Impacts Of the Infrastructure Bill in Construction

Signed into law on Nov. 15, the new infrastructure bipartisan package possesses a price tag that includes $550 billion in new spending for the next 5 years.

Construction tied stocks on the rise thanks to infrastructure bill

Following the announcement, construction-related stocks outperformed the market. AECOM, Vulcan, and Nucor were just a few of the top picks. Alabama’s Vulcan Materials is one of the largest gravel, sand, and stone producers in the U.S, which would explain the 3% rise in the stock market since the infrastructure bill contemplates new roads and bridges. AECOM, the multinational engineering firm, benefits from almost every line item there is in the infrastructure bill. Caterpillar, Construction machinery and equipment company also jumped to almost 4%. The record high reflects the excitement over the infrastructure bill and its impactful ways to boost the economy for the industry.

Demand for skilled workers will increase

Opportunities emerge as a result of the infrastructure bill. The industry reflects an all-record high desperate need for skilled workers. This is a decade-long struggle for contractors who are already offering wages higher than the median U.S salary. With the bill already signed into law, demand for skilled workers is set to increase in the next 3 years. Almost 2.2 Million workers will be required in the industry. In July, Anirban Basu, chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors, stated a handful of solutions feasible to implement now. With Basu’s solutions expanding the worker’s demographic and attracting the younger generations into construction, is with-in reach.  

The new infrastructure bill should open some opportunities for higher-paying careers in the construction industry. Additionally, there is high potential that new jobs will be created which don’t currently exist today. The Bill includes a few non-traditional infrastructure upgrades such as $65 billion for broadband/Internet which is likely to attract younger generations into joining the workforce.

Supply chain

The bill could lead to a supply chain normalcy, however some experts remain skeptical. They believe that the bill is just an excuse to solve specific interests and is not focused on the actual supply chain bottlenecks. Material shortages lead to inflation and develop a gloomy cycle for construction and supply chain. Freight companies complain about the lack of ports and warehouses, which cannot be expanded or relocated due to construction material shortages, not to mention the housing inflation and lumber shortage the industry underwent this year. 

“Roads and bridges are not political—we all drive on them” Chris Spear, president, and CEO of American Trucking Associations

Only time will tell if the bill will positively impact the supply chain disruptions. However, fixing the supply chain infrastructure can only lead to an improved transportation capacity.

Excitement Shows

“Passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill creates an opportunity to effectively modernize our nation’s most critical infrastructure, and ABC and our members stand ready to do the important work to bring America’s infrastructure into the 21st century.” Michael Bellaman, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) President and CEO

All-in-all what you can perceive from our industry is excitement, the bill reflects an opportunity for every sector in construction. Despite facing a handful of challenges, our industry is determined to overcome every single one of them – after all, the road to success is always under construction.