Contractors Stay Positive Amid Labor Worries

Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of USG Corp.

WASHINGTON, DC—Commercial contractors remain upbeat about the construction outlook over the next 12 months, according to the third-quarter USG Corp. + US Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index, released Monday. However, the picture is clouded by the difficulty contractors face in finding qualified employees.

“This quarter’s findings reveal strong optimism about future prospects for the industry, and also highlight a real need to address ongoing concerns about skilled labor shortages and the impact it has on building in the US,” says Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of USG. Specifically, 95% of contractors surveyed this summer said they expect revenues to grow or remain stable over the next year compared to the preceding 12 months, nearly the same percentage as in the Q2 2017 survey. And 93% also expect to see profit margins stay the same or increase over the next 12 months.