Construction input prices increased 0.2% in August compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices also increased 0.2% for the month.

Overall construction input prices are 2.3% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 2.6% higher. Prices decreased in all three energy categories last month. Crude petroleum and natural gas prices were both down 2.8%, while unprocessed energy materials prices decreased 2.5% in August.

“Construction materials prices rose modestly in August, although the increase would have been larger if not for declining oil and natural gas prices,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Prices rose at an especially rapid pace in some of the categories most affected by tariffs. Iron and steel prices, for instance, are now up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis, while copper wire and cable prices are up 13.8%. Even though nonresidential input prices have risen at a 5.3% annualized rate in 2025, contractors remain broadly optimistic about their profit margins over the next six months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index.”

By Luiza Mills, Interstate Electrical Services Corporation

Safety is at the forefront of everything we do, and ensuring our employees go back home to their families at the end of each day continues to be our top priority.  September is the time when we highlight our efforts to keep workers physically and mentally safe.

We have some exciting things going on this month to support this ongoing priority. The Gould Construction Institute (GCI) will hold its annual “STEP into Safety” event on Thursday, September 25 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at its Billerica training center.  In addition to STEP (ABC’s safety management self-assessment tool) Award presentations and networking, this year’s event will feature an Innovations in Fall Protection Demonstration, a Human and Organizational Performance Presentation geared toward rethinking your company’s safety strategy, and finally, tours of our GCI training facility.  You can RSVP for the event here.

On September 17th, our Chapter will host “Is Your Construction Safety Policy & Strategy Up to Date?” from 7:30 to 8:30 am at ABC MA’s Woburn headquarters.  This workshop, facilitated by safety expert Milt Jacobs, who has conducted prior safety events for the Chapter, will provide tools for making sure your safety and health policies align with current best practices.  You can register for the event here.

Physical safety isn’t our only focus; mental wellbeing is also vital. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.  CDC studies continue to rank construction as the number one industry for deaths by suicide. The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention's website provides multiple toolbox talks and more for your use throughout the month.  In addition, we ask that you follow ABC on social media and sign up for a VitalCog training session. 

In closing, September is a good time to pause and further educate our employees in their safety and wellbeing. We encourage you to take full advantage of all the tools and resources available to you to support your people. There is never enough that can be done in these areas to continue to sustain the finest safety and metal health programs in the construction industry.

ABC MA members can receive discounted tickets to the upcoming Bring Back the Trades Skills Expo on October 25^th at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA.  This all-day event features keynote speakers and interactive demos that will highlight for students the exciting opportunities offered by the construction trades.   

About Bring Back the Trades Inc: Bring Back the Trades (BBTT) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting skilled trade careers, awarding scholarships, and breaking down the cultural barriers that discourage people from entering the trades.

About the Event: Bring Back the Trades Skills Expo events are high-energy, hands-on expos designed to educate and inspire students, families, and community leaders about the incredible opportunities in the trades.

BBTT invites companies to join as sponsors and exhibitors—bringing the trades to life through interactive experiences like tool demos, skill challenges, simulations, or hands-on stations. It's a powerful way to connect with thousands of attendees, including middle and high school students, teachers, families, adults considering career changes, and industry influencers.

At Gillette Stadium this fall, they’re excited to welcome speakers Demi Knight Clark and Aaron Witt, and have two New England Patriots alumni appearances in the works. Their fully signed on list of sponsors is included on their event webpage (with many more in the pipeline). They are currently 60% sold out:  https://bringbackthetrades.org/event/gillette-stadium-foxborough-ma/

Just to give you a snapshot of what’s possible:
At the last Bring Back the Trades Expo in NH:

·  75 schools participated

·  4,500 attendees

·  84 sponsor companies

·  43 scholarships awarded

·  Over $100,000 in scholarships were granted

ABC members can use the PROMO code ABC for free general admission tickets or for $10 off the seated access general admission tickets (includes a seat for the keynote speakers and general admission to the expo).  

Here's a link to the event page: https://bringbackthetrades.org/event/gillette-stadium-foxborough-ma/

National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.2% in July, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.24 trillion.

Spending was down on a monthly basis in 7 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending was down 0.5%, while public nonresidential construction spending was up 0.3% in July.

“Nonresidential construction spending fell for a third consecutive month in July and is now down 2.5% from the December 2023 record high,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Of course, that’s in nominal terms. With construction materials prices rising rapidly in recent months and set to continue as higher tariff rates go into effect, the recent decline in construction activity is even larger than this data series suggests.

“Private nonresidential activity has declined at a particularly concerning pace over the past several months and fell another 0.5% in July,” said Basu. “With the exception of the religious category, which represents less than 1% of private nonresidential construction activity, and the power category, which is surging due to data centers and their considerable energy needs, no private subsegment has retained momentum through the first half of 2025.

“Nearly 1 in 4 ABC members reported having a project interrupted or canceled due to tariffs in July, according to ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator survey, and that predates the particularly large import tax increases put into effect in early August,” said Basu. “With economic uncertainty still elevated, labor shortages reemerging and materials prices rising, it may be a bleak second half of the year for the construction industry.”

The construction industry had 306,000 job openings on the last day of July, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings increased by 64,000 last month and are up by 77,000 from the same time last year.

“The construction job opening rate rose to the highest level in over a year during July,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Given the ongoing decline in nonresidential construction spending, however, that increase is likely attributable to immigration policy and its effects on the industry’s labor force rather than any increases in the demand for construction workers.

“Indeed, other portions of this data release suggest an alarming deterioration in industrywide labor demand,” said Basu. “Fewer construction workers quit their jobs in July than in any month over the past nine years, suggesting widespread concern about job security, while layoffs jumped to the highest level since Q1 of 2023.

“That said, JOLTS data can be volatile from month to month, and it’s difficult to know the degree to which undocumented workers are or are not captured in the data,” said Basu. “More than 55% of ABC members expect to increase their staffing levels over the next six months, according to the July reading of the Construction Confidence Index. That measure will be critical to monitor in the months ahead.”

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. Nonresidential construction input prices also increased 0.4% for the month.

Overall construction input prices are 2.2% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 2.6% higher. Prices increased in 2 of the 3 energy categories last month. Crude petroleum and unprocessed energy materials prices were up 1.7% and 0.5%, respectively, while natural gas prices decreased 2.1% in July.

“Construction materials prices continued to increase too quickly in July,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Nonresidential input prices have risen at a 5.8% annualized rate since January, and trade policy will likely continue to put upward pressure on materials prices over the next several months. Copper wire and cable prices, for instance, surged 5% in July and are now up 12.2% over the past year. While contractors remain relatively upbeat, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, input price escalation may diminish profit margins during the final months of the year.

“The rapid increase in broader producer prices in July is just as worrying as rising construction input costs,” said Basu. “With prices for final demand goods and services rising at the fastest pace since March 2022, the Federal Reserve will have to consider the prospect of resurgent inflation when deciding whether or not to cut rates at its September meeting. The construction industry is in desperate need of lower borrowing costs, and higher rates for longer would continue to weigh on construction spending.”

Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.8 months in July, according to an ABC member survey conducted July 24 to Aug. 4. The reading is up 0.4 months since July 2024. 

View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series.

Backlog is up on a year-over-year basis in every region except for the South. Despite the lack of growth, backlog in the South remains significantly longer than in any other region.

ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for sales and profit margins declined in July, while the reading for staffing levels rose to the highest level since April. The readings for all three components remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months.

“Backlog continued to rise in July despite the ongoing decline in construction spending,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Some of that strength can be attributed to the fact that 1 in every 8 ABC members is currently under contract to perform work on a data center project. Backlog in the infrastructure category has also increased considerably over the past year, and public construction activity has outperformed the private sector over the past several months.

“While backlog rose, contractor confidence slipped in July, especially with regards to profit margins,” said Basu. “Fewer than 2% of ABC members expect their profit margins to increase significantly over the next six months, the fewest since October 2024. This is likely due to trade policy and the recent acceleration in materials price escalation; more than 80% of ABC members have been notified of tariff-related price increases.”

By Luiza Mills, Interstate Electrical Services Corporation

There is still time to enjoy the fleeting summer but before we know it, back to school will soon be upon us. The start of a new school year always brings excitement, new opportunities and continued realization that the construction industry offers competitive family-sustaining wages without the need for long-term debt that is so often associated with a college degree. With that in mind, we are happy to report that in July, our Chapter awarded 10 “Building Our Future Scholarships” to worthy apprentices who attend the Gould Construction Institute (GCI).

In September, GCI will commence the school year in its new state-of-the-art Billerica training facility. Between our outreach about the vast opportunities available in the trades and continuing labor shortages, Gould enrollment has been booming. 

With that in mind, I’d like to take a moment to highlight Paul O’Loughlin, a long-time ABC MA member and prior GCI board chair.  Paul has retired from his business but that hasn’t dulled his devotion to our industry or our Chapter.  He now works as a Gould sheet metal teacher, passing along his expertise to a new generation of construction professionals.

“My days as a sheet metal worker are behind me, but my commitment to the trade is not,” Paul said.  “There are few things more rewarding than working with the young people who will be the future leaders of our industry.”

It continues to be a challenge to fill these teaching positions. If you or someone you know might be interested in becoming a teacher, now would be a great time to act on it.  All you need is a passion for your trade, a current license and a desire to mentor the future leaders of our industry and our Chapter.  If you have those things, GCI will help you with the rest! Please consider reaching out to GCI Instructor Liaison Mike Maloney at [email protected].  Your knowledge is needed to train our future industry innovators and leaders. I think you’ll be glad you did.  

The construction industry had 246,000 job openings on the last day of June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings increased by 14,000 last month but are down by 39,000 from the same time last year.

“While industrywide job openings increased in June, the share of all construction positions that are unfilled remains low by recent standards,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “More importantly, the hiring rate during the first half of 2025 was lower than during the first six months of any year since the start of the data series in 2000. Because contractors have also been laying workers off at a historically slow pace, industrywide employment continues to edge higher, but few job openings and sluggish hiring suggest weak demand for labor.

“That said, these data likely reflect the fact that the residential segment has struggled mightily this year, while nonresidential employment data have been more upbeat,” said Basu. “Fewer than 14% of ABC members expect their staffing levels to decrease during the second half of 2025, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index. This suggests that the nonresidential side of the industry will continue to add jobs during the third and fourth quarter of 2025.”

The national June 2025 not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rate was 3.4%, a 0.1% increase from June 2024, according to by Associated Builders and Contractors’ state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The analysis found that 18 states had lower estimated construction unemployment rates over the same period, 28 had higher rates and four states had the same rates. All of the states had construction unemployment rates below 10%.

Massachusetts’ 4.8% construction unemployment rate was up from 4% in June 2024.

National NSA payroll construction employment was 114,000 higher than June 2024. As of June 2025, seasonally adjusted payroll construction employment was 8.3 million, or 9.4%, above its pre-pandemic peak of 7.6 million.

Estimated state construction unemployment rates were lower than their pre-pandemic level in three-quarters of states. As of June 2025, 37 states had lower construction unemployment rates compared to June 2019 while 12 states had higher rates, and one state (Kansas) had the same rate.

“While June state construction unemployment rates continue to indicate a relatively healthy level of construction employment, uneasiness that the economy might weaken over the remainder of this year and into 2026 is producing some hesitancy among builders and developers about proceeding with new projects,” said Bernard Markstein, president and chief economist of Markstein Advisors, who conducted the analysis for ABC.

“The impact of tariffs on building materials is already showing up in some prices. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding the level of tariffs on building materials going forward and how long they will be in place hangs over the industry. Further, the industry continues to face elevated interest rates and higher labor costs. Although most builders are loath to lay off workers at present, they are more cautious in their hiring.”

Recent Month-to-Month Fluctuations

In June, the national NSA construction unemployment rate declined 0.1% from May. Among the states, 29 had lower rates, 19 higher rates and two states (Arkansas and Kentucky) had the same estimated construction unemployment rates as in May.

The Top States

The five states with the lowest estimated NSA construction unemployment rates for June were:

1. South Dakota, 0.8%
2. North Dakota, 1.2%
3. New Hampshire, 1.3%
4. Montana and Oklahoma (tie), 1.5%

South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Oklahoma each posted their lowest June NSA estimated construction unemployment rate on record. New Hampshire had its third-lowest June rate on record. This was the third time that North Dakota’s June unemployment rate fell to 1.2%, its lowest June rate on record, matching that month’s rate for 2015 and 2022. South Dakota had the largest year-over-year drop in its rate among the states, down 1.7%. Montana followed with the second biggest decrease, down 1.5% (tied with Illinois).

The Bottom States

The five states with the highest June estimated NSA construction unemployment rates were:

46. Maryland, 4.6%
47. New Mexico, 4.8%
48. Connecticut, 5.2%
49. New Jersey, 8.5%
50. Rhode Island, 8.9%

New Mexico recorded its second lowest June rate on record, behind June 2022’s 3.7% rate. Rhode Island had the largest decrease in its monthly NSA estimated construction unemployment rate among the states, down 1.9%.