April 2025 eBulletin

National Construction Safety Week, May 5 – 9
Each year, National Construction Safety Week, May 5 – 9, offers us a powerful reminder: safety is more than a policy or a checklist—it’s a shared value, a collective commitment, and a daily choice. This year’s theme, “We’re All in Together: Building a Stronger, Safer Industry,” speaks directly to the heart of what makes our industry resilient and successful: our people.

AGCVA members have been up to a lot in the last month! 

We are thrilled to recognize these accomplishments and recognitions, and we encourage you to connect with your fellow members and extend your congratulations!

Project stress picked back up in March as rising uncertainty led more developers to abandon projects, according to the latest data from Cincinnati-based ConstructConnect.

The Project Stress Index, a measure of construction projects that have been paused, abandoned or have a delayed bid date, increased 1.1% in March. That marks a 13.7% increase over 2021 levels, the benchmark year for the index, according to ConstructConnect.
CONSTRUCTION DIVE

Construction materials prices rose 0.6% in February compared to the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index released March 13. Since February 2024, prices have increased 0.3%.

In the non-residential sector, monthly prices increased 0.6%. “Nonresidential input prices increased at a rapid pace in February and have risen at a far-too-hot 9.0% annualized rate through the first two months of 2025,” Anirban Basu, chief economist at Associated Builders and Contractors, said in a press release. “Iron and steel prices rose at a particularly fast rate in February, a result of tariffs providing domestic producers with increased pricing power.”
ENR

When complex construction disputes arise, securing financial recovery is just as critical as proving the other party’s liability. Read the latest posting on AGC’s Reports & Hot Topic Papers page,  A Deep Dive into Damages: Show Me the Money!, written by attorney Gregory Chertoff at Peckar & Abramson, that explores the essential principles contractors and construction managers must understand to document and prove entitlement to and quantum of damages effectively. The paper emphasizes the importance of real-time recordkeeping, strategic contract negotiations, and understanding legal burdens of proof. It also highlights key damage categories and examines how courts distinguish between direct and consequential damages.
AGC

Lawmakers pushed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to speed up federally funded infrastructure projects in a recent Senate Environment and Public Works Committee meeting, as they begin developing the next multiyear Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act added about $550 billion over baseline funding levels and included a five-year reauthorization of federal highway, transit and other infrastructure programs that is set to expire at the end of September 2026. That funding infusion helped improve the condition of U.S. infrastructure, but ongoing support is needed to maintain progress and meet new challenges, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
CONSTRUCTION DIVE

The US construction sector is facing twin pressures from trade policy and labor shortages. Although materials most heavily used in construction, such as lumber, cement and energy products, are mostly domestically manufactured, that does not mean the industry is immune to rising commodity prices and supply chain disruptions. Construction materials are traded on global commodity markets, which are extremely susceptible to trade disturbances.

Just the threat of tariffs on key building materials such as lumber, steel and aluminum raised input costs at the start of 2025. Supply chains will remain complex as domestic producers cannot ramp up fast enough to meet demand; major exporters like Canada, the European Union and China will continue to fill an important role.

Meanwhile, immigration policies heavily influence construction projects and wages. Immigrants make up about 25% of all construction labor, second to only agriculture with the highest share of immigrant workers.

This report analyzes how past and current tariffs have impacted construction, how businesses responded and what the latest round of tariffs means for the industry. It also examines the role of immigration in alleviating labor shortages in residential and commercial construction.
KPMG

Construction employment increased in 189, or 53%, of 360 metro areas between February 2024 and February 2025, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials warned that new and increased tariffs announced yesterday are likely to cause some projects to be paused or canceled and could lead to fewer areas having job gains.

“Falling business and consumer confidence, along with rising costs from tariffs, are causing projects to be delayed or canceled,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “These challenging conditions are leading to less widespread job growth than previously.”
AGC

In 2023, construction fatalities hit the highest number since 2011. This statistic demonstrates the need for a new approach to protecting workers. The industry has the opportunity to make 2025 a transformative year for safety.

It won’t be easy. The construction industry will continue to struggle with a workforce shortage, creating a number of safety and operational challenges. However, new frameworks and technologies give organizations powerful ways to enhance their safety practices. Events that could have — but did not — result in a serious injury or fatality (SIF-p) should command more attention, and safety leaders can leverage AI-powered platforms for enhanced insight into emerging risks. 

These changes can help the industry evolve beyond outdated approaches, combining cultural shifts and innovative technologies to better protect its workforce. Now is the time for action.
EHS Today

Factors including paid medical or family leave correlated with reduced rates of suicide in construction, according to panelists of a recent CPWR webinar.