Report: “Rebuild Illinois” Infrastructure Program Delivered a Nearly 200% Return on Investment to the Illinois Economy

Posted by National Alliance for Fair Contracting on
Historic Infrastructure Program created or saved 40,000 jobs in each of the past six years.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2026
Contact: Todd Stenhouse, 916-397-1131, toddstenhouse@gmail.com

Springfield, IL: A new analysis of the six-year Rebuild Illinois Capital Program shows the state’s historic investments in infrastructure delivered a nearly 200% return on investment to the Illinois economy, created or saved nearly 40,000 jobs per year, and boosted local and state tax revenues by nearly $400 million. Performed by the non-partisan Illinois Economic Policy Institute, the analysis was commissioned by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois.

Read the Report, “Rebuild Illinois Six Years Later: Evaluating Transportation Investments and Economic Impact Statewide”

The report utilizes data from the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to chronicle the full range of Rebuild Illinois investments between 2020 and 2025, and uses industry standard IMPLAN software to detail projects and economic impacts in every region of the state.

“Rebuild Illinois has been a transformative investment,” said Illinois Economic Policy Institute Economist and Study Co-Author Frank Manzo. “Every public dollar spent grew the economy by almost two dollars, while creating tens of thousands of jobs each year and delivering hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenues back to state and local government.”

Rebuild Illinois put over $30 billion over the past six years to work repairing roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure across the state. Approximately half of all investments were deployed to projects in the Chicago metropolitan area (IDOT District 1). All told, the initiative repaired more than 21,000 miles of road, more than 800 bridges, and made nearly 1,200 safety improvements.

Despite this initial progress, the report makes clear that significant work remains.

“Rebuild Illinois was a down payment on decades of deferred maintenance and under-investment in our transportation infrastructure, much of which was approaching the end of its design life,” said ILEPI Transportation Analyst and Study Co-Author Mary Tyler. “There is no doubt that sustained investment will be essential if we are to keep making progress going forward.”

Altogether, project investments directly created tens of thousands of jobs in the construction industry each year, with supply chain purchases and consumer spending inducing thousands of additional jobs across industries ranging from retail and hospitality to healthcare and business services. In particular, the report links Rebuild Illinois to historic work opportunities for the state’s skilled construction workforce, which saw a 28% increase in Active Registered Apprentices over the past six years.

“Investments in infrastructure mean more access to career pathways offering good pay, good benefits, and best in class training,” added Manzo. “Rebuild Illinois is living proof that when we create opportunities for workers do well, it also pays dividends for local businesses, communities and our economy as a whole.”

Looking ahead, the report suggests that building on the progress of the past six years will be influenced by factors ranging from statewide budgetary pressures to the impact of improved fuel economy and electric vehicle adoption on critical infrastructure revenue streams that fund state transportation projects, including the motor fuel tax.

“Rebuild Illinois is proof that infrastructure investment works,” said Kevin Artl, President and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “By making a historic commitment to roads, bridges, waterways, and other critical assets, Illinois has strengthened and modernized its transportation network, supported tens of thousands of jobs each year, and delivered a real return for taxpayers. Engineering firms across Illinois are proud to help design and deliver the projects that keep our economy moving, improve safety, and position communities in every region of the state for long-term growth.”

Construction,Site,Workers,-,Aerial,-,Top,View

New research shows unionized construction crews are more cost-efficient, on-time

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New study just released – Union Contractors DeLiver: Cost and Timeliness Outcomes on Sacramento County public works projects  

By Sofia Williams
Updated July 13, 2026 12:28 PM

In a recent study, researchers Larissa Petrucci and Matthew Hinkel found that Sacramento County public works projects led by unionized contractors were less expensive and more on-time than those led by non-union contractors. The researchers’ data shows that projects led by non-union firms saw average cost increases of over $500,000 — about 10 times higher than projects led by union contractors. Union-led projects were also completed an average of two weeks faster than non-union projects.

Petrucci, a policy and research analyst at labor management organization NorCal Construction Industry Compliance, and Hinkel, an assistant professor of economics at Alma College, met as research fellows in the Institute for Construction Employment Research. Petrucci said that there is “excitement” in the field when young academics express interest in construction research, so she and Hinkel were encouraged to work together. Their findings were published this month with support from NorCal Construction Industry Compliance. The pair began by compiling a dataset of 128 large, “relatively complex” construction projects in Sacramento County from 2018 through 2022, according to Hinkel. Each project the researchers included in the study cost $6 million or more, which ensured it was complex enough to provide substantial data. The projects were also compliant with wage requirements in California. In 75, or 59%, of the projects analyzed in the study, the prime contractor was part of a union. In the other 53 projects, the prime contractor was not part of a union. “Having relatively even numbers on both sides allowed us to truly be able to examine the difference between union-led and nonunion-led projects,” Hinkel said.

Does using a unionized labor force have an impact on project cost and timeliness? The researchers performed regression analysis to isolate these variables. Through these manipulations of the data, Petrucci and Hinkel controlled for external factors like project complexity, initial project cost and project location. “Including those factors in the model gets rid of those things as other possible explanations,” Hinkel said. “If we do in fact find a difference — which we did — we can then be more confident in saying there is an actual substantive difference in cost and timeliness for a union-led versus a nonunion-led project.” One possible reason for the differences illustrated in the study, Petrucci said, is that union contractors are “invested in training their workforce.” According to Petrucci, 92% of construction apprentices in California are trained by a union. “When you have a highly trained worker who’s gone through years and years of both classroom and on-the-job training like that, you already have a (worker) who is particularly skilled,” Petrucci said. “We think that this may suggest why these projects can be completed faster.”

According to Petrucci, other research suggests that union-led construction projects have better safety outcomes. These more secure working conditions lead to fewer stoppages in work, also contributing to faster project completion, Petrucci said. “We think that this is important because there are misunderstandings about what is driving costs on construction projects,” Petrucci said. “What we believe our study is able to answer is that having a workforce where contractors and employers are dedicated to training and staffing and have high safety standards does lead to more efficient productivity.”

(Link to Study)

(See Article)

Connecticut Governor Lamont Signs HB 5003

Posted by National Alliance for Fair Contracting on

Laborers’ Under the Dome
May 15, 2026

At a ceremony Monday in Hartford, Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 5003 a huge, omnibus labor bill, into law. Included in the bill’s 75 sections are measures important to LIUNA members, such as requiring contractors and subcontractors to submit daily site logs on public works projects, ensuring apprentices are paid full benefits on prevailing wage jobs, making contractors liable for wages owed by a subcontractor, and establishing new protections for operators of cranes and hoisting equipment.

“I am proud that Connecticut is a state that stands by its workforce to defend workers against labor violations and ensure that they are treated fairly, and this legislation extends those protections to include a number of commonsense safeguards on behalf of those who keep our state and our economy running,” Governor Lamont said.

Connecticut Laborers’ District Council
Keith R. Brothers, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer

(Laborers’ Under the Dome 5-15-26)

Port KC closes worker wage loophole

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Axios Kansas City – March 25, 2026
Abbey Higginbotham & Travis Meier

Workers are putting down picket signs after Port KC closed a loophole in its project financing that allowed developers to pay lower wages than Missouri’s prevailing wage standards.

Why it matters: Construction is booming across the city, and after weeks of picketing over wages at Port KC-backed projects, union workers say the new rule is a step forward, even as they push for more.

What’s inside: The rule requires Port KC contracts to mandate Missouri’s minimum hourly pay for construction workers — known as the prevailing wage — on bond-financed sale-leaseback projects, closing a loophole that allowed developers to pay workers below the minimum.

  • The rates vary by profession and county, with elevator constructors in Jackson County earning more than $100 per hour.
  • Port KC’s rule applies to logistics, industrial, data and office projects exceeding $3 million, as well as to hotels, multifamily and mixed-use projects exceeding $15 million.
  • Port KC will audit worker pay and levy fines against developers for every day a worker is underpaid, multiplied by the number of underpaid work

(See full article)

Attorney General Schwalb Secures $1.5 Million from Construction Company for Wage Theft Scheme

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December 9, 2025

Brothers Mechanical Inc. Illegally Misclassified Hundreds of Construction Workers, Depriving Them of Overtime Wages, Paid Sick Leave, and Other Benefits

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Brothers Mechanical Inc., a construction company that has worked on large development projects in NoMa, Navy Yard, and other DC neighborhoods, will pay $1.5 million to resolve allegations that the company and its subcontractors misclassified hundreds of workers as independent contractors, depriving them of wages and benefits they were legally entitled to.

Under the terms of a settlement agreement resolving an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Brothers Mechanical will pay $500,000 to impacted workers and $1 million to the District in penalties. The company will also be required to change its subcontracting practices and submit to compliance monitoring for three years.

“DC workers are the backbone of our economy, and especially at a time when the cost of living in DC continues to rise, I will continue to prioritize ensuring that workers receive the wages and benefits they have earned,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “This settlement puts money back in the pockets of hundreds of construction workers and sends a clear message that businesses will face consequences when they break the law, cheat workers, and undercut law-abiding competitors.”

“When companies illegally label employees as independent contractors, or misclassify them to a lower standard, they avoid paying proper wages, benefits, workers’ compensation, and payroll taxes. This is all-too common in the construction industry, and creates an uneven playing field where law-abiding contractors, who invest in trained workers and follow all regulations, are undercut by those cutting corners,” said Chuck Sewell, Marketing Director for the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 100. “We thank Attorney General Schwalb and his team at the OAG’s office for working to ensure the industry is safe and fair for all contractors and workers in the District.”

(Read More)

Attorney General Schwalb Secures $725,000 for Construction Workers and DC In Wage Theft Settlement

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December 3, 2025
Christian Siding Will Pay More Than $364,000 to 229 Construction Workers and $360,000 in Penalties to DC

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Christian Siding, a construction company that has worked on projects across DC, must pay $725,000 to resolve allegations that the company failed to pay “prevailing wages” to workers on three publicly-funded affordable housing projects and misclassified workers as independent contractors on 13 additional projects. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) also alleged that Christian Siding deprived these workers of overtime wages and benefits, like paid sick leave and overtime pay, that they were legally entitled to.

Under the terms of a settlement agreement, Christian Siding will pay more than $364,000 to 229 harmed workers, as well as $360,000 in penalties to the District, and will be required to make significant changes to its business practices and submit to compliance monitoring for two years.

“Failing to pay the required prevailing wage cheats both workers and DC taxpayers out of the full financial benefits of publicly-funded projects,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “In DC, legal accountability for prevailing wage violations extends all the way up the contracting chain—if your company or any of its subcontractors are underpaying workers, all of you can be held accountable. This settlement puts money back where it belongs and ensures that all construction firms in DC compete on a level playing field.”

What Are “Prevailing Wages”?

Federal and DC law establish wage floors for different types of skilled construction workers on taxpayer-funded and taxpayer-subsidized projects—meaning that companies on these projects must pay workers at a rate higher than the local minimum wage and must either provide “fringe benefits” like health insurance or pay an additional hourly rate for benefits compensation. Failing to pay required “prevailing wages” deprives workers’ of wages they have earned—and deprives taxpayers and the local workforce of the full benefits of the District’s investments in affordable housing.

Settlement Background

Christian Siding is a Virginia-based construction company specializing in building exteriors, including siding, roofing, doors, and windows, that has worked on construction projects across the District of Columbia and in neighboring states.

(Read More)

AG Nick Brown launches Worker Rights Unit to enforce protections, fight exploitation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Attorney General Nick Brown today announced the creation of a Worker Rights Unit to lead the effort to uphold Washington state’s nation-leading worker protections and address wage theft.

“Our office’s new Worker Rights Unit will be able to support the working people of our state, as they face increasing challenges to maintain quality jobs and an affordability crisis,” Brown said. “National studies show that employers steal as much as $50 billion a year from workers. This unit will fight to even the playing field for Washington workers and hold corporations accountable that exploit their workers.”

At the federal level, there has been a systematic dismantling of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and an abandonment of any pretense of protecting workers. The current administration has defanged and defunded enforcement of wage laws, ended enforcement of the minimum wage for federal contractors, and cut 20% of DOL staff. They are giving a green light to bad actors to exploit their workers, but Washington state will step up to fill the gap.

“Washington’s labor movement has fought hard to ensure our state’s laws protect all working people. But laws are only as good as their enforcement. Too often, bad bosses use their power to deny workers their rights,” said Washington State Labor Council President April Sims. “We’re heartened to see Attorney General Nick Brown stand up a unit dedicated to ensuring workers are paid the wage they’ve earned, are able to exercise their rights, and are respected on the job. The hardworking people of Washington deserve nothing less.”

(Read More)

New Report: Union Apprenticeships Powering Workforce Growth in California Construction Industry

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AP News – Published 6:31 AM EDT, October 22, 2025

SACRAMENTO, CA, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2025 / EINPresswire.com / — The annual number of California workers graduating registered apprenticeship programs in the construction trades has surged nearly 62% over the last decade, according to a new study released by industry watchdog NorCal Construction Industry Compliance (NCIC). In particular, the report details how union-affiliated apprenticeship programs have led the industry’s efforts to expand and diversify its labor force–finding that these programs train nine out of every ten registered construction apprentices in the state, including 96% of female construction apprentices, 95% of black apprentices, and 94% of Hispanic apprentices. It notes that union programs also graduate workers at a higher rate than four-year colleges, deliver average annual wages that rival workers with college degrees, and offer participants average annual wage increases that have kept pace with inflation.

Read the Report, “Crafting Careers: Registered Apprenticeship in California ’s Construction Industry.”

Registered apprenticeships are a tuition-free workforce development system, where programs must meet nationally recognized standards established by the US Department of Labor to provide participants with portable, industry-recognized credentials. Depending on the trade, programs can take up to five years to complete, combining a mix of classroom and on-the-job training for which participants earn a paycheck. California has the nation’s largest registered apprenticeship system, and over 63% of its apprentices are in the fast-growing construction industry, which employed 4% (nearly 700,000 workers) of all California workers and contributed $129 billion to the state’s GDP in 2024.

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New Report – Clean Energy, Lost Wages Bridging the Community Solar Jobs Gap in Illinois

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Climate Jobs Illinois has released a new study entitled “Clean Energy, Lost Wages; Bridging the Community Solar Jobs Gap in Illinois“, an executive summary for the report has been provided below.

Executive Summary

Since Illinois passed the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in 2021, ratepayers invested heavily in building a strong clean energy economy instate. But instead of delivering jobs and training opportunities for Illinois workers, community solar projects – small, offsite, subscriber-based arrays supported by state energy incentives – have too often relied on out-of-state crews, sending paychecks and training elsewhere.

Community solar lets households, small businesses, and public entities subscribe to electricity from a shared solar project and receive bill credits – no rooftop required. In Illinois, most community-solar projects participate in Illinois Shines, the state’s incentive program that awards renewable energy credits (RECs) to approved projects. Those RECs are purchased with ratepayer dollars, which means Illinois customers are funding the build-out of these projects in exchange for clean energy and consumer benefits. Our research indicates that 60 percent of community solar projects in Illinois are being built by out-of-state contractors, and more than four out of five of those workers (82.6 percent) are from outside of Illinois. Illinois ratepayers are purchasing clean power and subsidizing a large share of jobs that do not land in our communities. Instead, the paychecks from those projects pay rents and mortgages for workers in at least 36 other states. Meanwhile, community solar projects built under union project labor agreements (PLAs) – staffed almost entirely by Illinois residents (94 percent) – are few and far between. What does this cost us? Using the final 2025–26 Illinois Shines block sizes for all community solar projects and the U.S. Department of Energy’s latest industry cost benchmarks, we estimate that almost $100 million in construction wages will be exported out of Illinois this program year. Because community solar blocks frequently open fully subscribed each year with a substantial waitlist rolling forward, these lost paychecks and apprenticeship hours will continue year after year without policy changes

This has implications for Illinois’ equity goals too. Because Illinois’ Minimum Equity Standard (MES) relies heavily on in-state residency criteria to identify Equity Eligible Persons (EEPs), out-of-state crews are less likely to meet the state’s strict equity goals. Three of the core EEP pathways are Illinois residency-based (living in communities eligible for the state’s Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program, living in an Illinois environmental justice community, or participating in a CEJA workforce program), while the remaining pathways are formerly incarcerated or foster-care graduates. When projects rely on out-of-state crews, those workers are ineligible for the residency–based EEP pathways by definition. Meanwhile, contractors that are majority owned or controlled by EEPs are assumed in full MES compliance – another reason that Illinois-based workforce and ownership matter for meeting equity goals. The solution is simple: lower the PLA threshold to cover community solar projects under 5 MW. Illinois designed CEJA to create clean energy and good jobs. PLAs improve job quality and significantly increase the likelihood that projects are staffed by local workers – keeping with CEJA’s goal for in-state workforce development – regardless of where the prime contractor is based. Lowering the PLA threshold would turn ratepayer investments into more family-sustaining paychecks for Illinois workers, while also building in-state contractor capacity and upholding the spirit of CEJA: Illinois ratepayer dollars supporting Illinois workers and businesses.

CLIMATE JOBS ILLINOIS
OCTOBER 2025

Report: Wage theft, sexual harassment rampant for Minneapolis’ non-union construction workers

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By Stephen Swanson
 / CBS Minnesota

A new report says the city of Minneapolis needs to act to end wage theft and sexual harassment in the non-union construction industry.

The report from North Star Policy Action claims many of Minneapolis’ construction workers face routine labor abuses, wage theft, unsafe working conditions, gender-based violence and labor trafficking.

Members of North Star Policy Action, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL) and dozens of workers gathered Wednesday at Minneapolis City Hall to push for action amid the report’s findings.

María Contreras, a construction worker and CTUL member, spoke about her personal experience with wage theft.

“I have a memory of sitting in my bed, looking at my empty bank account and not understanding how it can be,” Contreras said in Spanish, read in English by CTUL co-director Merle Payne. “It was impossible to pay my bills even though I was working so much.

“According to a 2021 report from the Midwest Economic Policy Institute, one in every four construction workers have experienced some form of wage theft.

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