Economy

A long data center corridor lined with server racks, with streaks of orange light on the left, glowing blue binary code and rising line graphs on the right and across the floor, all converging on a bright white light at the far end.

Data Center Demand Is Creating a Talent Crisis Across the Rest of Construction

by Sam Cormack | Oct 27, 2026
Top Story | Artificial Intelligence | Business | Business Risk | Economy | Human Resources | Industrial | Leadership | Markets | Recruitment | Retention | Technology | Topic | Workforce

Mission-critical construction is moving at a ridiculous pace, and the influx in labor demand is stripping all the capabilities away from the rest of the construction sector.

Construction Futures: October 2026 Economic Roundup

by Construction Executive | Oct 23, 2026
Top Story | Business | Construction Futures | Economy

For the fifth month in a row, nonresidential construction spending grew—thanks to data centers.

Illustration of a clipboard with an orange clip showing a large Q and A beside lines of text, representing a question-and-answer interview.

A More Selective Market: AI, Operational Efficiency and Project Cancellations Top of Mind for Contractors This Year

by Construction Executive | Oct 22, 2026
Research | Artificial Intelligence | Business | Business Risk | Data Analytics | Departments | Economy | Finance | Nuts + Bolts | Productivity | Recruitment | Technology | Top Story | Topic | Workforce

Of those surveyed, 45% said they were piloting or actively implementing artificial intelligence.

A construction professional in a white hard hat, safety glasses and yellow high-visibility vest reviews large blueprints on an empty platform beneath the steel truss roof and glass canopy of a new train station.

Safety Gains Vary by Sector

by Construction Executive | Oct 21, 2026
Research | Business | Data Analytics | Departments | Economy | Markets | Nuts + Bolts | OSHA | Public | Risk | Risk Management | Safety | Technology | Top Story | Topic | Training | Workforce

CPWR’s June 2026 Data Bulletin compares injury trends in building construction, heavy and civil engineering, and specialty trades using federal data.

Construction Materials Prices Jump 2.2% in September, Up 11.2% Year Over Year

by ABC | Oct 21, 2026
Top Story | Business | Economy | Finance | Productivity | Project Delivery | Taxes

“Construction input prices have risen more than 11% over the past 12 months, the largest year-over-year increase in nearly four years."

Construction Backlog Indicator Rises Again in September on Data Center Strength

by ABC | Oct 19, 2026
Top Story | Business | Business Development | Business Risk | Economy | Productivity | Project Delivery

Commercial and institutional construction backlog dipped in the middle of the year, but it has since risen to its highest level since 2025.

Lumber Holds Steady, Plywood Climbs

by Construction Executive | Oct 16, 2026
News Briefs | Business | Business Risk | Data Analytics | Economy | Finance | Markets | Multifamily | Nuts + Bolts | Project Delivery | Residential | Technology | Top Story | Topic

Gordian reported an 11% quarterly increase in plywood costs and a 3% increase in pine-board prices.

A white quadcopter drone with a camera hovers in front of a large waving Chinese flag, with modern high-rise buildings and a construction crane in the background

Ground Control: Construction Continues to Monitor the Federal Drone Ban

by David McMillin | Oct 12, 2026
Technology | Business | Data Analytics | Departments | Drones / UAV’s | Economy | Features | Jobsite Monitoring | Legal and Regulatory | Legislation | Policy | Regulations | Top Story | Topic

As scrutiny of Chinese-made drones intensifies in Washington, D.C., contractors across the country are working to adjust their approaches to aerial innovation. What will the skies above jobsites look like in the future?

Shipping News: The Rise of the Ecommerce Warehouse

News Briefs: January-February 2024

What Will the 2024 Economy Look Like

News Briefs: November 2023

CE’s Q3 Economic Update and Forecast: Reasons to Celebrate and Worry

What Do NFTs Have to Do With the Construction Industry?