The Blog

Construction input prices increased 1.4% in January 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 increased 0.9% for the month.

ABC MA’s 2025 Chair Luiza Mills is no stranger to our Chapter or the construction industry.  She advanced to her role as senior vice president at Interstate Electrical Services Corporation, the largest privately held electrical services corporation in New England, through a passion for education and a focus on details.  Those qualities have also defined Luiza’s contributions to ABC.

The construction industry added 4,000 jobs on net in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has increased by 178,000 jobs, an increase of 2.2%.

Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.4 months in January, according to an ABC member survey conducted Jan. 21 to Feb. 3. The reading is unchanged from January 2024.

Associated Builders and Contractors celebrated a Feb. 7 decision by the U.S. Department of Defense that will restore merit-based competition for taxpayer-funded construction projects procured by military agencies.

Glen Pisani of MAS Building & Bridge has a piece of advice for general contractors when it comes to steel erectors: “Make sure the people on your site are qualified, because mistakes can be catastrophic and skimping on quality isn’t the way to save money.”

Massachusetts has established comprehensive regulations under 454 CMR 27.00 to clarify and expand upon the state’s wage laws. Below, we’ll explore key aspects of these standards to help employers and employees better understand their rights and responsibilities.

National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.2% in December 2024, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.241 trillion.

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.