Every year, Asphalt Contractor Magazine reaches out to several experts within the industry, people with deep understanding and experience, to help us shed light on what the year ahead might bring. In 2022, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was officially the law of the land for a full year. This enabled a huge wave of work to get underway with its historic investments in infrastructure initiatives all across the country. Now, with the passage of the complimentary Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the federal government aims to influence, not just the road building industry, but other adjacent industries, as well, to take more aggressive and innovative steps against climate change and environmental disaster.
Meanwhile, the namesake of the bill continues to be a big factor in everything from production timelines and job bids, to staffing gaps and retention rates. Throughout the year, the expectation was that, eventually, a corner would be turned concerning the continuous problems with employment. That still hasn't happened, and questions remain about whether or not 2023 will be materially any different.
New technology seems poised to make major gains, but their practicality and their adoption aren't always in-sync. One thing seems a consistent through-line, despite the various challenges faced by manufacturers, contractors, employers and laborers, the industry feels alive and active. Right now, there's an energy and a momentum that makes it feel like a great time to be a part of this vibrant community of hardworking people.
For the full State of the Industry Report, Asphalt Contractor Magazine discusses:
- Funding in the “Post”-Pandemic Era
- The Mid-term Elections
- Worker Shortages & Material Issues
- The Future of the Industry
