Author: Crystal Yates

We’re excited to announce that the agenda for the 2025 AGC Workforce & HR Conference is now live! Join us in Fort Worth, TX, Oct. 14-16 to explore a dynamic lineup of sessions designed to equip you with the latest insights, strategies, and tools to drive success in your organization. Agenda highlights include: Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise, stay ahead of industry trends, or connect with thought leaders, our agenda has something for everyone. Start planning your experience today and ensure you don’t miss out on the sessions that matter most to you! Explore the Agenda Start My…

The AGC-supported Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) released its first settlements report of 2025, which showed that construction-industry collective bargaining agreements settled from January through June of 2025 saw a 4.7 percent increase in wages, fringe benefits, and other employer payments for union craft workers for the first contract year. After a sharp increase from 2020 to 2023, settlements have leveled off over the past two years. CLRC cites the impact high inflation is having on first-year settlements and expects to see gradual increases through 2027. Additionally, the report looks at the averages by craft and by region for comparison purposes. AGC…

AGC of America is now accepting proposals from experienced speakers interested in presenting at AGC’s 2026 Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management Conference. The conference will be held from January 26 – 28, 2026, at the Sunseeker Resort on Charlotte Harbor in Southwest Florida. AGC invites thought leaders, innovators, and subject matter experts to submit session ideas for the #AGCRisk2026 program. Speaking spots are limited! For more information on speaker expectations, important deadlines, and how to submit your proposal, please refer to our Submission Guidelines and Instructions.  SUBMIT TODAY!

In the early days of his administration, President Trump declared his intentions to streamline the permitting process. One important facet of that process is evaluating the environmental impacts of a project and getting approval under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The process traditionally takes years to complete, but after a set of new Trump executive orders, a presidential memo, and a Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the scope of NEPA review, contractors can expect a significantly streamlined process. Last week, more than 15 agencies, including the Department of Transportation, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy, announced…

The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently gave the green light for federal contractor audits and investigations involving disability and veteran bias to immediately resume. While affirmative action obligations based on race, sex, and other Executive Order 11246 (EO 11246) categories remain nullified under a January executive order from President Trump, the agency’s July 2, 2025, announcement means it is back in business for enforcing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 503) and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA). Here’s what your business needs to know and do. What Just Happened? On…

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court in Trump v. CASA ruled that nationwide injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has granted to federal courts” via the Judiciary Act of 1789. The case had to do with President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship, which was enjoined by multiple district courts. The Court declined to address the underlying merits of the executive order, but did address the issue of nationwide or universal injunctions: a tool used by judges to block the federal government from enforcing a law broadly—not limited solely to parties named in a specific lawsuit. The Court…

E-Verify users will no longer be notified via Case Alerts when an employee has an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that has been revoked by DHS. Instead, users should now themselves regularly generate the Status Change Report to identify E-Verify cases created with an EAD that is now revoked. To access the report, users must log in to their E-Verify account and click on the “Reports” tab at the top of the homepage to select the new Status Change Report. E-Verify Employer Agents may create this report on behalf of their clients using the E-Verify browser. More information can be found here and here. E-Verify users are advised that…

Looking to tackle your biggest construction human resources and workforce challenges? There’s no better place than the Construction HR & Workforce Conference! After yet another successful conference in 2024, we’re once again combining the best elements of a few AGC events to facilitate even better conversations between folks in construction HR and workforce development. Interested? Check out the event details below and start planning your conference experience! A detailed agenda will be shared soon. Where: Omni Fort Worth HotelWhen: October 14-16, 2025Registration Rates: Before August 29 (Members Only): $775 | Non-Members: $1,005 The Construction Workforce & HR Conference will focus…

According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., contractors are projecting 2025 construction staff wages to increase an average of 4.07%, as reported by over 350 companies in the 43rd edition of PAS’s Construction/Construction Management Staff Salary Survey. Typically, projected increases are .3% to .5% higher by year end, so there is a good chance that pay will be slightly higher by year end. According to WorldatWork, across all industries, exempt professionals saw increases of 3.9% in 2024 and are projected to see increases of 3.8% in 2025. Jeff Robinson, president of PAS, will present again this year…

ICE enforcement is no longer a distant threat—it’s a present reality. With a sharp uptick in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity targeting the construction sector in 2025, general contractors are facing heightened scrutiny and operational risk. From surprise jobsite raids to formal I-9 audits, the stakes have never been higher for HR professionals and company leadership. Join us for a critical webinar designed specifically for commercial construction general contractors. We’ll break down the latest enforcement trends, including the impact of the January 2025 executive order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” which has intensified federal focus on undocumented labor…