ABC Central Ohio - News

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.

Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds in February, Contractor Confidence Grows

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:51:05 GMT

Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.1 months in February, according to an ABC member survey conducted Feb. 20 to March 6. The reading is up 0.1 months from January but down 0.2 months from February 2025.

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

Backlog increased sharply during February in the Middle States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.Notably, the Middle States is the only region with higher backlog than one year ago.

ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales and staffing levels increased again in February, while the reading for profit margins fell. Sales expectations are better than they were one year ago, while profit margin and staffing expectations are slightly worse. The readings for all three components remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months.

“Backlog bounced back from January’s four-year low, yet it remains subdued by historical standards,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “It’s notable that backlog growth has been confined to the Middle States region. After struggling in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, the Midwest has posted surprisingly strong population and economic growth over the past year, and that growth has clearly translated into increased levels of construction activity.

“Contractors under contract to work on data centers (11.2 months) continue to have significantly longer backlog than those who are not (7.6 months),” said Basu. “While data center work should continue apace over the next few quarters, the conflict in Iran, which began during this middle of this month’s CBI survey period, may suppress demand for other forms of construction work due to elevated materials prices, borrowing costs and uncertainty.

“While contractors remain slightly optimistic that their profit margins will expand over the next six months, that confidence may not survive the recent and precipitous increase in oil prices,” said Basu. “Rising input costs, if persistent, could weigh on hiring expectations, which were particularly upbeat in February. The CCI series for staffing level expectations rose to the highest level since March 2025.”

Construction Hiring Remained Slow in January

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:50:30 GMT

The construction industry had 231,000 job openings on the last day of January, 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 14,000 in January and are down by 1,000 from the same time last year.

“While construction hiring accelerated in January, rising to the fastest rate since the first half of 2025, that’s unfortunately not saying much,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The industry’s hiring rate is still slower than at any point between the start of the data series in 2001 and the end of 2019. Contractors remain confident that their staffing levels will expand over the next six months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, although that confidence has remained intact for much of the past several years while hiring has remained subdued.”

ABC Applauds DOL’s Proposal to Rescind Confusing Biden-Era Independent Contractor Rule

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:39:57 GMT

On Feb. 26, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that will rescind and replace the ABC-opposed 2024 Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act final rule.

ABC strongly supports the DOL’s proposed rule to rescind the Biden-era 2024 independent contractor final rule and replace it with a commonsense proposal similar to the ABC-supported 2021 final rule. The 2024 final rule creates an ambiguous and difficult-to-interpret standard for determining independent contractor status. Under the rule’s multifactor test, employers are forced to guess which factors should be given the greatest weight in making the determination.

Instead of promoting much-needed economic growth and protecting legitimate independent contractors, the 2024 final rule results in more confusion and expensive, time-consuming, unnecessary and often frivolous litigation, as both employers and workers will not understand who qualifies as an independent contractor.

In the DOL release, the agency highlighted that the proposed rule would:

Apply an “economic reality” test to determine whether a worker is in business for himself or herself as an independent contractor or is an employee economically dependent on an employer for work.
Identify and explain two “core factors” to help determine if a worker is economically dependent on an employer for work or in business for him- or herself:
- The nature and degree of control over the work.
- The worker’s opportunity for profit or loss based on initiative and/or investment.
Identify other factors to help determine a worker’s status as an employee or independent contractor, including the amount of skill required for the work, degree of permanence of the working relationship, and whether the work is part of an integrated unit of production.
Advise that the actual practice of the worker and the potential employer is more relevant than what may be contractually or theoretically possible.
Provide eight fact-specific examples applying the factors to real-life circumstances

“ABC is pleased to see the DOL is proposing to simplify and clarify the factors for determining when a worker is an independent contractor versus an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of government affairs, in a news release. “ABC looks forward to providing comments to the DOL on the proposed rule.”

ABC looks forward to providing comments to the DOL by the deadline of April 28.

To learn more, read ABC general counsel Littler’s analysis.

On May 1, 2025, the DOL announced that it would pause enforcement of the 2024 final rule in current enforcement matters while the agency reviewed this regulation.

ABC, its Southeast Texas chapter, the Coalition for Workforce Innovation and five other organizations are challenging the 2024 final rule in federal court, which is currently pending.

Construction Loses 11,000 Jobs in February

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:39:18 GMT

The construction industry lost 11,000 jobs on net in February, 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 42,000 jobs, an increase of 0.5%.

Nonresidential construction employment decreased by 3,800 positions, with losses in 2 of the 3 subcategories. Heavy and civil engineering lost 6,500 jobs and nonresidential specialty trade lost 1,400 positions, while nonresidential building added 4,100 jobs in February.

The construction unemployment rate was 6.9% in February. Unemployment across all industries rose to 4.4% and is 0.2 percentage points higher than one year ago.

“Construction employment shrank again in February and has now declined in 8 of the past 11 months,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Both the residential and nonresidential segments lost jobs for the month, adding to a recent string of downbeat industry data releases; construction spending has been in decline for several quarters, and ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator fell to a four-year low in January. With the conflict in Iran adding to trade policy-related uncertainty and crude oil prices well above $80 per barrel, the industry’s outlook remains downbeat through the first few months of 2026.”

Nonresidential Construction Spending Plunges in December, Says ABC

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:28:37 GMT

National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.6% in December, 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 $1.24 trillion.

Spending was down on a monthly basis in 12 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending was down 0.7%, while public nonresidential construction spending was down 0.4% in December.

“Nonresidential construction spending contracted sharply in December,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “This decline was concentrated in the manufacturing segment, which is now down nearly 16% from the August 2024 all-time high. Given trade policy uncertainty and the waning effects of the CHIPS Act, manufacturing-related spending will likely continue to decline over the next several quarters.

“While manufacturing is the most significant driver of nonresidential weakness, it’s far from the only one,” said Basu. “Eight of the 11 private nonresidential subsegments contracted in December, and total private nonresidential spending is now down 1.8% year over year. Given this weakness, it is unsurprising that ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator fell to a four-year low in January.”

Construction Materials Prices Surge in January, Driven Again by Tariffs

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:28:07 GMT

Construction input prices increased 0.7% in January 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 released today. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.6% for the month.

Overall construction input prices are 2.3% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 2.9% higher. Prices increased in 2 of 3 energy categories last month. Crude petroleum and unprocessed energy materials prices were up 1.8% and 0.4%, respectively, while natural gas prices were down 2.9% in January.

“Nonresidential construction input prices rebounded in January, surging at a blistering 7.1% annualized rate for the month,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “While this sharp monthly rise can be traced to significant increases in prices for tariff-affected products like copper wire and cable, iron and steel, and industrial controls equipment, aggregate input price escalation is not particularly concerning right now. Nonresidential materials prices are up just 2.9% over the past year and have been virtually flat over the past several months, rising just 0.2% since September despite some large monthly fluctuations.

“Trade policy may continue to put upward pressure on certain input prices, especially those subject to the large Section 232 tariffs,” said Basu. “Even so, input escalation is unlikely to rise too sharply as long as energy prices remain tame and demand remains subdued. Contractor sentiment seems to reflect this; optimism regarding profit margins improved in January, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, although it remains lower than one year ago.”

9 in 10 Construction Workers in 24 States Are Not Union Members

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:27:31 GMT

Associated Builders and Contractors today released an analysis of state union membership data published by unionstats.com, which found that at least 90% of construction workers in 24 states did not belong to a union in 2025. Overall, there were a record 9 million nonunion construction workers compared to 995,000 union members last year, according to a Feb. 18 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Year after year, data at the national and state level continue to show the supermajority of construction companies choose an employment relationship in a merit-based culture, which is the best way to attract talent and the most productive means to deliver long-lasting, high-quality projects at affordable prices,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of government affairs.

“Discriminatory, union-only rules are especially unfair and unworkable in the dozen states where nonunion workers comprise more than 95% of the workforce,” said Swearingen. “Employee choice whether or not to affiliate with unions creates immense value in the marketplace, which is why ABC will continue to oppose government-mandated project labor agreement policies and advocate for freedom for all construction workers to choose how to achieve their career dreams and prosper in a safe and healthy environment.

“ABC urges state policymakers, as well as the Trump administration and Congress, to advance policies that level the playing field, preserve worker choice and address the issues that the construction industry faces, including a worker shortage of 349,000 in 2026, economic uncertainty, immigration policy, inflation and high interest rates,” said Swearingen.

OFCCP Poised to Produce Contractors’ EEO-1 Data

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:58:58 GMT

Starting in 2018, the Center for Investigative Reporting and a CIR reporter have been fighting to force the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to disclose EEO-1 reports filed by federal contractors. These contractors have submitted the data with the understanding that the government must keep such reports confidential.

Following years of litigation, in 2025 the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of CIR and ordered OFCCP to disclose most of the challenged reports. Pursuant to agreements between OFCCP and CIR, the OFCCP is preparing to produce contractors’ consolidated EEO-1 reports from 2016 through 2020. Absent a further challenge, the reports are scheduled to be made public on Feb. 25, 2026.

Federal contractors are encouraged to read Littler’s detailed analysis and contact counsel immediately if you have questions about the EEO-1 data and public disclosure or wish to challenge disclosure of your data.

ABC will continue to monitor this issue.

DOL Announces $145 Million Pay-for-Performance Apprenticeship Grants

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:58:07 GMT

On Feb. 13, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration announced a new funding opportunity of up to $145 million for organizations to administer a Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program aimed at expanding registered apprenticeship programs.

The ETA expects to award up to five cooperative agreements over a four-year period of performance, with applications due April 3, 2026.

The funding opportunity seeks applicants capable of creating and operating programs to provide incentive payments to registered apprenticeship program sponsors based on verified apprentice enrollment and growth.

The ETA is targeting four awards for apprenticeship expansion in industries including shipbuilding and defense, AI/semiconductor/nuclear energy infrastructure, information technology, health care, transportation and telecommunications. The ETA intends to make one award for a program to encourage apprenticeship across all industries, including construction.

The grant opportunity’s focus on infrastructure buildout and maintenance, including facilities like data centers, semiconductor fabrication sites and nuclear power, may be relevant to construction employers and apprenticeship sponsors supporting those projects.

Additionally, the ETA requires applicants to include at least one partner (including regional industry association and national/regional employers), meaning ABC chapters and member contractors may be eligible as potential association/employer partners to lead applicants.