Workforce

Six Quanta Services Units Try Australian Suicide Prevention Model

kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:36:17 -0400

An Australian program based on building connections among workers makes its debut in the U.S.

Contractors Added 17K Jobs in May, With More Hiring Expected Ahead

judys@enr.com (Scott Judy) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:42:32 -0400

Will continuing demand for data center construction keep construction contractors hiring?

Chicago Launches $7B Plan to Transform Sports Arena Neighborhood

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:29:00 -0400

What firms are part of the construction team tapped for the United Center-area redevelopment project expected to transform 55 acres over the next 15 years?

An H-1B Visa Policy That Makes No Economic Sense

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

If you want to get a sense of the talent challenge now confronting industry firms, you need look no further than the open jobs posted on the website of GEI Consultants

Construction Job Openings Increase Amid 'Struggle' to Fill Positions

zevina@enr.com (Alisa Zevin) — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:51:16 -0400

Layoffs reached lowest number in April since 2022, with labor availability "unlikely to improve in the short term," said ABC economist.

Construction Spending Increases in April

zevina@enr.com (Alisa Zevin) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:47:08 -0400

Residential, public work account for much of the increase.

Maine Engineer With H-1B Visa Sues ICE Over Long Day in Custody

kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:58:05 -0400

A legal visiting engineer from Colombia alleges in a lawsuit that he was wrongfully detained by ICE earlier this year.

Clayco Tackles ‘Burnout’ as Jobsite Safety Risk in New Initiative

Wed, 27 May 2026 14:10:39 -0400

Contractor aims to address “systemic issues that will help improve psychological safety overall,” says Dan Lester, its vice president of field culture and inclusion.

Gray Construction Makes $2M Donation to Eastern Kentucky University CM Program

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Wed, 27 May 2026 12:44:45 -0400

Gift will create an endowed professorship in a construction management program that has seen a spike in enrollment in recent years.

AGC Survey Spurs Push for Work-Zone Safety Measures in Transportation Bill

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 26 May 2026 16:30:03 -0400

As Congress weighs the next surface transportation bill, the Associated General Contractors of America is pushing stronger work-zone safety requirements after contractors reported persistent crashes and project disruptions.

Give Momentum to Your Career at ENR GWIC, June 14-16 in San Diego

rubind@enr.com (Debra K. Rubin) — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:00:00 -0400

There’s still time to sign up for the GWIC experience in leadership skill building, career pathways, networking and real-world solutions for your workplace!

Construction Hiring Slows, but Contractors Keep Workers

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Mon, 18 May 2026 13:04:37 -0400

Construction unemployment rose in 44 states, but hiring, backlog and labor data suggest contractors are preserving crews rather than broadly cutting workers.

Getting the Most Out of AI Takes Real Work, Say ENR FutureTech Speakers

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Thu, 14 May 2026 00:42:28 -0400

This year's construction tech conference showcased AI-enabled workflows, robots walking jobsites and 3D-printed Walmart stores, among other sector innovations.

Subcontractors Ordered to Pay Record $1.28M in Minnesota Wage Theft Case

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Wed, 13 May 2026 15:43:36 -0400

Two subcontractors have been ordered to pay $1.3-million in back wages to 26 workers in Minnesota.

Materials Prices ‘Surge’ in April

zevina@enr.com (Alisa Zevin) — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:59:40 -0400

Prices for energy, steel lead increases overall, threatening the stability of contractors' project pipelines.

ABC Backlog Indicator Inches Up to ‘Ten-month High’

zevina@enr.com (Alisa Zevin) — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:12:33 -0400

Data centers continue to account for much of the backlog for large contractors.

Bechtel Boosts Role in Nuclear Power Resurgence With New Union Apprenticeship Pact

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:12:00 -0400

The global contractor signed a memorandum of understanding with North America’s Building Trades Unions to advance union apprenticeship training to deliver advanced nuclear projects at scale.

Nonresidential Builders Boosted Hiring by 18K Positions in April

judys@enr.com (Scott Judy) — Fri, 08 May 2026 14:33:29 -0400

Nonresidential specialty contractors added the most new workers, boosting employment by an estimated 12,600 positions.

Construction Spending Sees Small Uptick in March

zevina@enr.com (Alisa Zevin) — Thu, 07 May 2026 16:16:26 -0400

Manufacturing weakness deepened in March as nonresidential construction spending fell for a second straight month, leaving data centers and power infrastructure among the few major growth segments.

Construction Job Openings Rebound Following 'Historic Low'

zevina@enr.com (Alisa Zevin) — Tue, 05 May 2026 14:56:22 -0400

Despite a small increase in hiring, the job market for construction workers remains "subdued," says ABC chief economist Anirban Basu.

Maryland Touts Work Zone Safety Improvements But Challenges Remain

Mon, 04 May 2026 10:06:58 -0400

Maryland has relied on awareness campaigns to protect workers on highway projects.

Report Highlights Jobsite Heat Risks as OSHA Extends Guidelines Another Five Years

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:37:23 -0400

"Emphasis program" for outdoor and indoor heat hazards in effect now until 2031, but advocates warn of reduced workplace safety enforcement by Trump administration.

Chicago Starts Work on $5.7B Red Line Extension

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:45:28 -0400

Project to extend the Red Line to Chicago's far south side is touted as the largest capital project in Chicago Transit Authority's history.

Middle East, Iran Conflict and UAE Mandate Put Squeeze on Construction Labor Force

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:09:27 -0400

Immediate concern is labor mainly from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal, with crews that are traditionally 90–95% expatriates not easily replaced by locals.

Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Resigns Amid Probe, Shifting Oversight of Safety, Wages

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:04:33 -0400

Resignation comes amid a misconduct probe, leaving contractors, unions and public owners watching for shifts in policy.

Worker Death Prompts OSHA Safety Probe on Texas ICE Megaproject

kongv@enr.com (Vince Kong) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:01:36 -0400

What happened inside the rush to build one of the nation's largest ICE detention facilities is now drawing federal attention.

Nemetschek to Buy HCSS for $2.4B, Expanding Reach Into Heavy Civil Contractor Software

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:53:00 -0400

Germany-based firm's purchase of Texas company targets core estimating and field software used by infrastructure contractors—what could it mean for project workflows?

10 Minutes with Gretchen Gagel, CEO of New International Institute for Women in Construction

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:25:00 -0400

In a 40-plus-year career as an owner and construction advisor, activist aims to reshape how women enter the sector and progress careers by uniting recruitment and retention efforts through research.

March Material Prices 'Surge' Amid Iran Conflict

zevina@enr.com (Alisa Zevin) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:15:55 -0400

Despite soaring prices, construction backlog grew in March.

Bechtel Exec’s Donation Creates New Construction School at University of North Carolina-Charlotte

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:32:00 -0400

Donation of undisclosed amount is set to help prepare students to deliver complex infrastructure with a focus on the “full scope of how projects are planned, built and sustained,” a top school official said.