Construction unemployment climbed in 44 states, but contractors are holding onto their existing crews rather than laying workers off broadly. Strong backlogs and hiring patterns indicate firms are preserving their workforce despite the slower hiring pace.
Construction unemployment rates in March varied significantly across states, with 44 states reporting rates below 10% while six states faced higher joblessness. Some regions have recovered to pre-pandemic employment levels, though others continue struggling with economic headwinds including rising energy costs.
John Deere has launched an extended reality training platform that allows operators and dealers to practice machine controls and operations in an immersive digital environment. The system covers equipment ranging from dozers to excavators, enabling hands-on training without needing physical machines.
ConstructConnect Analytics is a new tool within the ConstructConnect platform that converts verified project data into actionable market insights and lead generation opportunities for construction professionals. Building product manufacturers and construction firms can use the analytics to better understand their market positioning and identify specification opportunities.
John Deere faces a new lawsuit over right to repair restrictions on its construction equipment, following a $99 million settlement last month for similar issues with agricultural equipment. The legal action highlights ongoing industry tensions over manufacturer control of equipment repairs versus owner access to maintenance and fixes.
Imperial College London researchers have created a computational tool that uses topology optimization to design nonlinear mechanical metamaterials with custom stress-strain properties at the microscale. This framework could enable construction materials with enhanced performance characteristics tailored for specific structural applications.
The owner and manager of the cargo ship that struck the Baltimore bridge in 2024 have agreed to a $2.25 billion settlement in Maryland's lawsuit over the incident. The Department of Justice has also filed criminal charges related to the bridge collapse.
A systematic review from European research institutions shows that additive manufacturing can effectively produce mold inserts for plastic injection molding, particularly beneficial for short-run production. This approach could reduce costs and lead times compared to traditional mold manufacturing methods for projects requiring limited production volumes.
Dr. Orlando Bagcal, an AGC Outstanding Educator, has recognized two students with scholarship awards. The recognition highlights excellence in construction education and student achievement in the field.
ISOTunes Free Aware earbuds are designed to protect hearing on loud construction job sites while maintaining awareness of surrounding sounds and communications. The earbuds manage noise from power tools like chipping hammers, saws, and nail guns that expose workers to dangerous decibel levels throughout the workday.
Fraunhofer IPA has created a standardized test benchmark to evaluate humanoid robots for use in industrial and construction settings. The benchmark allows third-party analysis to ensure humanoids meet the practical requirements needed for real-world job site applications.
Werk-Brau has introduced tilt buckets that eliminate the need for a separate tilting attachment on coupler-equipped excavators. The buckets operate with two hydraulic lines to enable precise ditching, grading, and sloping work.
Top robotics founders succeed by thinking about systems as a whole rather than isolated components, which drives productivity gains and opens billion-dollar market opportunities. Systems thinking in robotics helps construction technology companies design solutions that integrate multiple functions and scale effectively across real-world job sites.
CNH Industrial, the parent company of Case and New Holland, experienced a downturn in construction equipment sales during the first quarter. The company is actively pursuing partnerships to strengthen and grow its construction equipment division.
Agentic AI is advancing robotic navigation by integrating perception, mapping, reasoning, and planning capabilities that allow machines to operate effectively in changing job site conditions. This technology enables general-purpose robots to handle the complex spatial awareness and decision-making required for autonomous construction tasks.
Yanmar introduced the CL26, its smallest compact wheel loader, designed for tight job sites and light-duty applications. The machine weighs 6,000 pounds, delivers 44 horsepower from a diesel engine, and offers a 0.56 cubic yard bucket capacity.
North American robot orders held flat in Q1 2026, according to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). Robotics adoption continues to expand beyond traditional automotive into other manufacturing sectors, suggesting broader industry diversification in automation technology.
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates is deploying wall-climbing robots to inspect difficult-to-access areas on bridges, improving inspection efficiency and reducing worker risk. The crawling robot technology enables safer, more thorough structural assessments in locations that would otherwise require expensive and dangerous manual access.
Construction material prices jumped 6.2% between January and April, with year-over-year increases of 7.0% overall and 7.4% for nonresidential projects. These rising input costs continue to pressure construction budgets and project profitability across the industry.
FLEETWERX, a partnership between the Naval Postgraduate School and industry partners, is testing rapid manufacturing and delivery of critical parts in field conditions at Camp Roberts. The FLEET-X initiative aims to demonstrate how construction and infrastructure projects can source essential components on-site rather than relying on traditional supply chains.
Caracol and Formes et Volumes partnered to manufacture large-scale composite lamination tools for aerospace using robotic additive manufacturing with fiber-reinforced thermoplastics. The collaboration combines advanced 3D printing with hybrid post-processing to produce tooling in a single integrated process.
Beehive Industries won a $29.7 million Air Force contract to advance testing and qualification of its Frenzy 8 jet engine, a 3D-printed propulsion system designed for uncrewed aerial systems. The engine represents a significant application of additive manufacturing in aerospace propulsion technology.
German hypercar maker Apollo Automobil has produced a fully 3D printed titanium exhaust system for its EVO hypercar using laser powder bed fusion technology and aerospace-grade TA15 alloy, taking 123 hours to complete. The single-piece Dragon Skin exhaust represents a significant advancement in additive manufacturing for high-performance automotive applications.
TANIOBIS is expanding its AMtrinsic powder line to enable 3D printing of patient-specific medical implants using tantalum and niobium alloys. These materials offer clinical advantages over titanium, which currently dominates over 90 percent of orthopedic implant manufacturing.