As we look forward to autumn and hopefully more reasonable temperatures, we feature a potpourri of topics covering machinery dealers, upscale developments, progressive architects, how AI melds with construction, safer workplaces, and an old-school take on estimating a multi-million-dollar project on an adding machine. We hope you enjoy the issue and can even read it outside on the patio. For your convenience, copies of the magazine are available on the ACC website and at Book

Nonunion apprenticeship programs and participants were responsible for the vast majority of growth in construction registered apprenticeship programs, or RAPs, over the past five years, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data. “The DOL data show that ABC and merit shop contractors are leading the industry in growing both registered apprenticeship programs and innovative new workforce development pipelines,” said Kristen Sw

National nonresidential construction spending rose 0.1% in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.277 trillion. Spending was up on a monthly basis in 8 of 16 nonresidential subcategories. Both public and private nonresidential spending were up 0.1% in June. Private nonresidential construction spending was down nearly 5% f

Overall construction and nonresidential input prices both increased 0.1% in July compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Overall construction input prices are 7.4% higher than one year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 7.2% higher. Prices decreased in 2 of the 3 energy subcategories last month. Crude petroleum prices decrease

Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.0 months in July, according to an ABC member survey conducted July 20 to Aug. 4. The reading is down 0.8 months from both a month and year ago. View ABC's Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index for July. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Every industry, region and company size experienced a de

Robust Data Center Backlog and Steady 1% Quarterly Cost Growth Anchor Second Half Outlook Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) has released its second quarter 2026 Quarterly Construction Cost Report (QCR), highlighting a period of strategic alignment and healthy stabilization across the North American construction market. Current data confirm that construction cost inflation has settled into a sustainable quarterly pace of approximately 1%, allowing developers to advance long-term cap

Construction input prices increased 2.6% in May compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 2.4% for the month. Overall construction materials prices are 9.6% higher than one year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 9.7% higher. Prices increased in 2 of the 3 energy subcategories la

Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 9.1 months in May, according to an ABC member survey conducted May 20 to June 3. The reading is up 0.3 months from April and 0.7 months from May 2025. View ABC's Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index for May. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog for the month increased in every region exce

Meta Platforms Inc. and Associated Builders and Contractors today announced a partnership to educate and provide construction-ready career pathways for thousands of data center construction technicians kicking off in Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas as a meaningful step toward meeting the growing demand for data centers workers nationwide. America’s Workforce Academy is a $115 million investment in the next generation of construction professionals that includes a five-week

The construction industry added 9,000 jobs on net in April, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has expanded by 50,000 jobs, an increase of 0.6%. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 19,000 positions, with gains in all three subcategories. Nonresidential specialty traded added the most jobs, increasing by 12,600 positions. Nonre

National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in April, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.250 trillion. Spending was up on a monthly basis in 10 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending was down 0.2%, while public nonresidential construction spending was up 0.4% in April. Spend

The construction industry had 259,000 job openings on the last day of April, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings increased by 25,000 last month and are up by 52,000 from the same time last year. “This release of April data suggests that contra

Construction input prices increased 1.7% in April compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 1.8% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 7.0% higher than one year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 7.4% higher. Prices increased in all three energy subcategories last

The national March not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rate was 6.7%, a 1.3% increase from March 2025, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. The analysis found that only two states—Louisiana and Ohio—had lower estimated construction unemployment rates over the same period, four had the same rate and 44 had higher rates. All but six states had construction unemployment

The construction industry had 224,000 job openings on the last day of March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings increased by 23,000 last month but are down by 54,000 from the same time last year. “The industry’s labor market continues to be de

Vacancy decreased in Q1 to 22.8% while new construction remains low The Phoenix Office of JLL has released its Q1 2026 Phoenix Office Market Dynamics report, noting a modest vacancy reduction in the first quarter and a widening deficit for the kind of highly amenitized, Class A space that today’s modern tenants seek. Total vacancy fell by 50 basis points quarter-over-quarter, to 22.8%. During that same period, absorption rose to 375,983-square-feet, more than double the 148,9

The construction industry added 26,000 jobs in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has grown by 57,000 jobs, an increase of 0.7%. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 12,200 positions, with gains in all three subcategories. Nonresidential building added the most jobs, increasing by 4,500 positions. Nonresidential specialt

Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.1 months in February, according to an ABC member survey conducted Feb. 20 to March 6. The reading is up 0.1 months from January but down 0.2 months from February 2025. View ABC's Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index for February. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series . Backlog increased sha

The construction industry had 202,000 job openings on the last day of February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings decreased by 28,000 in February and are down by 53,000 from the same time last year. “Construction hiring fell to the slowest ra

The construction industry lost 11,000 jobs on net in February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has grown by 42,000 jobs, an increase of 0.5%. Nonresidential construction employment decreased by 3,800 positions, with losses in 2 of the 3 subcategories. Heavy and civil engineering lost 6,500 jobs and nonresidential specialty trade lost 1,400