Peggy’s Blog:
Residential Construction at a Crossroads
The residential construction market is sending a message, and it is one we should pay attention to: We cannot build the future of housing the same way we built the past.
The latest numbers from the NAHB (National Assn. of Home Builders) make the challenge clear. New single-family home sales fell 10.5% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 607,000—the slowest pace since the beginning of the year. Sales were also down 6.3% from a year earlier. NAHB says single-family home building is on track for a second consecutive annual decline in 2026.
Laura’s Blog:
Construction: The Happiest Industry?
For years, construction has had an enviable title: the happiest industry in the workforce. That might sound surprising at first. Construction is hardly synonymous with easy work. Long hours, tight deadlines, unpredictable conditions, and an ongoing battle for skilled talent are all part of the job. But the industry has had something working in its favor: people have had work to do—and plenty of it.
Strong project backlogs and job security have helped construction consistently outperform other industries on employee happiness. And, according to BambooHR’s latest Employee Happiness Index, construction is still sitting at the top.
Digitalization continues to dominate conversations across the EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) industry. And for good reason. Projects are becoming more complex. Resources are stretched. Expectations keep rising.
The conversation is no longer about why digitalization matters. It’s about how effectively EPCs can implement and scale digital initiatives to improve visibility, collaboration, and project performance. Companies that embrace connected workflows and realtime data will be better positioned to remain competitive in an increasingly demanding market. For more information
Do you have an innovative product helping transform the built environment? The 2027 Constructech Top Products Awards are now accepting entries from technology providers and material suppliers serving residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure construction markets.
Each year, the Constructech Top Products awards recognize the technology products, systems, and software making a measurable impact across the construction industry. An impartial panel evaluates submissions based on their contribution to field and office productivity, sustainability, resilient infrastructure, and overall construction technology advancement.
Why Enter?
Winning a Constructech Top Products award provides industry recognition for innovation and demonstrates your company's commitment to advancing construction through technology.
Early Bird Deadline is September 25, 2026
Click here for nomination ballot.
Looking to sponsor an upcoming segment of The Peggy Smedley Show? Check out the exciting topics planned for the coming months and send your ideas to [email protected].
October: How to Secure Your Data
November: Construction Connectivity Trends to Watch