Author: agcnews

Prices of construction materials jumped nearly 20 percent in 2021 despite moderating in December, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said contractors rate materials costs as a top concern for 2022, according to a survey predicting the industry’s outlook for the industry the association released yesterday. “Costs may not rise as steeply in 2022 as they did last year but they are likely to remain volatile, with unpredictable prices and delivery dates for key materials,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “That volatility can be as hard to cope with as…

Construction Officials Say Biden Administration’s Plan to Double Tariffs on Canadian Lumber, Leave Other Ones in Place will Undermine Efforts to Address the Rapid Inflation in Key Materials Costs Prices of construction materials jumped nearly 20 percent in 2021 despite moderating in December, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said contractors rate materials costs as a top concern for 2022, according to a survey predicting the industry’s outlook for the industry the association released yesterday. “Costs may not rise as steeply in 2022 as they did last year but they are likely…

New Industry Outlook Shows Contractors Expect a Boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and Broad-Based Private-Sector Demand, Except for Retail and Office Construction, If They Can Find Workers and Materials Construction contractors expect increasing demand for numerous types of projects in 2022 despite ongoing supply chain and labor challenges, as most firms plan to add workers this year, according to survey results released today by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage. The findings are detailed in Expecting Growth While Coping with the Lingering Impacts of the Pandemic: The 2022 Construction Hiring & Business Outlook. “Contractors are, overall, very optimistic…

Jobs Figures are Consistent with Relatively Optimistic Outlook the Association will Release on January 12 But Tight Labor Market is Making It Harder for Construction Businesses to Add Even More Staff Construction employment increased by 22,000 jobs between November and December as nonresidential construction firms added workers for the fourth month in a row while residential construction employment slipped, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said the new employment figures are consistent with the results of a new outlook survey they will be releasing on January 12. “Nonresidential…

Tonya has over 25 years in the areas of business development, marketing, and sales experience. She has recently joined Gilbane Building Company where she works as a business development manager. She serves on the board of directors for Douglas County Chamber of Commerce, Douglas County Education Foundation and Douglas County Schools Partners in Education; WellStar-Douglas Hospital Authority Board; University of West Georgia Foundation; committees of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce; and the Society of Marketing Professionals. Why did you join the AGC BD Forum? Simply my commitment for continuous professional development and to help build a strong…

In response to the ongoing Omicron wave of COVID-19 cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidance to reduce, in most instances, both the length of time an individual must isolate after contracting COVID-19, and the quarantine period for those exposed to the illness. While it may be a good sign the CDC believes shorter periods are appropriate due to the prevalence of milder Omicron cases, this new guidance doesn’t come without complexities. The December 27, 2021, guidance not only abruptly changes rules many employers had in place for several months, it also leads to questions about…

ssociation Officials Call on Congress to Promptly Enact Funding to Fulfill Promises for Wide Range of Highway, Transportation and Other Public Sector Projects Included in Recent Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Total construction spending increased in November compared to levels in October and a year earlier, as gains in private residential and nonresidential projects outweighed decreases in public outlays, according to a new analysis of federal construction spending data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Officials noted that public sector investments were down in part because Congress has failed to provide funding so far for the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill enacted…

On November 15, AGC, along with industry allies, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit challenging the recent OSHA COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS). The suit highlights the many efforts the construction industry has collectively engaged in to combat COVID-19, including funding public service announcements and other proactive measures to encourage contractors to protect their workers throughout the pandemic. It also makes clear that the challenge is not in opposition to the ETS’s objective to get more people vaccinated, but the negative economic impact such a mandate will have on the construction industry and the fact…

On Nov. 10, the general counsel’s office of the National Labor Relations Board issued a memo expressing the position that employers have both decisional and effects bargaining obligations in relation to implementation of OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard to Protect Workers from Coronavirus (“ETS”). Although the ETS is currently on hold, the memo is valuable for what it reveals about the office’s views on employers’ duty to bargain over government mandates generally. The memo states that, while an employer is relieved of the duty to bargain over specific changes in terms and conditions of employment mandated by statute, “the employer may not act…

According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., Open Shop contractors anticipate skilled craft hourly wage increases of 3.01% in 2021 (3.21% excluding zeros). Actual increases for 2020 were 2.88% (including zeros) and 3.41% (excluding zeros). These increases are across the board for all craft, contractor types, sizes, and regions of the country. WorldatWork reports 2021 actual construction increases at 3.4% for Non-exempt Hourly Non-union positions. Historically, projected numbers are slightly lower than the actual year end figure. The chart below shows how open shop craft wages have fluctuated from 2007 to 2020 (these numbers do not include…