Blog
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds in September, Contractor Confidence Improve
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15-Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.6 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Sept. 20 to Oct. 4. The reading is down 0.4 months from September 2023. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog increased in every…
Minimum Wage Increase for Federal Contract Workers Takes Effect Jan. 1
On Sept. 30, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued an annual update to the hourly minimum wage for federal contract workers covered by Executive Order 14026, Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors, in the Federal Register. Effective Jan.1, 2025, the EO 14026 minimum wage rate that generally must be paid to workers performing…
Construction Employment Increased by 25,000 in September
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4-The construction industry added 25,000 jobs on net in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment is up by 238,000 jobs, an increase of 3.0%. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 17,900 positions on net,…
ABC Joins White House Roundtable on Addiction Recovery-Ready Workplaces
Associated Builders and Contractors today participated in a White House-sponsored roundtable discussion, “Recovery in the Workplace: Investing to Build the Workforce of Tomorrow,” which convened more than a dozen leading corporations, business groups and government leaders at the White House in Washington, D.C., to highlight the importance of recovery-ready and recovery-friendly workplaces and share best…
Construction Input Prices Inch Up in August, but Lower Than 1 Year Ago
Construction input prices increased 0.1% in August compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.2% for the month. Prices decreased in all three energy subcategories last month. Natural gas prices fell by…
2024 Summer Recap
The summer of 2024 has been busy and filled with a variety of fun events that brought our ABC community members together, from our exciting golf tournaments to our annual Yankee game. We also held engaging political events and lively happy hour networking gatherings. Our summer events are designed to strengthen relationships and foster connections…
Erie County’s Financial Fumble: The Buffalo Bills Stadium Bonds
Exciting news for Erie County: the circus is in town! The less exciting news is they’ve taken over the County government and are asking taxpayers to give them another $125 million for the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium. The county has already paid $125 million in taxpayer dollars, but they need more and plan to get…
Construction Materials Prices Increase in July for First Time Since April
Construction input prices increased 0.4% in July compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices also increased 0.4% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 1.1% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential…
Embracing Workplace Safety: The Importance of OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week
Every August, organizations across the United States come together to celebrate OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week, a nationwide event dedicated to recognizing the successes of workplace health and safety programs. This initiative not only highlights the importance of keeping America’s workers safe but also provides valuable information and innovative ideas to further enhance workplace safety.…
New York’s Renewable Energy Goals: A Challenge of Cost & Policy
New York State has been at the forefront of renewable energy initiatives, setting ambitious goals to transition to cleaner energy sources by 2030. However, a recent audit from the New York State Comptroller’s office has delivered a sobering assessment: the state is not on track to meet these goals. While various factors contribute to this…