Economy
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How contractors can survive a downturn
Recession-proofing tactics give contractors a chance to reevaluate their business platforms, get lean and focus on their strengths.
By Kim Slowey • Oct. 21, 2019 -
Industry Pulse: The latest construction data and statistics
Spending slipped slightly in March, but the value of starts surged 16% with such projects as the $1.6 billion Toyota-Mazda plant in Huntsville and the $850 million Seattle KeyArena renovation.
By Construction Dive Editors • Oct. 18, 2019 -
Inside Columbus, Ohio's $4B construction boom
A record number of starts this year will propel the city far beyond its peers in construction work, if the labor pool can keep up.
By Kim Slowey • Oct. 10, 2019 -
Report: Construction faces widest foreign language skills gap
Safety issues on jobsites can arise when trade workers primarily speak Spanish or other languages that managers don't, a survey shows.
By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 08, 2019 -
SponsoredSwinging the pendulum on construction careers
The skilled workforce shortage requires innovative solutions and recognizing barriers to entry.
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Construction unemployment returns to 2009 low
Wages were also up at the end of the month, to $30.81 an hour from $30.15 an hour last September.
By Kim Slowey • Oct. 07, 2019 -
Market watch: Track construction's economic health
A watch list of the reports, indexes, surveys and stocks that can help contractors follow what's to come for the industry and their businesses.
By Jenn Goodman • Oct. 03, 2019 -
Market watch: Indicators crucial to planning for a construction downturn
Construction leaders and industry experts look to a range of signs when trying to accurately forecast the future for their businesses.
By Jenn Goodman • Oct. 02, 2019 -
Market watch: Labor shortage, backlogs may mask construction slowdown
Even though business has never been better for many contractors, economists warn of signs that the construction industry may be in for a downturn.
By Jenn Goodman • Oct. 01, 2019 -
AIA: Design service billings experience 'substantial' decrease in July report
Kermit Baker, the AIA's chief economist, said six months of billing and project activity declines could mean that the design industry is "facing some headwinds" for the first time since its expansion started in 2012.
By Kim Slowey • Sept. 19, 2019 -
7 construction OEM stocks to watch
How these public companies perform in response to a potential slowdown will likely be the focus of sector analysts for the foreseeable future.
By Kim Slowey • Sept. 13, 2019 -
SponsoredHow the competitive job market can lead to prompter payments
Prompt payment has long been a challenge for the construction industry. Complex invoicing and weak payment legislation have made it difficult for subcontractors to receive timely payment from their employers.
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SponsoredSix tips for navigating the equipment financing process
Funding heavy-equipment acquisitions through specialized asset-backed financing allows you to purchase more and better equipment.
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Report: Construction starts slow in 7 of top 20 US markets
A Dodge analysis finds that growth in commercial and multifamily starts has declined in the first half of the year compared to last year in key markets including Seattle, San Francisco and New York City.
By Jenn Goodman • Aug. 26, 2019 -
Optimism high amid uncertainty
Commercial builders mostly expect profit to grow this year despite economic warning bells around debt and trade, according to an ABC confidence index.
By Kim Slowey • Aug. 26, 2019 -
Can Louisiana handle $32B of industrial construction?
Developers plan on combating a shortage of skilled labor with alternative strategies like modularization and the use of robotic devices.
By Kim Slowey • Aug. 21, 2019 -
What are the construction industry's top economic bellwethers?
From Caterpillar’s earnings to stock prices and architect billings, construction leaders rely on a variety of economic signs and signals to know when a recession is imminent. What are your top indicators?
By Jenn Goodman • Aug. 21, 2019 -
Fluor re-evaluates risk, project selection amid $555M Q2 loss
"We must take a more disciplined approach to risk assessment," CEO Carlos Hernandez said. "We're focusing on profitability and cash generation."
By Joe Beeton • Aug. 07, 2019 -
On $97M quarterly loss, Granite Construction shifts to smaller projects
Disputes on recent multi-billion-dollar projects in the firm's heavy civil sector have caused Granite to re-evaluate its project delivery methods and its roll in P3 contracts and JVs.
By Jenn Goodman • Aug. 03, 2019 -
Plumbing company settles EEOC claims that it assigned only Latino workers to sewer duty
When a worker complained, a supervisor told him to return to the sewer, threatened to replace him and referred to him by a pejorative, the EEOC said.
By Lisa Burden • July 29, 2019 -
Caterpillar had to raise prices in light of tariffs last quarter
The steel and aluminum tariffs imposed in 2018 cost the construction equipment manufacturer an extra $70 million in the second quarter, making it hard to maintain margins.
By Shefali Kapadia • July 26, 2019 -
Construction's hourly wages 10% higher than private sector's
Despite increasing hourly wages 3.2% over the year to an industry average of $30.73 and offering other incentives, construction firms still face challenges attracting jobsite workers.
By Jenn Goodman • July 19, 2019 -
Trump proposes tighter Buy American limits on steel, iron
Under the new rules, material would be prohibited on many federal contracts if even 5% of its value comes from foreign content.
By Kim Slowey • July 18, 2019 -
SponsoredCredentials: why do they matter?
Credentials are a vital piece of our workforce development system and offer a path to a successful and lucrative career.
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Report: 60% of US construction activity concentrated in 10 states
Of the more than 11,200 U.S. projects GlobalData tracks, California by far leads with $524.6 billion in the works, followed by Texas, New York and Florida.
By Kim Slowey • July 10, 2019
