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Unlike many other industries, the demand for commercial and residential contractors and workers has continually grown since 2012. General contractors are reporting their biggest backlog of work in years, thanks to increased consumer demand, coupled with the unprecedented low interest rates. In fact, there are so many active and upcoming construction projects that Illinois ranks within the top 15 states in the nation for construction demand today. The good news is that many general contractors are searching for subcontractors and material suppliers to keep their projects on schedule and meet completion deadlines. You can learn more about current Illinois construction projects here.
Illinois does not have a statewide contractor licensing system in place. General and subcontractor licensing occurs at the city or county level. You’ll need to do some Googling to find the correct office in your potential work area(s). In addition, there may be specific bond and insurance requirements based on the size or scope of the project.
If you’re considering bidding on projects in Illinois, you will want to visit the Illinois Worker Safety website. Understanding the state’s latest worker safety requirements will be helpful as you prepare your bids for Illinois construction projects.
Subcontractors constantly struggle to find and connect with reputable and busy general contractors. PlanHub has reviewed the most recent construction industry data to determine Illinois’ most prominent and active general contractors, and here are their website links.
The Illinois construction industry doesn’t have a schedule for posting new projects. Plans for new construction projects go out to bid once the architect has finalized the plans with the project owner. Depending on the project’s size and scope, new drawings can take a few weeks to several months to complete. While we can’t speak for other plan room services, once PlanHub receives a new construction project, the plans, specs, and bidders list are available online within hours.
Compared to the rest of the United States, how is Illinois looking in terms of construction activity? Thanks to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Multi-Year Plan, the state will be busy with an enormous transportation construction project. This six-year plan is a huge economic opportunity and adds to the excitement of other construction services. Infrastructure, housing, and commercial projects are ramping up as pandemic calms down. Job seekers with experience can get roles like construction project manager. Entry level positions are also available, where employment levels are high for qualified applicants. In summation, there will be no shortage of projects and opportunities in Illinois.
Access the PlanHub plan room to pick and choose the projects that interest you and start your takeoff process. Once you’re properly licensed, you can begin submitting your bid to the general contractors bidding on the project. GCs can submit their bids to the owner or their agent. Certain publicly funded projects may contain specific bidding requirements or forms, typically included with the plans and specs.
Currently there are two AGC chapters in Illinois, the AGC of Illinois and the AGC of Chicagoland. The AGC provides a wide variety of training, support, and business resources to help contractors and subcontractors build a better construction environment in Illinois for the future.
Some similarities from one state to the next are typical since most state building codes provide a baseline of occupant safety and comfort. However, every state creates its building code to address localized environmental issues such as hurricanes, tornadoes, landslides, flooding, and even earthquakes.
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Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.
Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.
PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.
