Author: agcnews

The start of the 119th Congress is underway and leadership in both chambers has been set. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) was reelected to lead the lower chamber, while Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) was elected to lead Republicans in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, Republicans will once again hold a narrow majority, and finding agreement among the various factions of the party will make being Speaker of the House the hardest job in Washington. In the Senate, while Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, it is still short of the 60-vote threshold to file cloture. Congressional Republicans…

New Industry Outlook Shows Firms Are Worried About Impacts of President-Elect Trump’s Trade and Immigration Policies Even as They Increase Investments in Artificial Intelligence and Other Technologies to Boost Productivity Construction contractors are optimistic about certain private-sector segments and have high hopes for most types of public-sector work, according to survey results the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage released today. Yet they have very low expectations for several private-sector market segments, remain concerned about labor shortages and are worried materials prices will climb amid threats of new tariffs, according to A Year in the Balance: The 2025 Construction…

The 2025 Construction Industry Business and Hiring Outlook Survey results are IN! AGC of America and our partner Sage will be briefing on all the results LIVE. Join us tomorrow, January 8th, 2025 at 1:00PM EST. You can listen in on Zoom or tune in on Facebook @‌AGCofA.

As contractors gear up for 2025, new tariff policies under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration are poised to bring challenges across the construction sector. From rising material costs to disrupted supply chains and increased contract complexities, the ripple effects of tariffs are unavoidable. To support contractors in mitigating these risks, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is offering two targeted webinars this January, providing comprehensive guidance for both private-sector and federally-assisted construction projects. The Art of Dealing with TariffsDate: Tuesday, January 21, 2025Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (EST)Cost: $79 Featuring industry experts such as Levi Barrett, Ron Ciotti, Joseph…

With President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, contractors and project owners are bracing for potential ripple effects across the construction industry. From material shortages to skyrocketing costs, the implications of these tariffs could be far-reaching. To help industry professionals prepare, a webinar titled The Art of Dealing with Tariffs will be held on Tuesday, January 21st, 2025, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm EST. Designed for contractors, trade contractors, and owners, this essential session will equip participants with actionable tools and strategies to mitigate the financial and logistical disruptions caused by tariffs. Why…

Construction spending was unchanged from October to November as a continued downturn in multifamily and office building construction offset growing demand for single-family houses and data centers, according to an analysis of a new government report that the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials said that despite the stalled spending levels contractors remain optimistic about 2025, based on a survey the association will release next Wednesday. “Construction activity was closely balanced between segments that expanded or shrank in November,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But contractors appear to be optimistic about most categories heading into…

Construction employment increased in 234, or 65 percent, of 358 metro areas between November 2023 and November 2024, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials noted that firms continue to boost pay rates as many of them struggle to find enough qualified workers to hire. “Although nearly two-thirds of metro areas have added construction workers in the past year, contractors report struggling to fill many hourly craft positions,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “These difficulties will be even greater in 2025 if the industry cannot access targeted…

Construction employment increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia in November from a year earlier, while 23 states and D.C. added construction jobs between October and November, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials said the industry needs a viable program of workforce authorizations to keep up with demand. “While job growth has been widespread over the past year, the more limited growth in the latest month may be a sign of the difficulty contractors face in finding qualified workers,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s…

AGC of America is launching a new, targeted digital advertising campaign in support of work authorization programs (such as the H-2B visa and temporary protected status programs) beginning next week. The association will be targeting small business owners who are frequent voters in the districts of members of Congress who are in a position to help on this issue and/or represent districts with extremely low unemployment levels. The ad campaign will include a mix of display ads as well as promotional videos. These ads will direct people to a special landing page we have created: WorkforceDoneRight.org. The ads are part…

The debate over government funding in Washington charges on as we approach December 20, 2024, when current funding expires. Earlier this week it appeared that Congress had coalesced around a deal to fund the government until mid-March through a continuing resolution (CR), with disaster aid, an extension of the farm bill, and a few policy riders all attached to the CR. The original CR contained a few wins for construction: Unfortunately, after conservative backlash and tweets from DOGE, the deal appears to be off. There are discussions about short-term funding deals to get through Christmas, a “clean” CR with no…