Construction unemployment rose in August, and that’s good news for contractors

The sector’s overheated jobs market is beginning to cool, while average construction wages rose to nearly $35 per hour.

By Joe Bousquin • Sept. 2, 2022

Public projects keep nonresidential construction spending positive, overall sector falls

Total construction spending fell 0.4% in July, but highway and public safety jobs, funded by public dollars, kept non-housing-related spending in the black.

By Joe Bousquin • Sept. 2, 2022

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Labor

A roundup of articles about issues affecting the workforce.

By Construction Dive staff

Lack of construction workers threatens infrastructure efforts: AGC

A full 91% of firms are having trouble staffing jobsites and there’s “almost nobody” looking for construction jobs, according to a new Associated General Contractors of America survey.

By Joe Bousquin • Sept. 1, 2022

How reality capture tech helped Columbia align 60,000 feet of pipe

An Avvir program let the Massachusetts contractor save three days of inspection, analysis and reporting a week.

By Matthew Thibault • Aug. 31, 2022

Construction job openings spike higher

After dipping in June, unfilled positions in the sector soared 11.3% last month from a year ago, increasing chances of more interest rate hikes ahead.

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 30, 2022

Court partially reinstates federal contractor vaccine mandate

An appeals court ruled the mandate is still stayed for members of the Associated Builders and Contractors and contracting agencies in seven states. 

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 30, 2022

Healthcare construction spending surges despite soaring expenses

Rising MEP costs, inflation and supply chain concerns haven't slowed costly healthcare projects.

By Sebastian Obando • Aug. 29, 2022

SEC charges Granite with fraud, firm pays $12M

The California-based contractor said it fully cooperated with the investigation, while the attorney for a former executive at the firm said he would fight the charges in court. 

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 26, 2022

Rego Restaurant Group develops modular construction units

BCubed Manufacturing will provide Quiznos and Taco Del Mar franchisees the option to build 650-square-foot units with drive-thrus and pickup windows. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 26, 2022

Suffolk breaks ground on life sciences project in NYC

The New York City metro area leads the nation in jobs and funding in life sciences, beating out industry powerhouses like San Francisco and Boston.

By Sebastian Obando • Aug. 25, 2022

Oregon program helps place formerly incarcerated people in apprenticeships

In Construction Dive’s latest Help Wanted column, we speak to graduates and leaders from a Portland pre-apprenticeship program.

By Zachary Phillips • Aug. 25, 2022

Chip maker warnings rattle Wall Street, but not construction

While semiconductor manufacturers fret about the consumer market, plenty of demand remains in other sectors, analysts say.

By Sebastian Obando • Aug. 25, 2022

Adolfson & Peterson completes $33.5M PGA of America headquarters

The golf association's new home near Dallas features an indoor chipping and putting area, along with driving range simulators.

By Matthew Thibault • Aug. 25, 2022

NYC’s most critical infrastructure now and for the next 100 years

The New York Building Congress outlined which rail, road, bridge and other projects will grow the city's economy and help it adapt to climate change.

By Sebastian Obando • Aug. 24, 2022

Lowe’s pilots faster delivery for pros

The retailer is offering enhanced services to better compete with The Home Depot for professional contractor customers.

By Kate Magill • Aug. 24, 2022

The ‘bonus’ tax deduction in the Inflation Reduction Act for construction firms

Contractors can earn up to a $5-per-square-foot energy-efficient tax deduction when they meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements on nonprofit projects. 

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 24, 2022

Jacobs rebrands, takes on new parent company name

The Dallas-based contractor is changing its name to Jacobs Solutions to reflect its focus on intelligence, infrastructure, cybersecurity and space.

By Sebastian Obando • Aug. 23, 2022

Lendlease reports $68M loss for full year, lowers construction outlook

The Australia-based global construction giant attributed its uneven performance to COVID-19, restructuring and pulling out of non-core work.

By Zachary Phillips • Aug. 23, 2022

Boston policy asks for diversity plans on private projects

A new measure approved by the Boston Planning & Development Agency asks developers to submit diversity and inclusion goals on nonpublic jobs.

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 23, 2022

Miami-Dade issues RFP for $10B downtown redevelopment

County leaders liken the vision for the MetroCenter project to Hudson Yards in New York City and the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco.

By Sebastian Obando • Aug. 22, 2022

Global Infrastructure Solutions acquires Hill International for $173M

The merger will accelerate growth for Hill, one of the U.S.’s largest construction management firms, and expand GISI's consulting services.

By Julie Strupp • Aug. 19, 2022

Lumber prices ride a volatility roller coaster

Multifamily builders are pre-purchasing and warehousing lumber for future projects as the market remains in flux.

By Mary Salmonsen • Aug. 19, 2022

Skanska tapped to work on largest US offshore wind project

Skanska USA will redevelop part of a Virginia marine terminal into an offshore wind staging port.

By Zachary Phillips • Aug. 19, 2022

The top and bottom 5 states for construction employment

Associated Builders and Contractors analyzed the unemployment rate for construction, and found two states with a rock-bottom low of just 0.9% in June. 

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 19, 2022

Chicago, Milwaukee top Mortenson’s construction costs list

Of the seven cities surveyed in the firm’s Q2 cost index, prices rose the most in traditionally affordable markets.

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 18, 2022