Author: agcnews
Construction employment totaled 8,367,000 in October, up 1.5% (124,000) year-over-year but down 3,000 from September, as the industry’s unemployment rate tied its record October low of 3.6%, per AGC of America’s analysis of new federal data. All year-over-year gains came from nonresidential contractors, which added 164,600 workers over the past year and raised average hourly pay 5.2% to $39.70—21.2% above the broader private-sector average—while residential employment fell 40,200 over the same period. AGC urges policy makers to expand career training programs, create a pathway for contractors to hire qualified workers from abroad, and pass a new highway and transit funding…
AGC of America has released an updated Construction Inflation Alert highlighting the impacts of rising materials costs, supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages on the construction industry. The report finds that construction materials costs rose 11.9% year-over-year through September 2026, more than triple the 3.7% increase in consumer prices, while diesel fuel prices surged 115%. The Alert also outlines steps contractors and owners can take to manage these challenges. AGC encourages members to share information about changing market conditions, including supplier notices and cost increases, with Chief Economist Ken Simonson at ken.simonson@agc.org. The Alert will be updated as needed. Read the…
Construction spending falls 1.9% from August to September and 2.7% year-over-year, reaching $2.19 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, per an AGC of America analysis of new federal data. Surging data center construction—up 8.6% for the month and 90% year-over-year—and private electric power investment are the sole drivers of private nonresidential growth, masking declines across most other residential and nonresidential categories. AGC releases a new Construction Inflation Alert explaining how high tariffs, supply-chain disruptions, and a tight labor market are compounding costs and risk for contractors. The association urges federal policymakers to pass a new highway and transit funding…
What does it take to turn an ambitious architectural vision into a lasting landmark? For the Chapel of the Risen Christ in St. Louis, Missouri, the answer involved innovative concrete construction, meticulous planning and the collaboration of hundreds of people working toward a shared vision. Built for the Catholic Cemeteries Division of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Chapel of the Risen Christ was designed to provide a place of peace, reflection and inspiration for families and visitors at Resurrection Cemetery. The project brought together the vision of its owner, the creativity of its design team and the expertise of…
Construction employment rises in 180 of 360 metro areas tracked from September 2025 to September 2026, while declining in 118 and holding steady in 62, according to AGC of America’s analysis of new federal data. Demand is concentrated in markets with active data center, power, and manufacturing construction, as rising costs and political uncertainty stall many other project types. AGC urges Washington to reconsider tariff rates contributing to higher construction costs and calls on Congress to pass the overdue highway and transit bill. View the full employment data by metro, rank, and top 10 changes. Read more.
For students pursuing a future in construction, a scholarship can mean more than financial assistance. It can represent encouragement, opportunity and the support of an industry that believes in their potential. For Noah Donohoe, a Construction Management student at Minnesota State University, Mankato, receiving the 2026–2027 Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Scholarship represents just that. At the 2026 CLC Leadership Development Conference, Noah had the opportunity to share his experience in construction and express his appreciation for the donors whose generosity helped make his scholarship possible. But behind the scholarship is a story that extends beyond the classroom. It’s a story…
Construction employment increased in 34 states and the District of Columbia from September 2025 to September 2026, though only 25 states added jobs between August and September, according to an analysis of new federal data by AGC of America. Louisiana posted the largest year-over-year gains (18,800 jobs, 13.9%), while Alaska recorded the steepest percentage losses across both the annual and monthly periods. Rising material prices tied to tariffs, along with political uncertainty over the surface transportation reauthorization and ongoing efforts to restrict data center construction, are slowing demand in parts of the country. AGC is urging public officials to pass…
Replacing a gate that has served for more than a century is no small undertaking. At Seattle’s Ballard Locks, Manson Construction Co. took on the challenge of replacing the Large Lock’s center gate, helping preserve a critical piece of Pacific Northwest infrastructure for generations to come. The project, recognized through AGC’s Baldwin Build America Awards, demonstrated the innovation, technical expertise and coordination required to deliver complex marine construction projects while minimizing disruptions to essential operations. Replacing a Century-Old Gate The Ballard Locks connect Puget Sound with Lake Washington, serving as a vital link for maritime traffic and regional water management.…
The producer price index for inputs to new nonresidential construction jumped 11.9% from September 2025 to September 2026, the most in four years, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said construction firms appear to be absorbing most of the cost increases amid relatively soft demand for construction projects except data centers. “Construction firms are being hit by a double whammy of tariff- and war-induced materials cost increases as higher metals and fuel costs permeate an ever-wider range of prices,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Making matters…
Help Us Promote Responsible Data Center Construction By Featuring Your Successes AGC of America is looking to feature member’s success stories from working on data center projects. The association will post those case studies and lessons-learned documents on its new Data Center Resource Hub as part of our broader efforts to promote responsible data center construction. If you have a success story or resource related to data center construction, please contact AGC of America’s Director of Market Insights, Macrina Wilkins at macrina.wilkins@agc.org.