FMI just released their Third Quarter 2019 North American Engineering & Construction Outlook, which features comprehensive construction forecasts for the U.S. and Canada as well as information on key market drivers.

Thirty-nine states added construction jobs between August 2018 and August 2019, while construction employment increased in 29 states from July to August. 

Construction employment increased by 14,000 jobs in August and by 177,000, or 2.4 percent, over the past 12 months, while the number of unemployed jobseekers with construction experience remained near historic lows, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. 

Construction spending inched up less than 0.1 percent in July from June but slipped from year-ago levels.

Construction employment grew in 255, or 71 percent, out of 358 metro areas between July 2018 and July 2019, declined in 56 and was unchanged in 47.

Eighty percent of construction firms report they are having a hard time filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.

The fundamentals of the commercial construction industry are strong and industry leaders are largely optimistic about the future of the sector, according to the latest USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index (CCI). 

Simpson Strong-Tie has announced the release of its Anchoring, Fastening Systems and Restoration Solutions for Concrete and Masonry product guide.

On Tuesday, August 27 at 1 p.m. EDT, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Autodesk will release new data showing the severity of construction worker shortages nationwide and by region and state* during a media conference call at 1-800-875-3456 (use passcode: "Brian Turmail"). 

Prefab construction is here, and it’s happening. The combination of a severe labor shortage and extreme shortfalls in housing supply is driving a renewed interest in prefabricated construction as a more cost-efficient alternative to traditional building.