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New industry research shows that while many large U.S. construction firms have created and maintained effective safety cultures, a high percentage of smaller firms are lagging behind in making critical safety investments and adopting formal procedures.

Out of the 4,251 worker fatalities in private industry in 2014, 874 of those, or 20.5%, were in construction.

It is a contractor’s worst nightmare: Despite months of project preparation, daily safety briefings and double- and triple-checking jobsite protocols, an incident has occurred. And the news is not good.

Contractors are acutely aware of the need to attract new talent to the construction industry.

From its humble beginnings in 1967, when construction teams were mustered at the owner’s home, to being ranked 254th on ENR’s Top 400 Contractors list in 2015, Indianapolis contractor Bowen Engineering Corp. has grown strategically while playing to its strengths.

As uncertainty keeps contractors relying on rental equipment, aerial-work platform use is growing, says a new study by the International Powered Access Federation.

ENR’s 20-city average cost indexes, wages and materials prices. Historical data and details for ENR’s 20 cities can be found at ENR.com/economics

The domestic market is up, but engineers and architects are watching developments abroad and the presidential election for hints about 2017

AECOM, ranked No. 1 on ENR's Top 500 Design Firms list, disrupted engineering-sector size norms when it purchased URS Corp. in 2014. Now it is moving forward in its link with mega-disruptor Elon Musk, and others, to design test tracks for his Hyperloop transportation system concept.