Seattle construction workers brace for possible slowdown

Despite the Washington city's building boom, its construction workers wonder how the new head tax and other factors will affect business.

By Kim Slowey • May 16, 2018

Competition has banks easing up on commercial lending

A Federal Reserve Board survey revealed that commercial lenders' loan standards are the most relaxed they have been in three years.

By Kim Slowey • May 15, 2018

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Labor

A roundup of articles about issues affecting the workforce.

By Construction Dive staff

April construction jobs up 17K for post-recession high

A 3.5% average wage hike is helping to recruit more experienced construction workers. 

By Kim Slowey • May 8, 2018

Report: Construction costs continue to increase amid tariff uncertainty

The industry is looking to May 1 when the Trump administration will issue a decision on which countries will be exempt from steel and aluminum tariffs. 

By Kim Slowey • April 26, 2018

City officials split on who should pay for $17B California Delta tunnels

Delegations from Los Angeles and San Diego voted against investing billions in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta project.

By Kim Slowey • April 24, 2018

Los Angeles construction costs climbed most in U.S. in 2017

The 7.6% increase for the California city last year was nearly double the 4.2% average uptick the rest of the country experienced.

By Kim Slowey • April 20, 2018

Raiders' $2B stadium signals strong demand for sports venues

The relatively easy financing process for the Raiders' Las Vegas stadium could motivate other sports teams and cities to build new venues.

By Kim Slowey • April 19, 2018

Completion of massive construction projects can negatively impact local businesses

When projects wrap up, lodging, food and other services often are left facing a significant downturn in sales.

By Kim Slowey • April 18, 2018

Material prices increase in March, expected to constrain profit growth

The ABC said that rising material prices and wages will challenge contractor profits in 2018, despite a healthy backlog of work.

By Kim Slowey • April 13, 2018

FMI: Construction spending will increase 7% in 2018

The management and investment consultancy expects the office sector to lead nonresidential construction spending.

By Kim Slowey • April 11, 2018

Dodge: March momentum jumps on 9.6% commercial rebound

The data and analytics company reported that this new wave of momentum could be a result of the tax overhaul passed at the end of last year.

By Kim Slowey • April 9, 2018

Construction employment declines by 15,000 jobs in March

The Associated Builders and Contractors said trade tensions with China and other Trump administration policies could be impacting employment growth.

By Kim Slowey • April 9, 2018

NYC's construction boom spreading to all boroughs

Activity during the past five years was at its greatest since the recession, with the outer boroughs, particularly, seeing growth.

By Kim Slowey • April 4, 2018

Construction decelerating, but not declining, experts say

Dodge economist Bob Murray said rising interest rates and material costs and the labor shortage will dampen the industry, but won't cause a cyclical decline.

By Laurie Cowin • April 4, 2018

Construction boom paying off in executive compensation, bonuses, report says

Construction firms also are spending big to recruit executives, especially those with experience in alternative project delivery methods.

By Kim Slowey • April 3, 2018

February construction spending inches up 0.1%

Despite the month's growth, the persisting labor shortage and steadily rising material prices are creating a drag on construction spending.

By Kim Slowey • April 3, 2018

$1.3 trillion spending bill gives infrastructure $21B boost, leaves out direct funding for Gateway program

The bill funds infrastructure and career training but doesn't address federal investment in the $13 billion New York-New Jersey Hudson River tunnel.

By Kim Slowey • March 26, 2018

Dodge: Value of February construction starts falls 3%

Last month's starts were negatively affected by a lack of big energy projects, although starts for the year ending February 2018 were up 2%.

By Kim Slowey • March 22, 2018

Nonresidential backlog hits new high in Q4, primes industry for strong 2018

The South still has the most construction projects in the pipeline, but the Northeast's backlog grew the most of any region in the fourth quarter.

By Kim Slowey • March 20, 2018

9 construction jobs on Indeed's top 25 best jobs list

The 2018 list focuses on jobs with salaries of at least $75,000 and the most job opportunities. 

By Kim Slowey • March 19, 2018

Material prices continue to climb in February

New tariffs and U.S. economic policy have affected the prices for steel, aluminum and softwood lumber, but steel prices were already on the rise.

By Kim Slowey • March 15, 2018

Home Depot giving $50M for construction skills training

Such programs are part of an industry-wide push to encourage millennials and generations after them to explore the trades.

By Kim Slowey • March 12, 2018

Construction sees best month of job growth since March 2007

Construction accounted for one-fifth of net new job creation in the U.S. last month.

By Mary Tyler March • March 9, 2018

February sees second-straight month of slowdown in commercial sector

The Dodge Data & Analytics report said an increase in vacancy rates for offices and warehouses could be behind the sector's sluggish momentum.

By Kim Slowey • March 8, 2018

Is Seattle's building boom over?

There are still plenty of projects in the pipeline, but construction has declined in the past six months and Seattle's crane count has fallen by 22%.

By Kim Slowey • March 7, 2018