Weekly Briefing: May 2, 2025
- Socially Adept Solutions
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Fewer Construction Job Openings Due to Economic Uncertainty
Construction jobs saw a month-to-month decline of 38,000 at the end of March, and a year-over-year decline of 90,000.
Experts attribute this decline in job openings to the caution investors and owners are practicing due to economic uncertainty and tariff concerns that could impact cost and timing of construction projects.
Job numbers varied regionally, with the D.C. metro area experiencing the largest increase, and the Los Angeles metro area experiencing the largest decrease.
In March, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, the majority of contractors were expecting an increase in staffing levels over the next six months. However, experts are concerned that continued uncertainty around tariffs and other economic factors could reduce these high expectations and keep demand and turnover in the construction sector low.
Senate Rejects Bipartisan Measure to End Tariffs
Despite three Republicans joining Democrats to end President Trump’s national emergency, which was used to impose sweeping tariffs on the United States’ trading partners, the vote deadlocked at 49-49, resulting in Vice President J.D. Vance casting the deciding vote to officially reject the effort.
Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, cosponsored the effort and reported that his Republican colleagues agree with the resolution to end the national emergency, but continue to keep public responses aligned with the President’s agenda.
While some senators supported the vote by arguing that it would help reclaim more of Congress’ constitutional power and address the slowing U.S. economy, opposing members of the Senate urged their colleagues to allow President Trump to continue implementing tariffs, asserting that handling trade matters falls under the president’s authority.
Even if the effort had passed in the Senate, it faced major obstacles, like House Republicans delaying the vote until fall and the White House planning to veto it.
April 22, 2025
Salas O’Brien, a California-based employee-owned engineering and facility planning firm, backed by Blackstone, has acquired Carolina Engineering Solutions (CES), a South Carolina-based mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design firm. This acquisition strengthens Salas O’Brien’s MEP service offerings and enhances both firms’ ability to deliver projects across various markets. Darin Anderson, CEO of Salas O’Brien, stated, “Salas O’Brien is committed to addressing the critical challenges facing our communities, and Carolina Engineering Solutions will strengthen our ability to deliver high-performance engineering design. Together, we’re advancing sustainable solutions and making an even greater impact for our clients.”
April 24, 2025
Vortex Companies (Vortex), a Texas-based firm that provides trenchless water and sewer infrastructure solutions backed by Quad-C Management, has acquired Prism Contractors & Engineers (Prism), a Virginia-based full-service engineering and contracting firm specializing in civil engineering & surveying, trenchless rehabilitation, and utility construction. The acquisition expands Vortex Companies’ geographical footprint into the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. “The addition of the Prism team strengthens our ability to maintain a proactive approach to solving critical infrastructure challenges,” said Ryan Graham, Chief Operating Officer at Vortex Companies. “Their expertise, combined with our ability to arm them with additional trenchless solutions, products and resources, ensures that we can now deliver even more value to customers in their region.”
April 28, 2025
Kohlberg & Company (Kohlberg), a New York-based U.S. middle market private equity firm, made a majority investment in RESA Power (RESA), a Texas-based firm that offers electrical testing, transformer services, engineering studies, and custom equipment solutions to the power industry. The investment will help support RESA’s expansion within the U.S. Scott Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of RESA, said, "This partnership with Kohlberg marks an exciting new chapter for RESA. Kohlberg’s experience in infrastructure services makes them a natural partner as we look to scale our business and deliver even greater value to our customers.”
April 29, 2025
Salas O’Brien, a California-based employee-owned engineering and facility planning firm, backed by Blackstone, has merged with EDEC, a Georgia-based provider of electrical, instrumentation, and control systems engineering. This strategic merger enhances Salas O’Brien’s operations for clients in the municipal, industrial, and commercial sectors across North America. Darin Anderson, Chairman and CEO of Salas O’ Brien said, “This talented team has an impressive record of electrical and control systems innovation. Together, we will enhance our ability to support critical infrastructure projects and drive value for our clients.”
May 1, 2025
V3 Companies (V3), an Illinois-based civil engineering firm, has joined forces with KoontzJones Design (KoontzJones), a North Carolina-based land planning and landscape architecture firm. This strategic move supports V3’s growth in the Southeast and allows them to continue delivering transformative projects by leveraging KoontzJones’ talent and expertise. Lou Gallucci, CEO of V3, stated, “V3 is driven by supporting our talented employees to make positive transformations within the world around us, and our partnership with KoontzJones Design further supports that mission. Through our shared commitment to growth and innovation, we’re creating even more opportunities for our clients and team members to influence meaningful, impactful change where we live and work.”
April 24, 2025
Egis, a France-based global architecture, consulting, construction engineering, operations and mobility services firm, backed by Tikehau Capital, has acquired Omnia Projects, a UK-based engineering consultancy specializing in electricity transmission and distribution. The acquisition bolsters Egis' capacity to aid the UK's shift towards sustainable energy, improving its expertise in energy infrastructure, grid connections, and substation design. Francois-Xavier Basselot, Managing Director at Egis, said, “The UK is undergoing a fundamental shift in its energy infrastructure, requiring significant investment in network reinforcement, new connections and grid modernization. Omnia Projects’ technical excellence and specialist expertise make them an ideal partner as we expand our capabilities to support the energy transition.”
A prior briefing erroneously cited a different backer for Egis. This is corrected above.
Family and team members from HMC Architects in the Sacramento area cleaned the Arcade Creek in the Natomas section of Sacramento by partnering with River City Waterway Alliance (RCWA). RCWA is a local organization committed to addressing environmental problems by engaging local citizen volunteers to remove trash at organized events along local waterways, most notably the American River, Sacramento River, Steelhead Creek, and Arcade Creek. After hours of removing trash from the water’s surface and under submerged logs, HMC Architects’ volunteers successfully collected a large trailer-load of litter and debris.
The EFCG Weekly Briefing summarizes the week’s key news in the AEC industry, including M&A updates, and micro- and macro-trends, aggregated from industry-focused and global news sources.
To send any additional press releases or news from your firm that you would like us to share please email Clay Han at chan@efcg.com.