Category: Labor & Workforce Development
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On the Concrete Pavement: State of the Concrete Industry
Don Weaver, president of Weaver-Bailey Contractors and the 2025 Board of Directors Chairman of the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) and Edward Wessel, president/COO of Hi-Way Paving Inc. and second vice chair of the ACPA, shares their insight into the state of the concrete industry and the challenges contractors are managing daily. Concrete Contractor connected…
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A Perfect Storm of Challenges: State of the Concrete Industry
Concrete contractors in 2025 are facing a perfect storm of challenges that are reshaping how work gets done on-site, impacting project timelines, budgets, and workforce stability. From labor gaps and QC headaches to price spikes and unpredictable pipelines, contractors are under pressure from all sides in 2025. Success this year means staying flexible, adopting tech…
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Trade Over Tuition: Check Out 2025’s Top 5 Construction Careers with Growth Potential
As the price of a traditional four-year college degree continues to climb, more young Americans are questioning whether a diploma is worth the debt. New data shows that a growing number of students are trading college lecture halls for hands-on careers in construction — and the industry-in-need is ready to welcome them. Trade school enrollment…
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Lubrication Engineers Acquires SWEPCO to Expand Grease and Lubricants Portfolio
Lubrication Engineers (LE) has acquired Southwestern Petroleum Lubricants (SWEPCO), a Texas-based manufacturer of industrial greases and oils. The deal marks LE’s third acquisition in 2025 and continues the company’s expansion under private equity firm Aurora Capital Partners. Founded in 1933, SWEPCO specializes in high-performance greases, oils, and lubricants used in industrial and food-grade applications. Its…
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Beat the Heat: OSHA-Backed Heat Safety Strategies Every Contractor Should Use
Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related work fatalities in the United States, with construction workers accounting for more than a third of all heat-related deaths. As average daily temperatures continue to rise, it’s critical to protect workers from extreme heat and heat-related risks. Understanding Heat Stress and Heat-related Illnesses Outdoor workers, especially those…
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Newforma Makes Leadership Change with New Lead of International Sales
Newforma has named Matthew Cox as Senior Vice President of International Sales, bringing on the AECO tech veteran to support the company’s expansion into global markets. Cox’s previous leadership roles at companies like Bentley Systems have prepared him to help firms tackle mounting challenges in the architecture, engineering, construction and owner (AECO) industry. Cox joins…
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Construction Firms Embracing Tech Gain Competitive Edge in Bids, Revenue, and Talent
Don’t underestimate what technology can do for a construction business. That’s the overriding message from a newly released benchmarking report covering the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries. Findings from the 2025 AEC Inspire Report from Unanet [of which I am co-author] show a clear performance divide between AEC firms that are mature in their…
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Construction Firms Embracing Tech Gain Competitive Edge in Bids, Revenue, and Talent
Don’t underestimate what technology can do for a construction business. That’s the overriding message from a newly released benchmarking report covering the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries. Findings from the 2025 AEC Inspire Report from Unanet [of which I am co-author] show a clear performance divide between AEC firms that are mature in their…
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Key Takeaways from the 2025 NAPA Mid-Year Conference in Louisville
As I write this, I just got back from Louisville, Kentucky, and while the bourbon down there flows as freely as a McDonald’s soda fountain—the conversations, ideas, and industry insights at the NAPA Mid-Year Meeting were just as prevalent. As someone who’s spent time in the trenches with the commercial pavement maintenance professionals, I’ll be…
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How to Reduce Construction Turnover by Building a Culture of Loyalty and Engagement
Employee turnover is notoriously high in construction — outpacing other industries by an average of 2.5% in 2024. This churn carries a steep price. Research shows that hiring and training new construction staff can cost between 50 and 200% of each worker’s annual salary. High turnover also leads to knock-on effects, hindering your ability to…