immigrants and long-time foreign-born residents add yet another element of uncertainty to the outlook.
Contractors overwhelmingly list difficulty finding qualified employees as their top challenge.
The industry has long relied on foreign-born workers, and even a threatened reduction in that supply will make it harder to complete projects on time and on budget.
On the positive side, contractors can expect more favorable tax and regulatory policies than in recent years. But the timing of any changes remains murky.
In short, the industry is looking forward to further economic growth and strong demand for several types of large-scale projects.
However, it remains to be seen whether a new mix of policies provides a net benefit to the sector.
Fleet Owner
Chad Rados, project coordinator, ALL Family of Companies
The reach of the ALL Family of Companies stretches from Florida up through the southeastern U. S. and westward to Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
That footprint encompasses a variety of economies and demographics, as well as some surprises.
For example, while you’ d expect Florida to be experiencing a population boom— which it is, growing at nearly three times the national rate— cold-weather metro areas Milwaukee and Minneapolis-St. Paul are also growing fast.
Consequently, ALL branches in Orlando, Tampa and seeming outlier Milwaukee are seeing many of the same types of projects.
They consist of all the things communities need when an influx of people moves in: more housing, improved roads and bridges, upgraded power generation and more schools and medical facilities.
One thing you’ ll find in the Midwest that you won’ t in sunny Florida is data centers.
The cooler Midwest climate is more conducive to those multi-acre indoor computer hard-drive farms.
January 2025 • www. thepartsconnection. org • 21