Even in a slowing economy, few challenges are more pressing than finding the qualified workers your company needs to succeed. According to our national parent organization, the construction industry will require 439,000 additional workers this year and another 499,000 in 2026 to meet demand. As experienced workers retire, there simply aren’t enough younger workers to replace them—let alone fill new positions. This shortage persists even though construction is one of the few industries that offers family-sustaining wages without the burden of a college degree and student debt.

The construction industry had 188,000 job openings on the last day of August, 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 decreased by 115,000 last month and are down by 116,000 from the same time last year.

Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell from 8.8 months in July to 8.5 months in August, according to an ABC member survey conducted Aug. 20 to Sept. 3. The reading is up 0.3 months since August 2024.

The ABC MA Workers’ Compensation Self-Insurance Group (ABC MA SIG) recently held its annual meeting and presented safety awards to its members.  The ABC MA SIG is now in its fourth decade of providing exceptional results for qualifying members who want to play an active role in their company’s loss control and safety culture.

The construction industry lost 7,000 jobs in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has grown by 58,000 jobs, an increase of 0.7%.

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.

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.

ABC MA members can receive discounted tickets to the upcoming Bring Back the Trades Skills Expo on October 25th 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.

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.

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.