Your source for construction industry news in the Carolinas
As the skilled trades industry faces a massive retirement cliff over the next decade, The Home Depot Foundation is providing funding to help schools and skilled trades training organizations make the physical improvements they need to attract and retain the next generation of skilled tradespeople. The Foundation is now accepting applications for Path to Pro Education…
According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2025 Union Members Summary released today, 11.1% of U.S. construction industry workers belong to a union, an increase from 10.3% in 2024, versus 88.9% who do not. The BLS reported that 995,000 construction industry workers were members of a union, while 8…
The construction industry added 33,000 jobs on net in January, 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 44,000 jobs, an increase of 0.5%. Nonresidential construction employment expanded by 27,900 positions, with gains in 2…
Duke Energy Foundation is awarding $500,000 to community colleges across the state to help prepare the next generation of skilled energy and trade workers. Zoom in: North Carolina community colleges can apply for $25,000 grants to expand or strengthen programs that support critical energy and skilled trade careers, including lineworker training, electrical, mechanical and electronics engineering…
The construction industry needs to attract an estimated 349,000 net new workers in 2026 to meet demand for construction services, according to a proprietary model developed and released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. In 2027, the industry will need to bring in 456,000 new workers to meet demand as construction spending growth is poised…
For decades, we told students there was one “right” path to success. College first. Figure it out later. Massachusetts just blew that myth up in the best possible way. According to a recent WSJ article, The Hottest High Schools in Massachusetts are Trade Schools, trade schools across the state now have waiting lists in the thousands….
Every October, our industry takes a moment to recognize Careers in Construction Month. It’s more than a celebration—it’s a mirror. Because for all the growth and innovation shaping our field, one truth has lingered for decades: we’ve failed to build a consistent, sustainable pipeline of people entering construction. We’ve seen this coming. Generations of skilled…
Construction workforce shortages are the leading cause of project delays as new immigration enforcement efforts have impacted nearly one-third of construction firms, according to the results of a workforce survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and NCCER. Noting that 92 percent of contractors report they are having a hard time filling open positions, construction officials called…
The Lowe’s Foundation today announced 12 new Gable Grants for community and technical colleges to help solve America’s critical skilled trades worker shortage. The funding expands the foundation’s nationwide network of Gable Grants recipients to 60 organizations, each delivering scalable pathways into high-demand trades careers. Through expanded training, grants to this cohort will help build the next…
According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2024 Union Members Summary released today, a record low 10.3% of the U.S. construction industry belongs to a union, a decrease from the prior historic low of 10.7% in 2023. BLS reports that 7,978,000 construction industry workers were not members of a…
