If statistics are any indication, specialty contractors are grappling with mixed signals that make for an uncertain year ahead. On the plus side, U.S. construction starts are expected to rise slightly this year as demand in certain sectors such as health care, higher education and renovation is forecast to continue its upward climb in the tristate region.
Those sectors, as well as transportation and energy, kept tristate firms busy last year—as reflected in the results of the largest 50 firms that responded to ENR New York's specialty contractors survey (see p. 23). For the group, 2011 revenue at the top 50 firms rose 12.7% from the prior year.