A new analysis from the National Association of Home Builders analyzed the jobs-to-permits ratio. The analysis used net new jobs created in 2024 and measured against housing permits issued in 2023 to gauge the typical time required for permitted units to move through the construction pipeline and reach the market. Using this framework, the analysis revealed that the U.S. economy added approximately 1.8 million net new jobs in 2024 relative to 2023, while total housing permits issued in 2023 reached 1.51 million units. This results in an overall jobs-to-permits ratio…
Read MoreCategory: Building News
21st Century ROAD to Housing Act reaches executive branch
After the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives on June 23, 2026, the bill reached the executive branch’s desk. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) applauded the passage and now urges the legislation to be signed. This once-in-a-generation housing package includes more than 50 sections addressing housing supply, financing, disaster recovery and other priorities. NAHB provided input to Congress on many parts of the bill, but five provisions are especially important to members: land-use and zoning, aging housing stock, multifamily financing,…
Read MoreConstruction activity softens
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’s spring Construction Survey, construction activity has softened in the first months of 2026. Higher material costs and ongoing economic uncertainty are the driving factors, with more than half of respondents, approximately 54%, reporting decreased activity in the industry overall. However, signs point to optimism for the remainder of 2026 within residential construction. Despite tough conditions for some, roughly four in 10 businesses reported hiring more construction workers and increasing hours for existing employees in advance of the busy season. In general, labor…
Read MoreABC’s construction backlog surges in May
On June 16, 2026, the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 9.1 months in May 2026. This is according to ABC’s member survey conducted from May 20 to June 3. The reading is up 0.3 months from April and 0.7 months from May 2025. “Backlog rose to a nearly three-year high in May,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “This increase largely reflects the massive data center investments taking place across the nation, as the 14% of ABC members under contract to work…
Read MoreConstruction employment increases by 17,000 jobs
According to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government data released on June 5, 2026, construction firms added 17,000 jobs in May. Construction employment totaled 8,337,000 in May, an increase of 17,000 since April. Over the year, the industry has added 68,000 jobs, an increase of 0.8%. Residential construction employment inched up by 900 positions in May and specialty trade contractors added 2,600 positions for the month. Additionally, overall construction pay rose by 5% over the past year. “The construction industry will continue to add…
Read MoreResidential construction labor market remains resilient
Despite rising inflation and ongoing economic uncertainty, the U.S. labor market remained resilient in May 2026. Residential construction employment now stands at 3.3 million in May, including 925,000 workers employed by builders and remodelers and nearly 2.4 million residential specialty trade contractors. Employment in the overall construction sector rose by 17,000 jobs in May, following a gain of 9,000 in April. Within the industry, residential construction added 900 jobs, while non-residential construction added 15,700 jobs. Wage growth moderated in May, with average hourly earnings rising 3.4% year-over-year. This pace is…
Read MoreU.S. Census Bureau April 2026 Residential Construction Report
On May 21, 2026, the U.S. Census Bureau released its Monthly New Residential Construction report for April 2026. Regarding building permits, single-family authorizations in April were at a rate of 872,000, 2.6% below the revised March figure of 895,000. Across the U.S., privately-owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,465,000, 2.8% (±11%)* below the revised March estimate of 1,507,000, but 4.6% (±13.9%)* above the April 2025 rate of 1,400,000. Single-family housing starts in April were at a rate of 930,000, which is 9% below…
Read MoreNAHB urges Congress to advance housing supply reforms
On May 21, 2026, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Chairman Bill Owens, a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio, testified before the House Small Business Committee on how small builders can help close the nation’s housing gap. “NAHB estimates the country is facing a structural shortage of about 1.2 million homes,” said Owens. “Small builders are doing all they can to increase housing supply, but they cannot overcome the shortage as long as rising costs and system delays continue to hold back progress.” In his testimony, he…
Read MoreConstruction Material Price April Analysis
According to Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of federal Producer Price Index (PPI) data, overall construction input prices rose 1.7% from March to April and are now up 6.2% since January. The biggest drivers in April were energy and metals-related materials, including crude petroleum, natural gas, iron and steel, which can ripple through everything from transportation and asphalt to building systems and structural components. As prices of materials rise, the cost of building both housing and its associated infrastructure also increases. For counties, this trend is significant as tightening budgets…
Read MoreResidential building workers’ wage subdues
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, residential building workers’ wage growth remained subdued in the first quarter of 2026, a reflection of easing construction activity and labor demand. Wages remain strong relative to other industries, at 8.4% higher than the manufacturing sector, 22.4% higher than the transportation and warehousing sector and 3.6% lower than the mining and logging sector. Both nominal and inflation-adjusted wage gains remained calm. Average hourly earnings for residential building workers increased 2.1% year-over-year in March, down from the 9.4% peak in mid-2024.…
Read More