ABC Central Ohio - News

Meta, ABC Form Partnership to Launch Academy to Train and Create Jobs for Construction Craft Professionals

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:50:23 GMT

Meta Platforms Inc. and Associated Builders and Contractors today announced a partnership to educate and provide construction-ready career pathways for thousands of data center construction technicians kicking off in Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas as a meaningful step toward meeting the growing demand for data centers workers nationwide. America’s Workforce Academy is a $115 million investment in the next generation of construction professionals that includes a five-week training program and a job offer from contractors working on Meta projects at the conclusion of the program.

Once an online application process is complete, scholarships, travel, housing and stipends for living expenses are granted to qualified job seekers. They will then participate in career readiness and safety training followed by five weeks of hands-on education, which includes core training and craft training.

“America’s Workforce Academy is a transformational endeavor creating incredible construction-ready careers. ABC is proud to work with Meta, CBRE and academy community partners to welcome all who want to build their career dreams as a professional in construction,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO. “As an industry leader, ABC believes in creating opportunities for all on a level playing field and is ready to meet the industry’s needs and help individuals achieve their career dreams. ABC is honored to partner with Meta to expand the pipeline of data center construction workers.

“This new program is an innovative talent solution that is a critical part of addressing the construction industry’s ongoing workforce shortage and creates an accelerated, new-entrant strategy for job seekers,” said Bellaman. “Utilizing ABC’s existing, proven, nationwide educational ecosystem, these programs will be launched at ABC chapter training centers in key markets like Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis and Houston. This new, national partnership will help train the next generation of craft professionals from entry points such as high school graduates, veterans and more.”

“The AI revolution is bringing change but also historic opportunities,” said Meta President and Vice-Chairman Dina Powell McCormick. “Skilled workers electrified rural America one pole at a time. They manned the factories that built the arsenal that won World War II. Now a new generation will pour the foundations and lay the fiber that secures American strength in this new age.”

The American Workforce Academy partnership will:

Build a Sustainable Talent Pipeline: establishes scalable, repeatable workforce development models that align industry, training providers and workforce systems to meet ongoing demand.
Deliver Accelerated, Job-Ready Training: provides standardized, industry-aligned training that equips participants with the skills, safety knowledge and jobsite readiness needed to contribute quickly and effectively.
Ensure Safety and Productivity From Day One: prepares participants to meet industry and project-specific safety standards and contribute productively on the jobsite from the outset.

“The sustained demand for data center construction technicians means the industry needs an all-of-the-above approach to address this shortage and grow the construction talent pool,” said Bellaman. “This important new partnership reaffirms that the construction industry offers careers of choice in today's complex job market. These new entrants may be beginning their careers on data center projects but by learning multiple competencies, are starting a life-long career in construction with near limitless possibilities.”

ABC member contractors are building the people who build America’s critical infrastructure by investing in flexible, competency-based and market-driven education methodologies to cultivate their long-term skill sets, creating a brighter future for their workers and their families. They deliver long-lasting projects and employ multicraft professionals who go home safe, healthy and fulfilled every day. ABC and its members are working to recruit, educate and upskill the nation’s future construction workforce with a network of more than 800 apprenticeship, craft, safety and management education programs—including 450 government-registered apprenticeship programs—across 20 different occupations.

“Thanks to the crucial, established team members of ABC’s vast network, which includes the National Center for Construction Education and Research, ABC’s 67 chapters, ABC strategic partners and ABC business partners, as well as ABC’s Tech Alliance, we are ready to deliver this transformational construction career readiness program across the country,” said Bellaman.

If you want to help build America’s future, apply to America’s Workforce Academy today.

Construction Materials Prices Surge 2.6% in May, Up Nearly 10% Year Over Year

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:48:52 GMT

Construction input prices increased 2.6% in May 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 2.4% for the month.

Overall construction materials prices are 9.6% higher than one year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 9.7% higher. Prices increased in 2 of the 3 energy subcategories last month. Crude petroleum prices increased 11.8% and unprocessed energy materials increased 6.9%. Natural gas prices were down 18.2% in May.

“Construction input prices surged again in May and are now up nearly 10% year over year,” said ABCChief Economist Anirban Basu. “Oil prices, pushed higher by the ongoing Iran conflict, made a significant contribution to the rise in overall materials prices, yet the greater concern is the continuing price growth in tariff-affected inputs like iron, steel and copper. Contractors remain optimistic that their profit margins will expand over the next six months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, yet it appears likely that materials price escalation and stubbornly high borrowing costs could eventually weigh on profitability.”

House-Passed Faster Labor Contracts Act Is a Disgrace to Free Enterprise

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:59:26 GMT

Associated Builders and Contractors today blasted passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act in the U.S. House of Representatives with the following statement:

“Setting a dangerous precedent, House Democrats and a few unprincipled Republicans today voted to pass the Faster Labor Contracts Act,” said ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman. “The FLCA imposes arbitrary and unrealistic deadlines on employers to finalize negotiations with newly elected unions or face ‘binding interest arbitration of first contracts.’ In practice, this means, for the first time in American history, a federal government bureaucrat will appoint an individual to dictate exactly what is included in a contract between two private negotiating parties.

“The consequences of this misguided bill include destroying voluntary agreement and good-faith labor-management negotiations and could expand to disputes over wages, benefits and working conditions to include social or political issues unrelated to the day-to-day needs of workers and employers,” said Bellaman. “ABC supports legislation that upholds the intent of the National Labor Relations Act and protects freedom of association. Unfortunately, the FLCA would undermine the bargaining process and counter the freedoms the NLRA was designed to protect.”

Key provisions of the FLCA:

Within 10 days of receiving a request to collectively bargain with a newly recognized union, the parties must begin bargaining. If the employer and union do not reach an agreement on a first contract within 90 days of the beginning of bargaining—regardless of whether they are negotiating in good faith, and for any reason at all—the parties must participate in mediation. This would be an unprecedented expansion of federal government authority into the private sector.
If mediation is also unsuccessful within mere weeks, a three-person arbitration panel chosen by the parties will be required to settle the dispute by a majority vote and the decision will be binding. If the parties fail to identify individuals to join the arbitration panel within two weeks, an arbitrator chosen by federal government bureaucrats will impose a collective bargaining agreement on the workers, employer and union.

In order of signing the discharge petition, the Republican supporters who voted for the bill are: Reps. Mike Lawler, N.Y., Max Miller, Ohio, Rob Bresnahan, Pa., Brian Fitzpatrick, Pa., Don Bacon, Neb., Riley Moore, W.Va., and Nick LaLota, N.Y. They were joined by Republican representatives Mike Carey, Ohio, Andrew Garbarino, N.Y., Carlos Gimenez, Fla., John Joyce, Ohio, Nicholas Langworthy, N.Y., Nicole Malliotakis N.Y., Michael Rulli, Ohio, Maria Elvira Salazar, Fla., Christopher Smith, N.J., Pete Stauber, Minn., Mike Turner, Ohio, Jefferson Van Drew, N.J., and Derrick Van Orden, Wis., in the final vote.

“The FLCA fortifies the role of government bureaucrats in private workplace matters and applies a one-size-fits-all contract process on business, workers and unions,” said Bellaman. “The Trump administration and U.S. Senate must reject this egregious legislation. ABC calls on them to instead stand with workers, entrepreneurs and small businesses.”

Visit protectingamericanworkers.org to learn more.

Nonresidential Construction Spending Grows on Public Sector Strength in April

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:58:59 GMT

National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in April, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.250 trillion.

Spending was up on a monthly basis in 10 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending was down 0.2%, while public nonresidential construction spending was up 0.4% in April.

Spending on data centers, which is included in the office category, increased another 1.9% in April, rising to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $50.7 billion, and is up 28.1% over the past year.

“Nonresidential construction spending inched higher in April, but that growth was entirely due to a sizable increase in public sector activity,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Private nonresidential construction spending fell for the seventh consecutive month and is down nearly 8% from December 2023’s all-time high. While much of the segment’s recent weakness is attributable to the rapid decline in CHIPS Act-incentivized manufacturing megaprojects, private sector construction momentum has been difficult to find outside of the still-ascendant data center segment.

“Those data center projects have buoyed the ABC Construction Backlog Indicator and kept ABC members confident about their outlooks, at least on the whole,” said Basu. “While that particular tailwind will persist for some time, rising materials prices and a lack of momentum in many commercial segments may eventually weigh on contractor sentiment.”

Nonresidential Construction Adds Healthy 15,700 Jobs in May

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:58:12 GMT

Nonresidential Construction Adds Healthy 15,700 Jobs in May

The construction industry added 17,000 jobs on net in May, 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 has increased by 68,000 jobs, up 0.8%.

Nonresidential construction employment increased by 15,700 positions, with gains in all three subcategories. Nonresidential specialty traded added the most jobs, increasing by 11,400 positions. Heavy and civil engineering and nonresidential building added 2,600 and 1,700 jobs, respectively, in May.

The construction unemployment rate was 4.1% in May. Unemployment across all industries remained unchanged at 4.3% and is also unchanged from a year ago.

“The construction industry posted healthy job gains in May, especially within the nonresidential segment,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The industry’s recent job growth, driven by insatiable demand for data centers and ongoing growth in publicly funded construction activity, appears set to continue over the coming months. Contractors also remain broadly optimistic about growing their staffing levels over the next six months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index.

“The bigger story in the May jobs report, however, is the surprising strength of the broader labor market,” said Basu. “Economywide job growth has accelerated, rising to a pace not seen since the early months of 2024, and the unemployment rate held steady at a perfectly acceptable 4.3% in May. This is an indication of broader economic resilience, albeit one that is not necessarily encouraging for the construction industry.

“The combination of a stable labor market and resurgent inflation suggests that rate hikes are now more likely than rate cuts over the next several quarters, and high borrowing costs and tight lending standards will continue to weigh on construction activity during the months ahead,” said Basu.

All But 6 States Had Construction Unemployment Rates Below 10% in March

Thu, 28 May 2026 13:01:11 GMT

The national March not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rate was 6.7%, a 1.3% increase from March 2025, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. The analysis found that only two states—Louisiana and Ohio—had lower estimated construction unemployment rates over the same period, four had the same rate and 44 had higher rates. All but six states had construction unemployment rates below 10%.

National NSA payroll construction employment was 58,000 higher than March 2025, its 12th straight month of year-over-year increases below 100,000. Seasonally adjusted payroll construction employment was 8.3 million, or 9.3% above its pre-pandemic peak of 7.6 million.

Estimated state construction unemployment rates were lower than their pre-pandemic (February 2020) level in 20 states. As of March 2026, 19 states had lower construction unemployment rates compared to March 2019, and 31 states had higher rates.

“The Iran war and resulting hike in energy prices are negatively affecting the construction industry, which was already struggling with insurance premium increases, escalating labor costs, shortages of skilled labor and elevated interest rates,” said Bernard Markstein, president and chief economist of Markstein Advisors, who conducted the analysis for ABC. “Consequently, some projects have been scaled back, put on hold or abandoned altogether. With slower construction activity, demand for construction workers is growing more slowly.”

Recent Month-to-Month Fluctuations

In March, the national NSA construction unemployment rate declined 0.2% from February. Among the states, 28 had lower rates, 20 states came in with higher rates and two states (Kansas and Maine) had the same estimated construction unemployment rates as in February.

The Top States

The seven states with the lowest-estimated NSA construction unemployment rates for March were:

Oklahoma, 2.8%
South Dakota, 2.9%
Tennessee, 3.4%
New Hampshire, 3.5%
Colorado, Hawaii and North Carolina (tie), 4.1%

South Dakota had its second-lowest March NSA estimated construction unemployment rate on record at 2.9%, behind last year’s 2.7% rate. Note that Hawaii’s unemployment rate is for construction plus mining and logging.

The Bottom States

The five states with the highest NSA construction unemployment rates in March were:

New Mexico, 11.7%
New Jersey, 12.9%
Minnesota, 13.2%
Connecticut, 14.8%
Rhode Island, 16.2%

Rhode Island had the largest decline in its rate from February among the states, down 3.4%. Connecticut had the third-largest monthly decline, down 2.7%.

Click here to view graphs of U.S. and state overall unemployment rates (Tab 1) and construction unemployment rates (Tab 2) showing the impact of the pandemic, including a graphing tool that creates a chart for multiple states. To better understand the basis for calculating unemployment rates and what they measure, check out the Background on State Construction Unemployment Rates.

Proactive, Measurable Construction Safety Systems Work, ABC Says to Congress

Thu, 21 May 2026 14:08:56 GMT

Today, Patrick Sughrue, senior corporate director of health, safety & environmental at Cianbro Corp., Pittsfield, Maine, testified on behalf of Associated Builders and Contractors before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. In Sughrue’s remarks, he shared lessons contractors nationwide can glean from resources like ABC’s 2026 Health and Safety Performance Report—a guide to health and safety best practices on construction jobsites—to strengthen use of leading indicators.

Testifying at the hearing, “Building a Safer Future: Private-Sector Strategies for Emerging Safety Issues,” Sughrue explained that ABC’s annual report demonstrates how private-sector safety systems, including the use of leading indicators, are already helping contractors identify hazards, reduce risk and improve outcomes before incidents occur. The report shows that top-performing ABC members participating in ABC’s STEP® Health and Safety Management System achieved incident rates 686% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average, reducing total recordable incident rates by 85%.

“The lesson is clear: Proactive, measurable safety systems work,” said Sughrue. “At Cianbro, we know that safety challenges cannot be solved by looking only at what went wrong after an injury occurs. It requires committed and engaged leadership, clear communication, team member involvement and a culture of trust. In addition, it requires a proactive approach, focused on the holistic person, which is why we utilize leading indicators to help us prevent illness and injuries. Construction professionals need to be at their best at all times as the construction industry is full of risks.”

Sughrue explained that multiple layers of accountability exist when injuries occur on a project. While those include OSHA, workers’ compensation, civil risks, contractual/owner accountabilities and insurance companies, just as powerful are the consequences for damaged client relationships, workforce morale, public perceptions and reduced ability to attract talent.

“Enforcement alone cannot build an industry-leading health and safety culture,” said Sughrue. “To address emerging safety challenges, OSHA should also emphasize compliance assistance, cooperative programs, education and practical tools that help employers prevent incidents before they happen. Relying on TRIR as a primary safety metric is increasingly ineffective and counterproductive.

“In contrast, leading indicators measure the inputs and processes that prevent injuries before they occur and directly assess how well a safety system is functioning in real time,” said Sughrue. “These indicators are actionable: They tell leaders what to improve, where risk exists and who needs support—long before someone is hurt. OSHA policy should reward prevention, encourage innovation and help more employers adopt proven best practices.”

Sughrue further testified that ABC’s 2026 Health and Safety Performance Report is a blueprint for doing exactly that. It shows that, when contractors measure safety, engage workers, hold leaders accountable and commit to continuous improvement, injury rates go down.

“People are the heart and souls of the construction industry,” said Sughrue. “The purpose of every safety program should be to protect them using leading indicators.”

Watch the hearing and read Sughrue’s testimony.

Established 37 years ago, STEP is a proven system that provides contractors and suppliers with a robust, no-cost framework for measuring health and safety data and benchmarking with peers in the industry. This self-assessment tool helps participants become an employer of choice in a competitive labor market. Any construction contractor can be a STEP participant. Visit abc.org/step to learn more.

Contractor Backlog and Confidence Rise Again in April, Buoyed by Data Centers

Thu, 21 May 2026 14:08:14 GMT

Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.8 months in April, according to an ABC member survey conducted from April 20 to May 4. The reading is up 0.2 months from March and up 0.1 months from April 2025.

View ABC's Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index for April. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series.

Backlog surged for contractors with greater than $100 million in annual revenues and is now 2.2 months higher than during April 2025. All other contractor size categories have smaller backlog than they did one year ago.

ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels also increased in April. The readings for all three components are higher than they were one year ago and remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months.

“While backlog surged to a 10-month high in April, the industry’s recent momentum is highly concentrated among a subset of contractors,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Booming data center construction has almost exclusively benefited the largest ABC members; 42% of contractors with more than $100 million in annual revenues are under contract to work on data center projects. The same is true for just 7% of contractors with less than $100 million in annual revenues. Critically, contractors under contract to work on data centers have significantly longer backlog (12.2 months) than those that are not (8.3 months).

“Despite diverging levels of backlog, ABC contractor members of all sizes remain confident about the outlook,” said Basu. “Just 1 in 5 expect their profit margins to shrink over the next six months, the fewest since January 2025, and contractors are similarly upbeat about their sales and staffing levels. The upshot is that weak construction spending data, the recent rise in oil prices and emerging materials price escalation have not diminished ABC member confidence.”

Nonresidential Construction Adds Healthy 19,000 Jobs in April

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:13:22 GMT

The construction industry added 9,000 jobs on net in April, 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 has expanded by 50,000 jobs, an increase of 0.6%.

Nonresidential construction employment increased by 19,000 positions, with gains in all three subcategories. Nonresidential specialty traded added the most jobs, increasing by 12,600 positions. Nonresidential building and heavy and civil engineering added 5,600 and 800 jobs, respectively, in April.

The construction unemployment rate was 3.8% in April. Unemployment across all industries remained unchanged at 4.3% and is 0.1 percentage point higher than it was a year ago.

“Construction employment expanded modestly in April, but that’s largely due to weakness on the residential side of the industry,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Nonresidential construction employment rose at a healthy pace for the month and is up a respectable 2.0% over the past year. This strength can be traced to surging data center construction spending, which is up 34% over the past year. It also helps explain why ABC member expectations for hiring remain elevated, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, despite tepid industrywide job growth.”

Central Ohio ABC Chapter Contractor Members Are Nearly 7 Times Safer Than Industry Average

Thu, 07 May 2026 16:22:02 GMT

ABC Central Ohio Chapter today announced its member contractors are nearly seven times safer than the construction industry average, based on the 2026 Health and Safety Performance Report, an annual guide to health and safety best practices on construction jobsites.

As a sponsor of Construction Safety Week, ABC published the report during this important observance to highlight and celebrate the intentional work of people in the construction industry who make health and safety the foundation of everything they do.

The 2026 report shows the positive effects of participating in ABC’s STEP^® Health and Safety Management System, which enables top-performing ABC members to achieve incident rates 686% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average, reducing total recordable incident rates by 85%. Established in 1989, STEP is a proven system that provides contractors and suppliers with a robust, no-cost framework for measuring health and safety data and benchmarking with peers in the industry. This self-assessment tool helps participants identify real opportunities for scalable growth in their health and safety programs to lower their total recordable incident rates and become an employer of choice in a competitive labor market.

“ABC’s annual health and safety report details how an industry-leading safety roadmap involves leadership, culture, process and results and how these best practices are implemented by ABC Central Ohio contractor members,” said chapter President Barton Hacker.

“Transformational leadership means challenging the status quo and fostering a culture where every incident is seen as preventable. When leaders refuse to compromise on safety, they set the standard for the entire industry. By applying proven health and safety systems, companies not only protect their workers but also achieve measurable improvements in performance and reputation in the marketplace. These results are the tangible benefits that arise from the consistent application of proven best practices in jobsite safety and total human health.”

ABC’s research on more than 1.3 billion hours of work completed by participants in the construction, heavy construction, civil engineering and specialty trades in 2025 identified the following foundations of industry-leading safety and health that reduce total recordable incident rates, or TRIR, and days away, restricted or transferred—DART rates:

Frequency of toolbox talks: Companies that conduct daily toolbox talks reduce TRIR rates by 59% and DART rates by 61% compared to companies that hold them monthly.
Substance abuse prevention programs: Robust substance abuse prevention programs and policies with provisions for drug and alcohol testing where permitted lead to a 55% reduction in TRIR and a 57% reduction in DART rates.
Health and safety meetings: Clear, concise and consistent communication builds trust, culture and an understanding that every worker is empowered to keep jobsites safe. Companies that follow best practices for health and safety meetings lower TRIR by 52% and DART rates by 54%.
Employee participation: Leaders must build strong relationships, listen actively and seek input from front-line workers on how to improve safety year after year. Companies that follow best practices on engaging the workforce reduce TRIR by 55% and DART rates by 57%.

The report also identifies six core leading indicators—systems or processes used to identify hazards and eliminate or minimize them to prevent injury:

Planning for project health and safety

Top leadership engagement
Leading indicators
Incident investigation
Trailing indicators
Behavior-based safety observations

“STEP can help any construction contractors reinforce its commitment to the well-being of its workforce,” said Xavier. “The 2026 Health and Safety Performance Report is a blueprint for industry leaders and workers to deliver projects safely and protect what is most important to us—our people.”

For nine years, ABC’s Health and Safety Performance Report has captured the results of ABC STEP member contractors performing real work on real projects to identify what comprises an industry-leading health and safety program. ABC member firms participating in STEP measure their safety processes and policies on key components and the criteria for best practices through a detailed questionnaire, with the goal of implementing or enhancing safety programs that reduce jobsite incident rates.

ABC’s 2026 Health and Safety Performance Report is proudly presented by DEWALT. With over 100 years of innovation, DEWALT delivers jobsite solutions that help professionals create safer, more productive workplaces. Through its Perform & Protect initiative, DEWALT engineers products that enhance safety, performance and productivity, advancing jobsite standards. As a trusted industry leader, DEWALT shares ABC’s commitment to protecting workers and promoting best practices.

Any construction contractor can be a STEP participant. Visit abc.org/step to learn more.

ABC Member Fights to Give Small Businesses a Voice in Washington

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:31:36 GMT

On April 15, Danny Shaw, CEO of Kato Roofing in Mankato, Minnesota, joined Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minn., for a press conference introducing the White House Conference on Small Business Act. The bill would give small business owners a stronger voice in shaping the policies that affect them by reestablishing the conference for the first time since 1995.

Speaking on behalf of ABC, Shaw described small business contractors as the backbone of local communities and the economy, while also pointing to the challenges they face, including rising costs, workforce shortages and burdensome regulations. He said reauthorizing the conference would help ensure that concerns from Main Street are heard at the state, regional and national levels and turned into recommendations for the president and Congress.

Shaw added that the bill would create a more meaningful pathway for small business owners and operators to weigh in on new mandates and existing laws, helping policymakers better understand the realities of running a small business.

“It’s important to bring this conference back so we have a voice,” Shaw said. “Small contractors and businesses like ours need a seat at the table when decisions are made that impact our ability to meet our standards of quality and safety and our ability to get our projects finished on time.”

Watch the video of Shaw's comments, beginning at 3:15.

Background:

The White House Conference on Small Business Act of 2025 (H.R. 6855) is a bipartisan bill introduced by Reps. Brad Finstad, R-Minn., and Don Davis, D-N.C., to revive and modernize the White House Conference on Small Business process. The bill is designed to gather input from small business owners nationwide, elevate their priorities and create a structured path for recommendations to reach Congress and the president.

The WHCSB Act:

Reauthorizes and updates prior law: The bill renews and amends the original White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act, Public Law 101-409, from the early 1990s.

Creates a national small business input process: It requires state, regional and national conferences to take place between Dec. 31, 2025, and Dec. 1, 2026, giving small businesses multiple opportunities to shape priorities.

Expands delegate participation: The National Conference would include delegates appointed by governors, every U.S. senator, every U.S. representative, additional delegates from state conferences and 100 presidential appointees, building on the 1,904 delegates who attended the last conference in 1995.

Establishes a formal management structure: The Small Business Administration would support operations, while an 11-member White House Conference on Small Business Commission, appointed by the president and chaired by the SBA chief counsel for advocacy, would oversee logistics.

Preserves accountability and follow-through: As with the 1995 process, the commission would submit a final report with findings and recommendations to the president and Congress, and the SBA would report annually to Congress for three years on implementation progress.

Buddy Henley Praises ABC-Supported Tax Provisions at GOP Roundtable

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:31:00 GMT

On April 14, Buddy Henley, president of Henley Construction, Gaithersburg, Maryland, and 2024 chair of the ABC National Board of Directors, joined a roundtable with Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich., to discuss how the Working Families Tax Cuts Act has delivered meaningful benefits for his family-owned company and the construction industry.

Henley said making the small business deduction permanent has given contractors the certainty they need to plan ahead and reinvest without fear of future tax increases disrupting long-term decisions. He also highlighted permanent estate tax relief as especially important for family businesses, saying it helps companies pass from one generation to the next without having to sell assets, break up operations or jeopardize jobs.

“All together, the Working Families Tax Cuts help construction businesses grow, invest, hire and continue building the communities we serve,” Henley said.

Henley’s comments were covered in Bloomberg Government and Breitbart News.

Background:

On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, delivering historic tax relief to the U.S. construction industry and Main Street businesses nationwide.

ABC strongly supports the following reforms included in the bill:

Making the Small Business Deduction Permanent and Stronger: Solidifying the Section 199A deduction will provide tax certainty for pass-through businesses, allowing contractors to reinvest in their operations and workforce without fear of future tax hikes.
Permanent Estate Tax Relief: This provision ensures that family-owned construction businesses can pass along ownership to the next generation without facing destructive estate tax burdens.
Restoration of 100% Bonus Depreciation: Renewing immediate expensing of capital investments through 100% bonus depreciation will encourage construction firms to invest in new equipment and technologies—boosting productivity and economic growth.
Revived Expensing of R&D Costs: The bill permanently restores the ability for businesses to immediately deduct domestic research and experimental expenditures, providing critical support for construction innovation. Whether it’s hands-on problem-solving that happens on jobsites or improving project delivery methods, this provision gives contractors the financial flexibility to invest in finding better, faster and safer ways to get the job done right—without waiting years to see a tax benefit.
No Tax on Overtime for American Workers: Exempting overtime pay from federal income tax delivers direct, meaningful relief to the hardworking men and women of the construction trades—rewarding long hours on the jobsite.
Expanded 529 Accounts for Skilled Trades Training: The legislation expands the use of 529 savings accounts to cover career and technical education in the skilled trades, helping the next generation of construction professionals enter the workforce without student debt.

11th Circuit Denies Preliminary Injunction in ABC’s PLA Challenge

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:30:12 GMT

On April 21, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a decision denying ABC’s appeal regarding a preliminary injunction against Executive Order 14063, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, which requires all contractors on federal construction projects of $35 million or more to sign a project labor agreement.

“ABC will continue to fight this inflationary, discriminatory project labor agreement mandate because taxpayers lose when responsible, qualified contractors are effectively excluded from bidding on contracts to build critical infrastructure, stated Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO. “Americans deserve long-lasting construction projects, built safely, on time and on budget by the best contractors and workers, regardless of labor affiliation. From 2009 to 2024, federal agencies chose fair and open competition on more than 3,000 projects over $25 million, mandating PLAs on just 12 based on market analysis and the fact that 88.9% of the construction workforce does not belong to a union.

“At no point, under any administration, have federal contractors ever been prevented from voluntarily entering into a PLA when such an agreement makes sense for their workforce,” said Bellaman. “Fair and open competition works because it not only preserves worker choice but also gives contractors the freedom to choose to enter or not enter into a PLA. At the end of the day, it is based on merit and nondiscrimination. Every qualified contractor should have the opportunity to build America.”

ABC is currently considering all legal options.

For more details on the decision and ABC’s overall fight against PLA mandates, please watch ABC’s webinar on The Trump Administration’s PLA Mandate: What Contractors Need to Know, featuring ABC general counsel Maury Baskin. The archived webinar will be available in ABC’s Academy (login required) by COB on April 23.

OSHA Launches Safety Champions Program for Small Contractors

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:42:00 GMT

Great news for ABC’s smaller contractor members! The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently launched the Safety Champions Program, which is the small employer version of OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program.

At the annual OSHA Alliance Construction Roundtable, OSHA outlined two key ways the SCP is specifically tailored to support smaller contractors. The interaction with Special Government Employees is all virtual, providing the flexibility small contractors need in order to perform reviews of programs and processes. In addition, SCP status is attained by the contractor, not a specific jobsite. These are both significant clarifications to the program, which is designed to be a collaborative, cooperative, voluntary route to improve of health and safety performance for smaller employers.

To learn how to use the STEP® Health and Safety Management System to measure, strengthen and build industry-leading health and safety programs to prepare your company to successfully attain OSHA Safety Champion status, contact Joe Xavier, ABC senior director of health and safety, at xavier@abc.org.

ABC Calls for Flexibility in Workforce Pell Proposal

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:41:31 GMT

ABC joined coalition comment letters on the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed implementation of the Workforce Pell Grant program.

The proposed rule would establish the new Workforce Pell Grant program, passed into law as part of the ABC-supported One Big Beautiful Bill Act, for eligible short-term, career-oriented programs offered by accredited institutions participating in federal student aid.

Under the proposal, programs generally would need to last eight to 15 weeks, include 150 to 600 instructional hours and lead to employment in high-skill, high-wage or in-demand jobs.

ABC joined comments submitted by a coalition of industry groups supporting the Department of Education’s effort to ensure access to Workforce Pell, which can help address the construction industry’s ongoing workforce shortage and support registered apprenticeship programs.

However, the comments urged changes to better reflect employer-driven workforce development and apprenticeship programs. Specifically, the comments urged the Department of Education to:

Revise the proposed 25% cap on instruction delivered by an ineligible provider
Clarify that the Related Technical Instruction component of a RAP can qualify for Workforce Pell
Provide greater flexibility on program length, structure and accountability metrics for apprenticeship-aligned programs

Additionally, ABC joined a Jobs and Careers Coalition letter supporting Workforce Pell and urging the Department of Education to allow more flexibility in its implementation.

Construction Employment Rebounds by 26,000 in March

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:25:13 GMT

The construction industry added 26,000 jobs in March, 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 has grown by 57,000 jobs, an increase of 0.7%.

Nonresidential construction employment increased by 12,200 positions, with gains in all three subcategories. Nonresidential building added the most jobs, increasing by 4,500 positions. Nonresidential specialty trade and heavy and civil engineering added 3,900 and 3,800 jobs, respectively, in March.

The construction unemployment rate was 6.7% in March. Unemployment across all industries dropped to 4.3%, but is still 0.1 percentage points higher than one year ago.

“Construction employment rebounded in March as both the residential and nonresidential segments added jobs for the month,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Industrywide employment has expanded by an average of 19,300 jobs per month in 2026. That’s a marked improvement from 2025, when construction employment actually declined, but there remains cause for concern about the industry’s outlook.

“The March jobs data do not capture the detrimental ways in which the conflict in Iran will continue to affect the construction industry,” said Basu. “Oil prices have risen to heights not seen since 2022 and diesel prices have soared to $5.40 per gallon, up more than $1.90 per gallon from the start of 2026. At the same time, higher treasury yields have put renewed pressure on borrowing costs. While contractors were relatively optimistic about the near-term outlook as of February, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, it remains to be seen how long that optimism can persist under current economic conditions.”

Download the March jobs report ⁠table and ⁠graph.

Slowest Rate of Construction Hiring on Record in February

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:43:47 GMT

The construction industry had 202,000 job openings on the last day of February, 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 28,000 in February and are down by 53,000 from the same time last year.

“Construction hiring fell to the slowest rate on record in February,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “At the same time, contractors remained reluctant to lay off workers while employees were even more reluctant to leave. The combination of historically slow hiring and exceedingly few separations made February 2026 the month with the least construction labor force churn since the BLS began this survey in December 2000.

“Of course, this data pertains to February, when the Strait of Hormuz was open and the price of oil was under $100 per barrel,” said Basu. “While contractors continue to express optimism regarding their staffing intentions, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, recent data and developments suggest that hiring is unlikely to rebound in the near future.”

Franklin County Funding Review Advisory Committee Issues Report

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:50:41 GMT

The Franklin County Funding Review Advisory Committee recommends implementing a new countywide cigarette tax to fund arts, increasing the property conveyance fee for housing, and reallocating hotel tax revenue to boost tourism marketing through Experience Columbus.

These proposals would require approval from the Board of Commissioners and voters to strengthen regional funding. For more details on these proposed financial measures, review the original committee document including issues surrounding the issue of workforce development.

The Funding Review Advisory Committee identified workforce development as a key topic for study, dedicating a public meeting on September 30, 2025, to examine sector-specific funding needs, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration. External stakeholders provided data on funding and operational efficiencies for workforce and postsecondary education, which were evaluated based on equity, sustainability, and economic impact to inform long-term funding strategies.

This is something that ABC Central Ohio will be monitoring closely.

The full report can be found here

Honors Best Construction Projects, Leaders in Jobsite Safety and Contractor of the Year

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:39:04 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY, March 20—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced its National Excellence in Construction^® and Health and Safety Excellence award winners and the Contractor of the Year. The winners were announced at the 36th annual EIC Awards Gala during ABCConvention 2026 in Salt Lake City on March 19.

The 36th Annual National Excellence in Construction Awards celebrate the best in merit shop construction, honoring the most outstanding construction projects and contractors of the year for their remarkable achievements in leadership, health and safety, innovation, quality and merit.

DOL Issues Guidance Improving Flexibility in Registered Apprenticeship Programs

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:51:56 GMT

On March 9, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration announced four new guidance documents on the implementation of registered apprenticeship programs. The stated goal of the guidance is to improve flexibility and reduce burdens for program sponsors, promote clarity and consistency in the registration process across states, elevate quality standards and increase transparency.

The guidance documents are:

Circular 2026-01—Provides updated guidelines for registered apprenticeship program design, improving flexibility for program design
- Rescinds the 12-month on-the-job learning minimum for competency-based programs
- Rescinds the 25% limit on adjustment of hybrid or time-based programs
- Rescinds the maximum credit limitation for prior experience at 50% of training
- Clarifies that 144 hours of related instruction per year of apprenticeship is recommended but not required
- Rescinds the requirement for certificate of completion that the apprentice had worked for the program sponsor as a registered apprentice in the occupation for at least six months/1,000 hours

Circular 2026-02—Clarifies the roles of state apprenticeship agencies and apprenticeship councils, seeking to prevent excessive delegation to SACs
- Prohibits SACs from evaluating/registering apprenticeship standards or programs, making apprenticeability decisions or deregistering programs

Circular 2026-03—Sets out a standardized completion rate calculation and announces a new performance data portal

Bulletin 2026-35—States the DOL’s commitment to timely registration determinations
- The DOL commits to making determination within 30 days of submission
- Announces new “shot clock” website to share number of programs registered and average time to register

“ABC strongly supports the DOL’s bold new approach to addressing longstanding concerns with registered apprenticeship programs by improving flexibility for program sponsors and employers, as well as addressing state policies that impair worker access to these high-quality training programs," said ABC Vice President of Government Affairs Kristen Swearingen in a statement. "These policies align with our consistent advocacy for simplification of unnecessarily burdensome apprenticeship regulations, and ABC thanks the DOL for taking steps to implement our recommendations."

Overall, the guidance represents a welcome new approach to expanding RAPs by easing access for employers and sponsors and emphasizing the need for flexibility. RAPs are a critical component of ABC’s all-of-the-above approach to workforce development, with ABC chapters offering over 450 RAPs across the country. ABC looks forward to continuing to partner with the DOL on efforts to address the construction industry’s ongoing workforce shortage.

DOL will also be hosting a webinar discussing the guidance on March 27. Register for the webinar on WorkforceGPS.