ABC Economist on Economic Recovery for Nonresidential Construction
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2020 —Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu warned the economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak would be quite different for the nonresidential construction industry compared to previous recessions, according to an economic outlook published in Construction Executive magazine. Normally, construction backlog, which stood at 8.2 months in February, according to ABC’s…
CORE+Flex: The Labor Strategy Contractors are Implementing as Crisis Restrictions Ease Up
Press Release Construction contractors learned, out of necessity, how to approach labor strategy back in 2011 through 2015 as the Great Recession-crippled economy slowly rebounded. Because of industry uncertainty at the time, they found it safer and prudent to run a much leaner full-time workforce than prior to the 2009 recession, comprised only of their…
How to Deal with (and Prevent) Commercial Construction Delays
As nearly anyone who works in commercial construction will tell you, delays are a big problem in the industry. How big? A McKinsey study found that a staggering 98 percent of megaprojects (those with budgets over $1 billion) faced cost overruns or delays. Another study found that 60 percent of construction cost overruns at all budgetary levels are due…
Nonresidential Construction Employment Sees Record Loss in April, Says ABC
The construction industry lost 975,000 jobs on net in April, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This was the largest recorded decrease in construction jobs since the government began tracking employment in 1939, despite construction remaining an essential industry in much of the…
Nonresidential Construction Spending Declines In March As Pandemic Halts Projects
May 1, 2020, Washington, DC – Numerous impediments to completing construction projects led to declines in most categories of private construction spending in March, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials warn that the Treasury Department’s threats to audit or prosecute some Paycheck Protection…
ToolWatch® Leads Rollout of DEWALT® Tool Connect™ Systems Integration
Press Release ToolWatch, a powerful, flexible platform for tool, equipment, materials and consumables management, announces a technology integration with DEWALT, a leading manufacturer of professional power tools, hand tools, storage and accessories. As the pilot developer building to the DEWALT Tool Connect system, ToolWatch and DEWALT are working together to improve the overall tool ownership…
Construction Contractor Confidence Plummets in February, Says ABC
WASHINGTON, April 23, 2020 — Confidence among U.S. construction industry leaders plummeted in February due to expectations of the economic fallout associated with COVID-19, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Confidence Index released today. Readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels expectations fell below the threshold of 50 for the first time…
Evolving Women in AEC: Andrea Moffat, President, Moffat Pipe
Moffat Pipe is a heavy highway utility contractor based in Wake Forest, N.C. with specialized expertise in shoring, tunnels, water and sewer lines, and other infrastructure projects. Founder and President Andrea Moffat was one of four Triangle-area women recently highlighted in a series of communications – themed Evolving Women in AEC – distributed by Chix Dig…
BIM Track announces enterprise agreement with Brasfield & Gorrie
Press Release Brasfield & Gorrie, one of the nation’s largest privately-held construction firms, was looking for a better way to communicate and keep track of RFIs across multiple systems. These coordination challenges led Brasfield & Gorrie to BIM Track, a web-based issue tracking platform that allows multiple stakeholders to coordinate on BIM-based projects. Blake Potts, Regional VDC Manager in…
February Construction Unemployment Rates Down in 37 States Year Over Year, Says ABC
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2020 — Estimated February not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 37 states, rose in 12 states and were unchanged in one state (Texas) on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. As of February 2020, the…
