Construction

IIJA and CHIPS Act spending is creating a multi-year pipeline of public and industrial construction—TSMC's $40 billion Arizona fab complex, Intel's $20 billion Ohio expansion, and Micron's $100 billion New York project are among the largest active jobsites in the country.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) mandates are spreading from federal GSA projects to state DOTs and large private owners, with Autodesk Revit and Bentley Systems platforms becoming baseline requirements for design-build teams on projects above $10 million.

Mass timber construction under the 2021 International Building Code allowances for tall wood buildings (up to 18 stories) is gaining ground, with projects like Ascent in Milwaukee (25 stories) demonstrating structural viability and embodied-carbon reductions compared to steel and concrete.

Skilled-trade pipeline programs are expanding through registered apprenticeships—the Department of Labor reported over 600,000 active construction apprentices, the highest in two decades—and union training centers operated by IBEW, UA Plumbers, and the Laborers' International Union (LIUNA).

Construction insurance and bonding costs have risen sharply due to catastrophic weather losses and social inflation in liability verdicts, with surety capacity tightening for mid-size contractors and professional liability premiums increasing 15-25% annually in high-risk geographies.