Productivity

What We Learned in June: Some Signs of Waning Momentum Construction-specific economic data have started to flash a few signs of potential weakness. Both backlog and nonresidential construction spending declined for the month, and while nonresidential employment continues to grow...

WASHINGTON, June 10—Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.4 months in May, according to an ABC member survey conducted May 20 to June 3. The reading is up 0.1 months since May 2024. View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicato...

For years, there’s been a quiet but persistent belief in construction: safety measures slow productivity. But in reality, the safest jobsites are usually the most productive. In 2023, the construction industry saw 1,075 workplace fatalities—the highest among all private industry...

WASHINGTON, May 13—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to a 20-month high of 8.7 months in April, according to an ABC member survey conducted April 22 to May 6. The reading is up 0.3 months since April 2024. View ABC’s ...

WASHINGTON, April 30—The national March 2025 not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rate was 5.4%, unchanged from March 2024, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. The analy...

In an industry where projects often run over schedule and over budget, change orders, labor shortages and communication gaps can significantly reduce construction firms’ profits. Delays and budget hikes are often inevitable because of the nature of construction work where change...

Construction machinery emits around 400 megatons of CO2 annually, with excavators accounting for nearly 50% of all CO2 emissions from construction vehicles. The World Green Building Council reports that materials and construction account for 11% of global carbon emissions. Given ...

WASHINGTON, March 11—Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.3 months in February, according to an ABC member survey conducted Feb. 20 to March 5. The reading is up 0.2 months since February 2024. View ABC’s Construction Bac...

WASHINGTON, March 7—The construction industry added 19,000 jobs on net in February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has increased by 174,000 jobs, ...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.4 months in January, according to an ABC member survey conducted Jan. 21 to Feb. 3. The reading is unchanged from January 2024.  View ABC’s Construction ...