News & Guides

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

A general contractor and owner meeting during preconstruction to review project scope and schedule commitments.
Guide April 27, 2026

Why GCs Lose Repeat Work From Owners (It's Not Your Price)

Owners rarely cut GCs over price. Here's what they actually remember, and why communication loses more repeat work than any number.

By Zachary Norman

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Aerial view of a major highway construction project with active grading and paving operations underway.
News April 24, 2026

Next Highway Bill: What a $500B-$600B Number Actually Means

The next surface transportation bill is shaping up around $500B–$600B. Here's what that number really means for GC workload and bid volume.

Via AGC News

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A general contractor project manager coordinating with field crew after a subcontractor abandonment on an active construction site.
Guide April 24, 2026

What GCs Do When a Subcontractor Walks Off the Job Mid-Project

When a sub walks mid-project, the clock starts immediately. Here's how GCs protect the schedule and fill the scope gap fast.

By Zachary Norman

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Estimator reviewing project documents at a desk, representing the growing preconstruction burden of carbon reporting compliance.
News April 23, 2026

AGC Carbon Reporting Flow Charts: What GCs Need to Know

AGC released carbon reporting flow charts to help GCs navigate owner and state-level requirements. Scope creep is coming for preconstruction teams.

Via AGC News

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Construction crew on an active jobsite, representing regional labor market shifts that affect subcontractor availability and bid pricing.
News April 23, 2026

Construction Jobs Up in 30 States, But Uncertainty Looms

Construction employment grew in 30 states year-over-year, but AGC warns tariffs and federal cuts could stall momentum. Here's what estimators should watch.

Via AGC News

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An excavation trench on an active construction site, illustrating jobsite safety liability questions GC estimators and project managers face when managing subcontractors.
News April 22, 2026

Iowa Supreme Court Clears D.R. Horton in Sub Worker Injury Case

Iowa's Supreme Court overturned a $20.5M award against D.R. Horton, ruling the GC owed no duty of care to a subcontractor's injured worker.

Via Equipment World

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A senior GC estimator reviewing subcontractor bids and trade coverage on a preconstruction desk.
Guide April 22, 2026

What Separates Great GC Estimators From Fast Ones

The habits and systems that separate estimators who build accurate numbers from those who just build fast ones.

By Zachary Norman

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A construction project manager reviewing plans on site, reflecting the industry's growing white-collar workforce share.
News April 21, 2026

Construction Is Hiring More White-Collar, Fewer Tradesmen

NAHB's 2024 ACS data shows construction's workforce is shifting away from trades toward management and technical roles. Here's what it means for GC estimators.

Via NAHB Eye on Housing

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A general contractor estimator reviewing field productivity data to inform labor assumptions on a future bid.
Guide April 20, 2026

How Field Productivity Problems Hurt Your Next GC Estimate

Field productivity failures rarely make it back into the estimate. Here's how to close the loop and stop repeating the same costly mistakes.

By Zachary Norman

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An estimator reviewing project data on a tablet at an active construction site, representing the shift toward connected jobsite technology.
News April 18, 2026

AI and Automation Are Moving Onto the Jobsite

AGC's Constructor Magazine examines how AI, automation, and connected data tools are shifting from novelty to standard practice on construction sites.

Via AGC Constructor Magazine

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Construction workers reviewing plans on an urban job site, reflecting metro-level employment gains tracked in the January 2026 AGC analysis.
News April 17, 2026

57% of Metro Areas Added Construction Jobs, But Risks Are Real

Construction employment grew in most metro areas year-over-year, but AGC is flagging serious headwinds that could stall momentum through the rest of 2026.

Via AGC News

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Large data center construction project with cranes, representing the sector driving contractor backlog growth in March 2026.
News April 17, 2026

Construction Backlog and Confidence Up, Data Centers Lead

Contractor backlog and confidence both beat year-ago levels in March. Data center work is driving the longest backlogs in the industry right now.

Via Construction Executive

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