The U.S. construction sector experienced an employment decline in February, reflective of the continued volatility in the industry amidst ongoing uncertainty, which has led to slowed spending and hiring activity. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), which analyzed new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industry lost 11,000 jobs in February, though the sector still recorded modest annual growth year-over-year with the addition of 42,000 jobs or 0.5 percent growth in overall construction employment. The...

A request for proposals (RFP) has been issued by the Toronto Port Authority, which is seeking proposals from firms or consortia to develop a new marine terminal and pier at the Yonge Street Slip on Toronto’s waterfront. Teams with the experience, qualifications, and resources to deliver a comprehensive business plan for a multi-use marine terminal at the Yonge Street Slip are welcome to bid on the project by April 2. The RFP details are available on MERX. According to Destination Toronto, the project would include a new marine terminal, a...

You’ve heard the old chicken and the egg debate about which came first, and that seems to be the case with Canada’s construction industry, as according to Statistics Canada, the lack of affordable housing in Canada is cyclically impacting the competitiveness of the construction industry, which has been tasked with expediting the construction of more homes to drive affordability. The study links the lagging construction industry, particularly small businesses, to the persistent housing affordability issue, citing decreased productivity...

After securing a 20-year deal to process 1.2 billion barrels of U.S. light shale oil, America First Refining (AFR) has plans to build the first new oil refinery in the U.S. in 50 years at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, which offers deepwater access to domestic and international markets and operates within a federally designated Economic Opportunity Zone. The deal, valued at $125 billion, will produce 50 billion gallons of refined products worth $175 billion at the refinery that is designed exclusively for American light shale oil. Once...

BlackRock has announced $100 million in support for a Future Builders Initiative to train 50,000 skilled trades workers over a five-year period to better meet the demands of U.S. infrastructure projects. The project, which is funded by The BlackRock Foundation, aligns with industry trends as it seeks to tackle the skilled labour gap in critical skilled trades like electricians, plumbers, ironworkers, and HVAC technicians by providing access to training, licensure support, and financial education to strengthen the sector long-term. “As the...

The Women’s Infrastructure Network (WIN) has announced the nominees for the 2026 WIN Awards, which recognize outstanding and emerging leaders in Canada’s infrastructure sector. Now in its twelfth year, the annual program highlights the contributions of women working across the industry in engineering, construction, project management, consulting, and public sector leadership, and celebrates that work with two categories: Outstanding Leader and Emerging Leader. The 12th WIN Awards ceremony will be held May 6 in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver,...