Three areas contractors are rethinking

It’s been a busy start to the year, and despite the headlines, most contractors are focused on keeping jobs moving. In this issue, we’re sharing practical guidance on sharpening your business focus, strengthening safety practices and navigating disruption. Given recent events, it’s a good idea to review our Q&A with an immigration attorney on how to keep crews safe when  ICE activity impacts job sites.

But first, check out GroundBreak Carolinas' list of New Year’s resolutions for construction firms.

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Strategic focus FTW

If one of your goals for 2026 is to run a more effective and profitable business, contractor advisor Gary Fleisher suggests three areas of strategic focus: digital profile, focus and cash flow management. 

Everybody is online these days, so if you don’t have an up-to-date digital presence,  “You’ve already lost credibility," he says. "You don’t need perfection. But you do need visibility.” 

You also need focus. That means being more disciplined about reducing distractions and detours so you can complete the operational and strategic tasks that keep your company going. Things like cash flow management. “If you don’t know what cash you truly have, what is actually yours, and what belongs to a future job, then you don’t have control—you have hope—and hope is not a strategy,” Fleisher notes. Track and forecast cash flow regularly so you spend with intention and can respond early and appropriately when income changes.  

Why it matters: You’re the engine that makes your company go. Committing to improving the business side of the business delivers the results you need for a sustainable and successful 2026 and beyond. (Modular Home Source Professional)

It’s time to get serious about safety

Workplace safety and health is the most critical issue for construction professionals, according to The American Society of Safety Professionals' 2025 Construction Industry Safety Challenges study, conducted by J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. More than 70% of respondents selected it as their top concern. 

The data shows that the practices producing the most positive impact include pre-task planning/daily safety huddles, internal safety committees or meetings, regular jobsite audits/inspections, job hazard analyses and scheduled compliance reviews. Survey respondents noted, however, that the lack of industry-specific training and workforce engagement are some of the biggest barriers to stronger safety programs. 

Why it matters: “Organizations moving from reactive to proactive safety are gaining long-term efficiency,” writes Ray Chishti, J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. senior EHS editor. “Employers should embed compliance into their daily routines, not treat it as an add-on.” (Window + Door)

Movement on special status for construction crews

Last week, U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz announced plans to meet with the Department of Labor to discuss the creation of a special visa program for construction workers. The move would limit immigration action at job sites and ease the persistent labor issues plaguing the industry. Contractors and construction trade groups have been advocating for an initiative akin to the H-2A visa program, protecting foreign nationals working in agriculture. A bill establishing a broader visa program for non-agricultural workers in general was reintroduced by Congressman Lloyd Smucker.

Why it matters: Fear of ICE raids has exacerbated the worker shortage by keeping crews from coming to work when immigration agents are in town. An August 2025 survey by the AGC found that 28% of respondents were directly or indirectly impacted by immigration enforcement activities and 10% reported workers had left work or didn’t show up because of actual or rumored immigration actions. (Insurance Journal)

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Roll with the changes

"When something that is a major event happens, it's not always positive. Whenever you go into business, you always think that's not going to be you, right? And so learning how to deal with those things when they come your way, I think that's probably been one of the bigger challenges….Everybody's out here trying to do their best and sometimes you just don't have control over situations that come to you. But the rewarding part is figuring out that solution."

— Martin Rucker, Martin T. Rucker Development

Entrepreneur and contractor Martin Rucker, president and CEO of Martin T. Rucker Development, recently marked a decade of business ownership. He and Jerod Junghans, host of Turner Construction’s “Can You Build It?” podcast, discussed lessons learned and the keys to Rucker's longevity, one of which is dealing effectively with unexpected events.

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The Level is curated and written by Margot Lester and edited by Bianca Prieto.