Items Tagged with 'ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors)'

The construction industry must add nearly 350,000 workers in 2026 just to keep pace with demand, according to new modeling from Associated Builders and Contractors. Workforce shortages could worsen if spending grows faster than expected.

Construction input prices jumped 0.4% to 0.6% in November, marking the fastest annual increase since January 2023. With aluminum, steel, and energy costs climbing amid tariffs, contractors are raising bids, passing on costs, and planning cautiously—even as some remain optimistic about margins next year.

October’s construction starts posted headline growth, but the gains were concentrated in a small number of megaprojects. Outside of those high-value builds, activity softened, and the industry’s labor picture dimmed further as job openings and hiring indicators pointed to ongoing contraction heading into 2026.

Associated Builders and Contractors has elected Thomas “Murph” Murphy as its 2026 national chair, highlighting his field-driven leadership style and commitment to advancing merit shop principles across the construction industry.