Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) produced a primer, “Mass Timber: Advancing Sustainable Construction and High-Quality Job Creation,” and presented it at an event held at the Hyatt Place Albany-Downtown in New York on May 11, 2026. The primer focused on the industry’s ability to produce job growth and provide sustainability in construction. The global mass timber market is projected to grow to over $1.3 billion by 2030, with the U.S. poised to become the world’s fastest-growing mass timber market over the coming decade. “Mass timber is more than an alternative,…
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Residential leads U.S. construction spending
According to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America, U.S. construction spending increased 0.6% from February to March, with gains in residential construction and data center-related projects. Residential construction spending rose 3.6% compared with a year earlier, including a 2.7% monthly increase in single-family construction. Total construction spending reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.186 trillion in March, up 1.6% from March 2025. Private construction spending increased 0.8% for the month and 1.0% year over year, while multifamily construction increased 0.5% year over year. Association officials noted,…
Read MoreNew law speeds up home renovations and repairs in Florida
A new bill signed into law aims to slash local red tape and lower costs for Florida homeowners, in an effort to expedite home renovations and storm repairs. House Bill 803 will introduce sweeping changes to Florida building permit laws, as well as how building permits and inspections are managed across municipalities within the state. The legislation was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis this week after passing both the House and Senate. For residents of Key Biscayne and coastal communities where home renovations and storm repairs are a constant way…
Read MoreConstruction jobs see life for two consecutive months
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, both the U.S. labor market and construction job market continued to show resilience for two consecutive months. Employment in the overall construction sector rose by 9,000 jobs in April. Residential construction employment now stands at 3.3 million in April, including 927,000 workers employed by builders and remodelers and nearly 2.4 million residential specialty trade contractors. A report from the National Association of Homebuilders noted that the number of open construction sector jobs increased, rising slightly from 201,000 in February to 224,000 in March.…
Read MoreTop 5 renovation trends in 2026
Homeowners are investing in renovations now more than ever, with remodeling projects rising steadily across the nation as homeowners prioritize comfort, functionality and long-term value. As the middle of the year approaches, overall renovation trends in 2026 have pointed towards smarter and more sustainable upgrades that are tailored to everyday lifestyles. Smart home integration has been a popular integration in remodels. Homeowners are prioritizing centralized control over lighting, security, climate and appliances through unified platforms. As environmental awareness grows, so does the demand for eco-conscious building materials in remodels. With…
Read MoreConstruction workforce shifts
According to the National Association of Homebuilders’ (NAHB) analysis of the latest 2024 data from the American Community Survey (ACS), the long-running shift in the construction labor force away from construction trades and toward management, business and technical roles is ongoing and gaining momentum. While the total industry employment now exceeds the levels reached during the 2005 to 2006 housing boom, the composition of that workforce has changed markedly. The share of construction trades workers has declined from 71% in 2005 to 59% in 2024. At the same time, the…
Read MoreMillennials and Gen Z are diving into renovations in 2026
According to Houzz’s 2026 House & Home Study, more than half of U.S. homeowners are pursuing home renovation plans, with a higher share of millennials and Gen Z diving into renovations. The annual report surveyed more than 20,000 users across the nation to figure out how homeowners are budgeting for their projects, their reasons for renovating, the scope and spend of projects. Marine Sargsyan, the head of economic research at Houzz, said home renovation is continuing at historic levels. The report emphasized older clients prioritizing renovations to age in place,…
Read MoreNew data provides overview of March construction prices
According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released on April 14, 2026, construction input prices increased 2.2% in March compared to the previous month. However, prices decreased in two of the three energy subcategories last month. Natural gas and unprocessed energy materials prices were down 51.7% and 7.7%, respectively. “Construction materials prices surged in March and are now up 4.8% year over year, the largest annual increase since January 2023,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “This monthly increase…
Read MoreHomeowners are remodeling instead of relocating
According to a recent survey from Redfin, more homeowners are choosing to renovate their homes rather than relocate. Around 43% of Americans renovated their home in the last year and another 33% plan to renovate in the next year. Approximately 65% of homeowners who recently renovated chose to upgrade their current home instead of moving. Of the homeowners who are planning to renovate in the next year, 71% say that they are remodeling instead of buying a new house. “Many Americans are choosing to stay put and make the home…
Read MoreRemodeling market sentiment holds steady
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released their NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the first quarter of 2026, indicating remodelers are remaining positive in the market. While the survey reported at a 62, a two point decrease from the Q4 report, NAHB holds that the sentiment of remodelers is still in steady place. Looking at the bigger picture, the reporting of 62 in Q1 is still stronger than Q2 (59) and Q3 (60) in 2025, despite new economic headwinds. “Ongoing positive remodeler sentiment is consistent with the NAHB…
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