When it comes to being a business leader, you have to take the good with the bad. For all the successes one celebrates, there are plenty of other issues keeping CEOs up at night worrying about the future. But proactively identifying challenges and meeting them head-on can make a world of difference.
We spoke to Jack Kocsis Jr., CEO of Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey (ACCNJ), to get a glimpse into how he and his organization are approaching changes in the industry and the importance of being present while always keeping an eye toward the future.
What has been your analysis of how the construction industry and your operations have been in 2025 so far? How does this compare to recent years?
The way ACCNJ looks at the industry is at two different levels: the public construction sector and the private construction sector. The public construction market, specifically the heavy/highway industry, has been fairly consistent since the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [in 2021]. The private side has been choppy due to the uncertainty of tariffs and ongoing supply chain issues. This is similar to market conditions that we experienced in 2024.
What are the recent challenges in the construction industry, and how are you proactively meeting them head-on?
The construction industry is facing an ongoing workforce shortage. ACCNJ works with our labor partners to continue to develop innovative ways to attract young people and underemployed people to the union apprenticeship programs. We are finding quite a bit of success not only with recruiting craft workers but also attracting people to fill managerial positions and work directly for construction contractors in their operations.
As we enter the second half of the year, ACCNJ will continue to advocate on our members’ behalf and help contractors navigate workforce challenges in the shifting landscape of the industry.
