Postponed and Canceled Projects Proliferate, Yet Majority of Firms Report Difficulty Filling Hourly Craft Positions; Officials Urge Immediate Federal Action to Fund Infrastructure and Enact Liability Reforms
Steep monthly declines in public and private nonresidential construction spending offset a surge in homebuilding in July, while industry employment decreased compared to July 2019 levels in two-thirds of the nation’s metro areas, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said many commercial construction firms were likely to continue shedding jobs without needed federal coronavirus relief measures.
California and New Mexico Have Worst One-Month Job Losses While New York Has Largest Increases; California and Vermont Post Worst Yearly Declines as Utah and South Dakota Have Largest Gains
Gains in July are Limited to Residential Side as State and Local Governments and Private Owners Postpone And Cancel Upcoming Projects; Association Urges Prompt Federal Action to Make up for Revenue Losses
Association Officials Warn Further Contraction is Likely unless Federal Government Enacts Prompt, Major Investment in Infrastructure as State and Local Governments Face Deficits
New York City and Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Mass. Have Worst 12-Month Losses, While Austin and Walla Walla, Wash. Top Job Gainers; 81 Percent of Metros Add Construction Jobs from May to June
On July 8, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) passed legislation to fund related programs for fiscal year (FY) 2021. If enacted, this measure would provide significantly increased funding for surface transportation programs consistent with levels offered in the recent House passed INVEST in America Act. In addition, the bill would provide funding for economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, including an additional $3 billion for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program and $3 billion for grant and facility upgrade programs through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This measure will now be taken up for consideration by the full Committee. With the FAST Act, legislation that currently authorizes surface transportation programs, set to expire on September 30, it is incumbent that Congress soon come to an agreement on legislation to reauthorize these programs. Íæż½ã½ã will continue to monitor this and other FY21 funding measures as they move through the legislative process. Click here for a detailed breakdown of funding levels in this measure.
New Survey by the Associated General Contractors of America and HCSS Catalogs Work Zone Risks for Motorists and Workers as Construction Activity Increases Amid Growing Number of Road Trip Vacationers
Association Survey and Data Collected by Procore Measure Impacts of the Pandemic, Showing Signs of a Construction Recovery, but Labor Shortages and Project Cancellations Show Industry Needs Federal Help
Gains in May Reflect Temporary Support from Paycheck Protection Program Loans and Easing of Construction Restrictions, But Hobbled Economy and Tight State and Local Budgets Risk Future Job Losses