Author: agcnews

Construction employment increased in 34 states and the District of Columbia in January from a year earlier, while 23 states added construction jobs between December and January, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials noted that fewer states added jobs in January compared to prior months amid rising uncertainty about project funding and worries about proposed tariffs on construction costs. “While two-thirds of the states added construction jobs over the past year, gains were much less widespread recently,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Some of…

With funding for the federal government set to expire at midnight on Friday, March 14, Congress has been scrambling to pass a continuing resolution (CR), to avoid a government shutdown. Earlier this week, the House of Representatives narrowly passed the continuing resolution, by a vote of 217-213, and it was sent over to the Senate. As you are probably aware, in the Senate the measure needs 60 votes to pass. The CR would fund the government through the remainder of the fiscal year, which is September 30. It would cut non-defense spending by $13 billion and increase defense spending by…

President Donald Trump has nominated Sean McMaster to serve as the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). McMaster has an extensive background in transportation policy, having previously held senior positions at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) during Trump’s first term. Prior to his work at U.S. DOT, McMaster worked on Capitol Hill as professional staff for the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. In related developments, the Senate confirmed Steven Bradbury as the Deputy Secretary of Transportation on March 11, with a 51-46 vote. Bradbury previously served as the General Counsel for the U.S. DOT from 2017 to 2021,…

Lori Chavez-DeRemer has been sworn in as the 30th U.S. Secretary of Labor after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate on a bipartisan vote of 67-32. Chavez-DeRemer was elected to Congress in 2022 and was a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. During her career she positioned herself as an ally of workers and labor unions, which earned her the backing of some prominent labor leaders ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer will play a crucial role in implementing Trump administration labor and workforce policies, which will include overseeing apprenticeship and workforce training programing initiatives…

The price of materials and services used in nonresidential construction rose 0.5 percent in February, following an increase of 0.7 percent in January, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials noted that materials prices began increasing even before most of the threatened new tariffs were put in place. “It’s a bad sign that construction costs have been rising significantly even before most of the Trump administration’s tariffs have taken effect,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Now that many tariffs that hit construction materials are in effect, with more measures…

Construction sector employment increased by 19,000 positions in February as all five nonresidential and residential segments of the industry added workers, according to an analysis of new government data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials warned that growing market uncertainty caused by tariffs and worsening labor shortages caused by evolving immigration policies could undermine future employment growth in the sector. “Construction job growth hit a five-month high in February, following several months of lackluster gains,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “However, industry employment and wage growth have been slowing over much of the past…

Register today for the 2025 AGC Federal Contractors Conference taking place June 9 – 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. The Federal Contractors Conference is the premier conference for federal construction contractors to discuss the latest projects, policies and contracting issues facing the industry with federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facility Engineering Command, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, General Services Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of State, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Bureau of Reclamation. In addition to substantive discussions and presentations with federal agencies, attendees will hear from legal experts about the latest federal regulations that…

On March 4, President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress, touting his administration’s accomplishments in the first few weeks and outlining his priorities for the next four years. Here are a few highlights that could impact construction: Tariffs. President Trump doubled down on his support for tariffs, saying “it’s a beautiful word, isn’t it?” He went on to say, “Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries.” However, since the speech, Trump delayed tariffs for most goods entering the United States from Mexico for one…

Earlier this year, Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) reintroduced legislation to support nationwide infrastructure investments and promote fairness among drivers by ensuring that electric vehicles pay into the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) to support the construction and maintenance of American roads and bridges. The Fair Sharing of Highways and Roads for Electric Vehicles (Fair SHARE) Act would impose a one-time fee at the point of manufacturer sale for EV batteries, accounting for an estimated ten years of vehicle use. As Congress works through the budget reconciliation process to extend expiring tax cuts, lawmakers are exploring ways to ensure EVs contribute to…

On Wednesday, March 5, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced new guidance for the Broadband Equity and Access Deployment (BEAD) program, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s (IIJA’s) broadband internet expansion program. The IIJA provided over $42 billion toward the BEAD but unfortunately, broadband projects under BEAD have been slow to receive federal approval and no construction has started on any BEAD projects. Under the guidance, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which has oversight of the BEAD Program, is directed to take a technology-neutral approach to the BEAD program, meaning that states will be able to award funds…