The price of materials and services used in nonresidential construction jumped 12.6 percent in September from a year earlier despite a dip of 0.2 percent last month, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released Oct. 12. Association officials note that the construction industry was suffering the most from inflation, adding that new Buy America rules set to go into effect as soon as next month will only make the situation more dire.

The construction industry added 19,000 employees in September as it boosted wages for hourly workers at the fastest rate in 40 years, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government data. Association officials said that even with the pay raises, many contractors are still having a difficult time finding qualified workers to hire.

Total construction spending declined by 0.7 percent in August as spending on new houses turned sharply lower, while public and private nonresidential construction posted mixed results, according to an analysis the Associated General Contractors of America released on Oct. 3 of federal spending data. Association officials said that rising interest rates were hurting demand for housing and many private-sector projects, while the impacts of new federal funding for infrastructure, semiconductor plants and green energy facilities have yet to fully kick in.

Construction employment increased in 246, or 69 percent, of 358 metro areas between August 2021 and August 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. But association officials noted the job gains likely would have been higher if firms could find more qualified people to hire and train.

The Department of Labor published a final rule on Sept. 26 to rescind Trump-era Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs that marks the end of a four-year fight by SWACCA’s public policy team in Washington, D.C. This final rule will be effective on Nov. 25.

On Tuesday, Oct. 11, the Department of Labor issued new guidelines for categorizing independent contractors and employees per the Fair Labor Standards Act. The proposed rule is an overhaul of the existing guidelines and is similar to the rule adopted during the Obama administration.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration released its top 10 violations of OSHA rules for fiscal year 2022, which showed that failing to protect construction workers from falls continues to be the most common hazard that OSHA inspectors are citing employers for. In addition, OSHA’s most cited rules included three other construction fall prevention measures—protecting workers on scaffolds, ladder safety and training workers to avoid falls.

Hill International, Inc., delivering the infrastructure of change, on Sept. 20 announced a partnership with the National Urban League. The partnership will focus on increasing diversity in the country’s construction workforce.

FMI Corp. released a new white paper, titled “The New Economy Versus the Old Economy: Winners and Losers in Tomorrow’s Built Environment.” The white paper includes the company’s research on how current industry and economic trends are expected to shape the broader built environment in the coming months and years.

Construction employment climbed in 31 states from July to August, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America on Sept. 16. The gains come even as the vast majority of contractors report they would have added more workers if they could find them, according to a survey the association released at the end of August.