Total construction starts rose 9% in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.013 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network.

Construction employment dipped by 5,000 jobs between December and January even though hourly pay rose at a record pace in the past year, according to an analysis of government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. 

Only 18 states and the District of Columbia have added construction jobs since just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020, despite a pickup in most states from October to November, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Single-family and multifamily housing production accelerated in November, due to strong demand for new construction.

Rising costs, skilled labor shortages and lack of materials continue to create challenges for the construction industry.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported that the labor market continues to tighten, especially for the construction industry.

MAPEI Corporation announces the expansion of its existing Wildwood, Florida, facility with the groundbreaking ceremony for the addition of a new 260,000-square-foot (24 155-m2) powder production and distribution facility. Deerfield Beach, Florida – MAPEI Corporation announces the expansion of its existing Wildwood, Florida, facility with the groundbreaking ceremony for the addition of a new 260,000-square-foot (24 155-m2) powder production and distribution facility.

There are many dedicated workers in the construction industry that are responsible for building quality long-lasting structures for many sectors, including residential, commercial, hospitality and healthcare. In particular, Stone World would like to begin highlighting some of those devoted employees in the stone industry. Cortney Boswell, project manager for Chicago-based GI Stone, recently spoke about her role in the construction industry, and more specifically, shared her experiences of being a woman in a male-dominated profession.

As a result of the severe economic shock caused by the lockdown measures imposed by governments around the world to contain the spread of COVID-19, global construction output is expected to contract by 1.4% in 2020, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The Vitória Stone Fair | Marmomac Latin America is scheduled for February 11 to 14, 2020 in Espírito Santo, Brazil. The international stone exhibition brings together major extraction and processing companies of natural stone, equipment and machinery, and other technologies from all over the world.