Workforce

From the Archives: October 18, 1993

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:20:00 -0400

This 1993 cover story by editor Richard Korman delved into the deteriorating conditions faced by traveling hard hats during the construction recession, then in its third year.

JetZero Starts Work on $4.7B Greensboro, N.C., Aircraft Campus

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:23:24 -0400

JetZero's $4.7-billion Greensboro, N.C., aircraft campus will require massive site work, capping a 15-year airport strategy to attract aerospace manufacturing.

2Q 2026 Cost Report: Compensation Increases on the Decline Following 2023 High

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:45:00 -0400

Hiring process slows as employers and employees show caution.

AI Data Centers Become City-Scale Infrastructure, Prompting New Industry Playbook

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:41:38 -0400

As AI data centers reach city-scale power demands, developers, utilities and contractors are rewriting the infrastructure playbook around electricity, workforce and speed-to-power challenges nationwide.

Early-Season Heat Puts Focus on Worker Acclimatization Across Construction Sites

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:36:22 -0400

As a heat wave pushes heat index values toward 100°F, contractors say the biggest risk may not be the temperature itself.

Mamdani's Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan Sets Big Goals for New York City

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:30:31 -0400

The Mamdani administration detailed strategies for increasing affordable housing, including building more than 200,000 affordable units in the next decade.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump's $100K Fee on New H-1B Visas

kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:49:40 -0400

States' lawsuit prevails in court against anti-immigration move, but Trump administration plans to appeal.

Meta Makes $115M Bet on Construction Craft Labor Pipeline for AI Data Centers

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:56:04 -0400

Can construction labor keep pace with the AI data center boom? Meta is investing $115 million to build its workforce pipeline.

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.