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

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Labor

A roundup of articles about issues affecting the workforce.

By Construction Dive staff

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

Most contractors optimistic about commercial construction industry

A USG + U.S. Chamber of Commerce report shows prefabrication and modular construction are picking up some slack created by the labor shortage.

By Kim Slowey • March 7, 2018

January construction spending unchanged at $1.26 trillion

January's construction spending failed to meet analysts' higher estimates, but was up 3.2% from January 2017. 

By Kim Slowey • March 4, 2018

Construction industry 'extremely positive' about nonresidential activity

Enthusiasm for 2018 construction activity boosted Wells Fargo's Optimism Quotient to a 20-year high.

By Kim Slowey • March 2, 2018

Trump signs orders for new aluminum, steel tariffs

According to a study by The Trade Partnership, construction could lose as many as 28,000 jobs in response to the tariffs.

By Kim Slowey , Mary Tyler March • March 2, 2018

Dodge: January construction starts fall 2%, sign of 'decelerating expansion'

Highway and bridge construction took the worst hit, down 34% from December, while the nation still waits for the federal infrastructure plan to be solidified.

By Kim Slowey • Feb. 23, 2018

Employers tell Congress of opioid crisis struggles, but next steps remain unclear

Some businesses say they're struggling to find workers who can pass a drug test, further exacerbating the skills gap.

By Valerie Bolden-Barrett , Laurie Cowin • Feb. 21, 2018

January material prices up 1.1%

Year-over-year material prices rose 4.9%, and the Associated Builders and Contractors expect prices to continue to rise through 2018.

By Kim Slowey • Feb. 15, 2018

Dodge: 2017 commercial, multifamily construction starts decline in top markets

Even with a 16% drop in commercial and multifamily starts from 2016, the New York City metro area emerged as last year's leader. Overall, starts for all construction segments were up 3%.

By Kim Slowey • Feb. 15, 2018

Dodge Momentum Index sees early 2018 dip

Dodge Data & Analytics said January's decline was a correction following an unusually strong end to 2017.

By Kim Slowey • Feb. 8, 2018

Build A Career in the Building Trades

With a projected industry growth of 22% by 2022, construction companies are aggressively searching for the next generation of talent in the skilled trades.  

By Kevin Hilton (IMPACT) and Bob Woods (Go Build) • Feb. 8, 2018

New York City's construction workforce needs more women, minorities, NYBC says

The construction industry has long struggled to recruit and maintain underrepresented demographics, particularly women and people of color.

By Kim Slowey • Feb. 7, 2018

US construction spending hit record high for second-straight month

December's record beat analyst expectations by 0.3% and marks the fifth-consecutive month of spending gains.

By Kim Slowey • Feb. 5, 2018

Construction adds 36K jobs in January

Though employment figures point to industry strength in the near future, contractors should monitor inflation that could push material and labor prices up.

By Kim Slowey • Feb. 5, 2018