'They've defended America, now let's help them build it': Combating the labor shortage with veterans

While countless jobs in the construction industry go unfilled, a stream of highly capable veterans look for work. Some experts say it's a marketing problem.

By Zachary Phillips • Nov. 11, 2019

Citing tariffs, Caterpillar lays off 120 temp workers in Texas

The U.S.-based construction-related manufacturer attributed the cuts to slowing sales stemming from President Trump's trade war with China.

By Jennifer Goodman • Nov. 5, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Labor

A roundup of articles about issues affecting the workforce.

By Construction Dive staff

E-verify to be mandatory for contractors in Pennsylvania and maybe more states

President Donald Trump has expressed interest in making the federal, online legal employment status verification system more widespread, possibly as part of a larger overhaul of U.S. immigration law. 

By Jennifer Carsen • Oct. 24, 2019

How contractors can survive a downturn

Take a look back at a story on recession-proofing from October, when experts were calm and optimistic about the boom the industry was experiencing, for the tips they had preparing for times like these.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 21, 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. 8, 2019

Swinging the pendulum on construction careers

The skilled workforce shortage requires innovative solutions and recognizing barriers to entry.

Oct. 8, 2019

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. 7, 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 Jennifer Goodman • Oct. 3, 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 Jennifer Goodman • Oct. 2, 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 Jennifer Goodman • Oct. 1, 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

How 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.

Sept. 10, 2019

Six tips for navigating the equipment financing process

Funding heavy-equipment acquisitions through specialized asset-backed financing allows you to purchase more and better equipment. 

Aug. 27, 2019

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 Jennifer 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 Jennifer 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. 7, 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 role in P3 contracts and JVs.

By Jennifer Goodman • Aug. 3, 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 Jennifer 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