matt Verderamo • Nov. 21, 2025 -
Data center volatility, batteries and the electric grid’s new reality
Every data center is about to play a role in grid stability whether it wants to or not, writes TerraFlow Energy’s Amanda Simonian.
Amanda Simonian • Nov. 17, 2025 -
4 ways contractors can lock in year-end tax wins in 2025
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, decisions made before Dec. 31 can have long-term impacts on cash flow, project pricing and capital budgets, writes a construction accountant.
Chris Coleman • Nov. 14, 2025 -
There’s no skilled labor shortage in construction. There’s a shortage of good jobs.
The issue is not a lack of willing people, but a lack of steady, quality jobs, writes an Iron Workers union business manager.
Gary R. Armstrong Jr. • Nov. 6, 2025 -
Why ESG matters for multifamily developers, investors
Investment companies are increasingly using environmental criteria in evaluating multifamily opportunities, two real estate pros write.
Brad Siegal and Heather Wright • Nov. 4, 2025