The Blog

The construction industry had 217,000 job openings on the last day of December 2024, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings decreased by 55,000 last month and are down by 217,000 from the same time last year.

The focus of our most recent ABC Massachusetts Board of Directors meeting centered on progress review on the goals set forth in the ABC MA and Gould Construction Institute 2025-28 Strategic Plan. It is important to take this opportunity to highlight our Chapter’s top priorities as we embark into 2025.

The at-will employment doctrine is a double-edged sword in the workplace, offering both freedom and uncertainty. It gives employees the flexibility to walk away from a job without strings attached, while employers can make staffing changes swiftly without protracted legal complications. Yet, with this freedom comes a shadow of unpredictability—where job security can feel fragile, and a slight shift in business priorities could lead to sudden dismissal. While the doctrine may appear straightforward, it exists within a complex web of protections and exceptions, ensuring that beneath the surface of at-will employment, certain rights remain firmly guarded.

The construction industry will need to attract an estimated 439,000 net new workers in 2025 to meet anticipated demand for construction services, according to a proprietary model developed and released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. In 2026, the industry will need to bring in 499,000 new workers as spending picks up in response to presumed lower interest rates.

According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2024 Union Members Summary, a record low 10.3% of the U.S. construction industry belongs to a union, a decrease from the prior historic low of 10.7% in 2023.

Construction input prices decreased 0.2% in December compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices also decreased 0.2% for the month.

Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator inched down to 8.3 months in December, according to an ABC member survey conducted Dec. 20 to Jan. 6. The reading is down 0.3 months from December 2023.

The construction industry had just 276,000 job openings on the last day of November 2024, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings increased by 17,000 last month but are down by 178,000 from the same time last year.

National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.1% in November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.234 trillion. On a year-over-year basis, nonresidential construction spending is up 2.8%, approximately flat in inflation-adjusted terms.

Medford Wellington Service Company is clearly serious about its goal to provide its customers with one-stop shopping from southern Connecticut to Portland, ME.