News & Guides

Practical guides and industry news for GC estimators — covering subcontractor management, bid management, prequalification, and construction communications.

Construction workers in safety gear on a jobsite, representing OSHA and AGC collaboration on 2026 safety standards.
News April 7, 2026

OSHA and AGC Align on Construction Safety Priorities for 2026

AGC joined OSHA's 2026 Alliance Program Roundtable to shape construction safety collaboration. What came out of it matters for GC compliance planning.

Via AGC News

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A general contractor estimator reviewing subcontractor bids and trade coverage across multiple active pursuits.
Guide April 6, 2026

What Is Bid Management Software? A GC Estimator's Guide

What bid management software actually does, where it falls short, and what GC estimators should look for before choosing one.

By Zachary Norman

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Construction crew working on a nonresidential building frame, reflecting current labor market hiring activity.
News April 4, 2026

Construction Added 26,000 Jobs in March: But Pay Is the Story

Construction employment bounced back with 26,000 March jobs. Firms are raising wages to compete for workers, which carries real implications for labor cost assumptions.

Via Construction Executive

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Aerial view of a nonresidential construction site showing crane activity across multiple building segments.
News April 4, 2026

Nonresidential Spending Flat in January as Data Centers Surge

Private nonresidential construction held at $1.245T in January. Data centers climbed while most other sectors slipped, what it means for GC bid volume.

Via Construction Executive

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Construction crew on an active job site, reflecting the March rebound in construction employment and tightening labor conditions.
News April 3, 2026

Construction Adds 26,000 Jobs in March, But Pay Pressure Climbs

Construction employment rebounded by 26,000 jobs in March. Here's what the wage pressure behind those gains means for GC labor budgets.

Via AGC News

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Construction workers in a safety briefing on site, representing the jobsite culture themes in the Construction Safety Week technical bulletin.
News April 3, 2026

Construction Safety Week: Why Respect on the Jobsite Is a Bid-Day Issue Too

Construction Safety Week's technical bulletin on respect touches on culture, but the communication habits it describes have direct implications for how GCs manage subs.

Via Construction Executive

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A project manager reviewing plans on a tablet, representing decentralized AI adoption across construction field and office teams.
News April 3, 2026

Decentralized AI in Construction: What It Means for Estimating Teams

Some GCs are skipping enterprise AI platforms and letting individual teams adopt tools on their own. Here's the real tradeoff for estimating departments.

Via Construction Executive

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A general contractor building trust with an owner during a preconstruction meeting before project award.
Guide April 3, 2026

What Owners Really Want From a GC Before They Award the Job

Most GCs compete on price and lose repeat work anyway. Here's what owners actually evaluate before awarding a job, and where it gets decided.

By Zachary Norman

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Wood-framed residential construction site showing slowed single-family and multifamily starts relevant to GC bid pipeline.
News April 2, 2026

Residential Construction Spending Dips 0.8% in January 2026

Private residential construction spending fell 0.8% in January across single-family, multifamily, and home improvement. What it means for GC pipeline.

Via NAHB Eye on Housing

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Construction crew on an active job site, reflecting tight labor market conditions affecting GC subcontractor availability.
News April 1, 2026

Construction Hiring Rate Hits Record Low in February 2026

Construction job openings fell year-over-year in February, hitting the slowest hiring rate on record. Here's what it means for GC labor planning.

Via Construction Executive

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Young workers in a construction training environment, representing efforts to expand the labor pipeline amid ongoing workforce shortages.
News April 1, 2026

Construction Labor Shortage: Technology Recruitment Isn't Enough

New recruitment pipelines are opening in construction, but demand still outpaces supply. What GC estimators need to know about the ongoing labor gap.

Via Construction Executive

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Residential framing under construction, representing the housing sector pullback driving the decline in open construction positions.
News April 1, 2026

Open Construction Jobs Drop Year-Over-Year, Housing Leads Decline

February JOLTS data shows construction job openings down from three years ago, driven by a pullback in housing. What the soft labor market means for GC bidding.

Via NAHB Eye on Housing

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