Labor

  • A group of construction workers against a cloudy sky at sunset.
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    Construction fatal overdose, suicide rates dropped in 2024

    Drug-related overdose deaths and deaths by suicide declined 28.8% and 1.7% year over year, respectively, according to the most recent data from NABTU and CPWR.

    By • Feb. 13, 2026
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    60% of Gen Zers will pursue skilled trade work this year: survey

    Fear of AI might be driving the shift. A different survey last year found fewer than 40% of Gen Zers had an interest in the trades.

    By Robert Freedman • Feb. 11, 2026
  • A group of construction workers on a roadway jobsite.
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    Construction job openings rose to end 2025

    Despite an improvement at the end of December, fewer construction workers were hired in 2024 and 2025 compared to recent years, according to Anirban Basu, chief economist for ABC.

    By • Feb. 6, 2026
  • A group of construction workers talk in a circle on a jobsite.
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    Construction education nonprofit launches English upskilling program

    NCCER partnered with EnGen on a foreman certification initiative to help workers with limited English skills boost career growth opportunities.

    By • Feb. 3, 2026
  • A 2026 calendar is circled in red ink.
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    What construction leaders need to know for 2026

    It’s anyone’s guess what the next 12 months will look like. Here, nonresidential building pros share insights on data centers, immigration and more to bring the year into focus.

    By • Jan. 29, 2026
  • Large cranes tower over dirt and construction machinery on a jobsite.
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    Construction’s new worker demand drops to 350,000 in 2026: report

    Down from half a million in recent years, the estimate could prove conservative as construction workers retire and political actions destabilize the labor market, per ABC.

    By • Jan. 28, 2026
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    How a simple fix to the EB-3 visa program could be the answer construction needs

    The Dignity Act, which is before Congress now, could address the workforce shortage without raising green card caps, a consultant writes. 

    By John Dorer • Jan. 16, 2026
  • Two construction workers wear respirators on a jobsite.
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    Opinion

    Why OSHA standards shouldn’t be the high-water mark for contractor safety

    As 2026 gets underway, a construction injury lawyer argues that government benchmarks represent the bare minimum, not the ultimate goal, for protecting workers. 

    By Ken Fulginiti • Jan. 15, 2026
  • Construction workers help build a mixed-use apartment complex on January 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, Calif.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive // 2026 Outlook

    How immigration enforcement will impact construction in 2026

    Undocumented workers are becoming increasingly scarce on jobsites. That means higher expenses in sectors with less demand, while data center wages continue to command a premium. 

    By • Jan. 14, 2026
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Construction job openings were ‘extraordinarily low’ in October

    The latest federal data shows muted labor demand along with a sharp drop in hiring, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis.

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
  • A group of people in construction safety gear shake hands on a jobsite.
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    Opinion

    4 strategies to boost recruiting through employer branding

    Retaining and upskilling construction workers requires a clear message and follow-through on employer culture, writes a strategic communication leader.

    By Ayme Zemke • Dec. 1, 2025
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    Opinion

    What commercial builders miss about Gen Z and the labor shortage

    It’s not just about attracting younger workers to the industry. It’s also about keeping them once they’re here, writes a construction principal.

    By Chase Manning • Nov. 25, 2025
  • A woman construction worker of color works on a jobsite.
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    DOTs hit pause on DBE goals to recertify firms

    Around 41,000 companies participate in the national program that awards contracting goals to disadvantaged businesses. They all must now effectively reapply.

    By • Nov. 18, 2025
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    Over one-third of companies plan to replace entry roles with AI, survey says

    Although cutting entry-level hires may increase savings in the short run, drying up this pipeline to future leaders could create a long-term crisis, a Korn Ferry report warned.

    By Laurel Kalser • Nov. 6, 2025
  • A group of construction workers on a building.
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    With shutdown, contractors ‘in the dark’ on labor data

    The government shutdown prevented the Bureau of Labor Statistics from releasing a job openings report, just one of many metrics that help builders understand the broader economy.

    By • Nov. 6, 2025
  • A close-up of a construction worker and his hard hat.
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    Audrey Richardson via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    There’s no skilled labor shortage in construction. There’s a shortage of good jobs.

    The issue is not a lack of willing people, but a lack of steady, quality jobs, writes an Iron Workers union business manager.

    By Gary R. Armstrong Jr. • Nov. 6, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    DHS ends automatic extensions of immigrant work permits

    The new rule leaves employers scrambling and likely will lead to labor shortages, an attorney said.

    By Ginger Christ • Oct. 30, 2025
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    California greenlights $25M for apprenticeship programs

    Through the Employment Training Panel, the cash targets 88 apprenticeship programs and 22,208 workers, many in construction.

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
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    What will OSHA look like when the government reopens?

    One expert compared the shutdown to school snow days, indicating the time lost for rulemaking cannot be made up.

    By • Oct. 23, 2025
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    Sponsored by Ambetter Health

    How and why ICHRAs are built for busy construction crews

    Static healthcare benefit plans might not always match the way construction teams work.

    Oct. 20, 2025
  • A construction worker on a jobsite stands with his hands on his hips.
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    Opinion

    3 questions to ask yourself to build your construction career

    Figuring out your plans and the company’s can help determine your future in the building industry, writes one consultant.

    By Matt Verderamo • Oct. 16, 2025
  • Construction workers work in a lift next to an American flag.
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    Courtesy of Skanska
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    Skanska names new strategy chief, market VP

    The move follows Skanska’s expansion of its data center and semiconductor team and will see a new lead overseeing development of the firm’s internal AI tools.

    By • Oct. 14, 2025
  • A group of people stand near a prefabricated house project.
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    Permission granted by Lowe's Foundation
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    Lowe’s Foundation grants small programs tools to recruit, train

    The nonprofit has pledged to reach 50,000 individuals seeking careers in the skilled trades, with $43 million granted to 60 programs since 2023. 

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
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    (2025). [Screenshot]. Retrieved from U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.
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    David Keeling confirmed as new head of OSHA

    The former Amazon and UPS safety executive takes on the role as the agency is expected to advance a heat safety regulation. Keeling has said OSHA needs both regulatory and technology updates.

    By Megan Quinn • Oct. 8, 2025
  • Two construction workers shake hand on a jobsite.
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    Opinion

    In recruiting, construction needs to pitch being a leader, not a laborer

    Boyd Worsham, president and CEO of the National Center for Construction Education and Research, writes that the industry should emphasize the top, not the bottom, of building’s career ladder.

    By Boyd Worsham • Oct. 7, 2025