In this challenging labor market and economy, the solid surface training program is a great way to train new hires who lack experience or diversify an existing business into new lines of work. 

The responses about mental health reveal an industry still seeking to fully engage with this issue, with only 34% of contractor respondents reporting that staff at their company have good access to resources that help address mental health issues.

Plunging prices for diesel fuel, lumber, and steel cooled inflation for materials and services used in construction in December, but relief may be short-lived. 

The six-episode season is hosted by Money Pit’s Tom Kraeutler and stars an exciting roster of pro guests who share their unique views of the world of design and construction.

Construction firms added 28,000 employees in December and continued to raise wages for hourly workers more than other sectors as the industry’s unemployment rate fell to a record low for the month, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government data.

On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has risen by 231,000 jobs or 3.1%.

Total construction spending increased by 0.2 percent in November, dragged down by a lack of new infrastructure projects along with a continuing slide in homebuilding, according to an analysis of federal spending data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Construction employment increased in 268 of 358 metro areas between November 2021 and November 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data.

Total construction starts fell 18% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $926.3 billion, according to Dodge Construction Network. During the month, nonresidential building starts lost 25%, nonbuilding shed 21%, and residential starts dropped 5%.

The International Surface Event will co-date with Design & Construction Week, which features the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show and the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show.