The impact of therecession came on quickly for specialty contractors, sending them into a slump as they cope with a combination of fewer jobs and thinner margins. Although revenues remain below pre-recession levels, many of the region's largest firms are landing enough work to hold steady.
The recession took its toll in 2009 as the combined revenue of the region's top 10 specialty contractors dropped 17% from the previous year to $2.32 billion. But revenue leveled off at $2.29 billion for the top-10 firms in 2010.