Hurricane Ian created billions of dollars of damages to homes, buildings and a variety of structures throughout Florida. As the construction industry mobilizes to assist with cleanup and restoration, it is important for out-of-state contractors to understand the complexity and enforcement of Florida’s construction licensing laws.

The price of materials and services used in nonresidential construction declined by 1.1 percent from July to August as a steep drop in fuel prices masked increases in the cost of other construction inputs, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released on Sept. 14. Association officials cautioned that limited price declines cannot undo the harm of clogged supply lines and labor shortages.

Construction firms added 16,000 jobs in August, according to an analysis of federal employment data released on Sept. 2 by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said their newly released survey, conducted with Autodesk, showed contractors are eager to hire more employees but are being stymied by a dearth of qualified workers.

Total construction spending decreased by 0.4% in July as spending on new houses and apartments tumbled, overshadowing a pickup in private nonresidential and public construction, according to an analysis the Associated General Contractors of America released on Sept. 1 of federal spending data.

Construction employment increased in 250, or 70%, of 358 metro areas between July 2021 and July 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. But association officials cautioned that most construction firms report they are struggling to find enough qualified workers to hire, according to a survey the association and Autodesk released Aug. 31.

Construction workforce shortages are affecting nearly all construction firms, undermining the industry’s ability to complete projects on schedule and threatening the success of new federal investments in infrastructure and manufacturing, according to the results of a workforce survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and Autodesk.

The Associated General Contractors of America is launching a new effort to combat high suicide rates and improve mental health among the industry’s workers, the trade group announced today. The new effort, which the association is launching as part of its support for Suicide Prevention Month, is designed to address the high rate of suicide among construction workers.

The National Center for Construction Education and Research, through its Build Your Future initiative, is excited to announce the national expansion of its career exploration tool, CareerStarter. This new program provides direct connections between entry-level job seekers, local training programs and employers.

Construction employment in July continued to trail pre-pandemic levels in 15 states as contractors struggled to find qualified workers to fill openings, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today.

The construction industry is on the brink of significant change and disruption. As the world continues to adjust and recover from COVID-19’s impact, it now also faces a multitude of pandemic-related macroeconomic factors. Add to that the war in Ukraine, high inflation, interest rate rises, supply chain challenges, increase wage costs and reduced skilled labor availability…and the picture becomes a bit darker.