Author: agcnews
Construction Industry’s Election Fund Also Provides the Maximum Primary Contribution to Support the Carl Campaign Noting His Strong Support for Key Construction Issues The Associated General Contractors of America Political Action Committee, also known as the AGC PAC, announced today that it has endorsed Representative Jerry Carl for the United States House of Representatives. AGC PAC officials said they are supporting the Carl campaign because of his strong commitment to the construction industry in Alabama. “Jerry Carl is a serious leader who delivers for his constituents and state. He supports tax reforms that allow Alabama’s workers to keep more of their hard-earned…
Groups File Formal Request for Rulemaking Urging White House to Drop its Current Approach to Requirements that Risks Confusion and Delays on Key Construction Projects Four national trade associations petitioned the White House to make improvements in its implementation of “made in America” requirements for construction products and materials. They noted their members have encountered significant difficulty in navigating the White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) “opaque and unbalanced implementation,” risking delays and cost increases for vital housing, transportation, and water infrastructure projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. The infrastructure law, which was enacted in 2021, includes…
Last week, Lauren Benford of Reiman Group testified in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on behalf of AGC. Addressing soaring inflation, rising construction costs, and regulatory challenges, Lauren highlighted key issues impacting the construction industry. She noted that since February 2020, the average cost of construction materials has surged by 37%. Despite AGC’s support for enhancing America’s manufacturing capabilities, confusion persists among suppliers, contractors, and state departments of transportation. Lauren also emphasized the severe labor shortage in the industry, despite firms increasing pay and benefits. She called for the depoliticization of the Buy America…
Dallas-Plano-Irving, Sioux Falls, S.D. Top Lists of Job Gains; Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Has Largest Loss as Pittsfield, Mass., Binghamton, N.Y., Orange-Rockland-Westchester, N.Y. Have Worst Percentage Decline Construction employment increased in 224 of 358 metro areas between December 2022 and December 2023, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials noted that the industry still has nearly 400,000 unfilled positions nationwide, and likely would have added even more jobs if firms could find more qualified workers to hire. “Even more metro areas would have added workers if they were available,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief…
Construction Earnings Increased by 5.3 percent Year-over-Year to $35.21 an Hour as Firms Boost Wages in an Effort to Attract More Workers into the Sector Amid Strong Demand for Certain Types of Projects The construction industry added 11,000 jobs in January despite bouts of exceptionally cold or stormy weather that delayed projects in numerous regions, according to an analysis of new government data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials noted that firms are boosting wages and taking other steps to attract more workers as firms try to keep pace with relatively strong demand. “Although job gains were modest…
Demand Appears Strong on Balance Heading into 2024 but Persistent Shortage of Skilled Workers, Lagging Federal Investments in Infrastructure, and Tighter Financing Conditions May Limit Growth in Outlays Total construction spending increased by 0.9 percent in December and 13.9 percent year-over-year, as gains in residential and public segments offset mixed results among private nonresidential markets, according to an analysis of federal spending data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials cautioned that higher interest rates, labor shortages and regulatory delays could impact future construction spending levels despite overall strength in the market. “Construction spending rose across the…
In a recent video, Steve Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), voiced his opposition to President Biden’s proposed rule mandating Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for federal construction projects over $35 million. Sandherr emphasized that while AGC does not oppose PLAs in the private sector when contractors choose them voluntarily, the federal mandate imposes unnecessary constraints. He argued that the rule lacks evidence and data to support its broad application and forces contractors into agreements that might not be in the best interest of the project or the taxpayer. Sandherr highlighted several key concerns with the mandate.…
South Dakota and Texas Leads Top Rankings of Year-over-Year Increases, While New York Lags; South Dakota and New Jersey Lead in Monthly Gains, While D.C. and Ohio Experience Largest Declines Construction employment increased in 35 states in December from a year earlier, while 32 states added construction jobs between November and December, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials said the employment gains reflected strong demand for construction but noted that tight labor markets are preventing firms from adding even more workers. “Construction demand remains strong in many parts of…
The Culture of CARE is an program created by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the AGC of Washington to support companies in creating diverse, safe, welcoming, and inclusive job sites and promote diversity and inclusion in the construction industry. Culture of CARE is more than just caring about people; it is asking companies to commit to building work environments where every employee feels valued, respected, and heard through the programs four pillars: Commit, Attract, Retain and Empower. This episode of AGC’s ConstructorCast podcast highlights the partnership between AGC and FMI in developing a series of articles that…
AGC has partnered with Make-A-Wish San Diego for a heartwarming charity event aimed at transforming a young boy’s life by building him a personalized “man cave.” This dedicated space will provide him with a sanctuary where he can indulge in his favorite activities like playing games and building puzzles. The “man cave” will be thoughtfully designed to cater to his interests, ensuring he has a special place to call his own. This initiative exemplifies the power of community and collaboration, showcasing how construction professionals can come together to make a meaningful difference in the life of a child in need.