What's the real impact of immigration enforcement on construction sites—and why are a third of contractors already affected?

In this episode of Talk the TAUC, host Kirk Westwood sits down with Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, to discuss why construction feels more constrained despite strong demand and investment. Ken, widely cited by national and trade media for his economic analysis, helps unpack the market forces creating this paradox—from the low-hire, low-fire environment and regional employment variations to policy uncertainty around tariffs, interest rates, and immigration enforcement. The conversation covers data center and power construction booms, labor cost trends across four different measures, and why the Architecture Billings Index can be misleading. "There are huge parts of construction for which the ABI is a misleading indicator, not a leading indicator," Ken explains, offering practical context for planning in uncertain times.

Ken Simonson is the Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, where he analyzes economic trends affecting the construction industry, including labor markets, costs, regional activity, and investment patterns. Widely cited by national and trade media, Ken is known for translating complex economic data into clear, practical insight for construction leaders. He regularly surveys AGC's 28,000+ member companies across 87 chapters on market conditions, workforce challenges, and policy impacts, providing contractors with data-driven context to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. His economic analysis helps industry leaders make more informed decisions in uncertain markets.

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Talk the TAUC podcast is brought to you by The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC). Your host, Kirk Westwood, is Director of Marketing for TAUC. In each episode, we’ll explore the latest labor trends, industry insights, and important issues in the world of construction. Our guests are industry leaders, subject matter experts, and innovative visionaries discussing how we are building the ‘world of tomorrow.’ TAUC is made up of more than 1,800 contractor companies that utilize union labor for their projects, as well as local contractor associations and vendors in the industrial maintenance and construction fields. TAUC’s mission is to act as an advocate for union contractors and enhance cooperation between all parties to achieve the successful completion of construction projects.

Discussion points:

• (00:00) Ken Simonson - the current construction market environment
• (03:54) AGC survey reveals contractor sentiment across 17 construction segments
• (06:30) Breaking down wage increases and labor cost trends
• (09:03) Is there really a labor shortage in construction
• (14:04) Regional variations and which states are leading or lagging
• (18:10) How inflation interest rates and tariffs affect project starts
• (22:29) Immigration enforcement as a major disruptor for construction sites
• (25:14) Why the Architecture Billings Index is a misleading indicator
• (29:24) What leading indicators contractors should watch going forward
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Resources:

Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): www.agc.org (28,000+ member companies across 87 chapters nationwide)

American Institute of Archite...

What's the one thing about PPE that could mean the difference between going home and never coming back?

In this powerful episode recorded live at STUC, host Kirk Westwood sits down with Ike Pritchett, a Kansas City ironworker with Local 10 who survived a catastrophic jobsite accident. Ike shares his journey from starting in construction at 14, through losing his brother Mack in a bridge accident in 2000, to his own near-fatal incident on February 21st when a come-along struck him in the face, crushing his skull. Thanks to his properly worn helmet, Ike survived and made a remarkable recovery. He now travels the country advocating for safety culture and proper PPE use. As Ike says, "PPE only works if you wear it correctly." His story reminds us that safety decisions aren't abstract—they're the difference between going home or not.

Ike Pritchett is a Kansas City-based ironworker and construction safety advocate with Local 10 Ironworkers. Since joining the union in 1999 (book #1263430), Ike has built bridges and infrastructure across the region, working for companies like Clarkson Construction. After surviving a catastrophic jobsite accident in which a come-along struck him in the face, crushing his skull, Ike has become a powerful voice for proper PPE use and safety culture. He travels the country sharing his firsthand account of how modern protective equipment—worn correctly—saved his life, inspiring construction professionals to prioritize safety on every job.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!

Talk the TAUC podcast is brought to you by The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC). Your host, Kirk Westwood, is Director of Marketing for TAUC. In each episode, we’ll explore the latest labor trends, industry insights, and important issues in the world of construction. Our guests are industry leaders, subject matter experts, and innovative visionaries discussing how we are building the ‘world of tomorrow.’ TAUC is made up of more than 1,800 contractor companies that utilize union labor for their projects, as well as local contractor associations and vendors in the industrial maintenance and construction fields. TAUC’s mission is to act as an advocate for union contractors and enhance cooperation between all parties to achieve the successful completion of construction projects.

Discussion points:

• (00:00) Ike Pritchett – ironworker at 14, joined Local 10 in 1999
• (06:25) The devastating loss of Ike's brother Mack in a bridge accident and why he stayed in the trade
• (13:05) How safety culture in construction has evolved since the 2000s
• (29:30) The day everything changed: Ike describes his last memory before the accident
• (32:19) What his crew witnessed and how they responded when disaster struck
• (41:17) The mechanical failure that led to a 120-pound come-along striking Ike in the face
• (45:05) The extent of Ike's injuries: crushed skull, displaced vertebra, and the long road to recovery
• (50:29) Ike's powerful message: PPE only works if you wear it correctly
• Share with someone who would be interested, like, and subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!

Resources:

TAUC Calendar of Events
TAUC Website
Kirk Westwood TAUC
The Construction User Magazine back issues
The Construction User podcast archive

Could a simple helmet upgrade reduce your skull fracture risk by 66%?

In this episode of Talk the TAUC, host Kirk Westwood sits down with Dr. Barry Miller, Senior Director of Outreach and Business Development at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, to discuss the groundbreaking construction helmet safety study released in September. Dr. Miller, a national authority on head protection and injury biomechanics, explains how Type II helmets significantly outperform traditional Type I hard hats in reducing traumatic brain injuries. The data reveals that switching to a Type II helmet can reduce concussion risk by 35% and skull fracture risk by 66%. As Dr. Miller emphasizes, "If you're exposed to falls from ladders or scaffolding, it'd be pretty wise to choose a Type II helmet." This conversation explores the testing methodology, top-performing brands, and what's next for construction head protection.

Dr. Barry Miller is the Senior Director of Outreach and Business Development at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, where he leads efforts to translate cutting-edge impact-testing research into practical tools that improve safety across multiple industries. A national authority on head protection and injury biomechanics, Dr. Miller has overseen the development of Virginia Tech's widely respected helmet rating systems, including the landmark construction helmet study released in September 2024. His work helps manufacturers innovate, helps workers stay safer on the job, and helps organizations make informed, evidence-based decisions about protective equipment.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!

Talk the TAUC podcast is brought to you by The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC). Your host, Kirk Westwood, is Director of Marketing for TAUC. In each episode, we’ll explore the latest labor trends, industry insights, and important issues in the world of construction. Our guests are industry leaders, subject matter experts, and innovative visionaries discussing how we are building the ‘world of tomorrow.’ TAUC is made up of more than 1,800 contractor companies that utilize union labor for their projects, as well as local contractor associations and vendors in the industrial maintenance and construction fields. TAUC’s mission is to act as an advocate for union contractors and enhance cooperation between all parties to achieve the successful completion of construction projects.

Discussion points:

• (00:00) The headline: Type II helmets reduce concussion risk by 47% and skull fractures by 75%
• (03:06) How Virginia Tech modeled real-world falls using OSHA data from 600+ injury reports
• (08:09) Top performers revealed: Milwaukee BOLT, Studson, DeWalt, and KASK lead the ratings
• (13:18) Industry partners who funded this life-saving research
• (17:21) The biggest challenge: why helmet variability required 700+ helmets and 20 iterations
• (22:08) Real-world proof: Superintendent Ike Pritchett's Type II helmet saved his life
• Share with someone who would be interested, like, and subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!

Resources:

Virginia Tech Helmet Lab Construction Ratings:

https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/

Virginia Tech Helmet Lab Website:

https://www.beam.vt.edu/helmet

TAUC Website

Kirk Westwood TAUC

The Construction User Magazine back issues