This week’s episode of WisBusiness: the Podcast features a conversation with Emily Pritzkow, executive director of the Wisconsin Building Trades Council, who shares insights into the construction industry’s challenges and opportunities amid shifting federal policy, tariff uncertainty, and clean energy investments.

Pritzkow said the dynamic policy landscape means “it’s never a dull moment in the building trades.” She addressed the complicated role tariffs play in reshaping domestic industry and job creation, noting the U.S. construction sector and broader economy “relies heavily” on imports. While she said “tariffs are not a bad thing to discuss” when used to support reshoring and pro-labor strategies, she cautioned that uncoordinated implementation could backfire.

“Tariffs without a plan are going to lead to economic harm,” she warned.

Pritzkow emphasized that the construction industry is resilient and used to navigating uncertainty. Still, she pointed out diverging strategies—some firms are pausing purchases, waiting for pricing clarity, while others are stockpiling materials to buffer against future volatility.

“But at some point, there will be consequences and we will see it play out, again, with projects moving forward, with putting people to work,” she said. “We’re all in a waiting game right now with that, to see exactly how it may play out.”

A key part of the conversation focused on clean energy tax credits enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act. These incentives have jumpstarted major projects and hiring across the country, particularly in Wisconsin. But with recent proposals from congressional Republicans to repeal or scale them back, Pritzkow expressed concern.

“They’re not just numbers out there to us, our members are doing this work right now,” she said. “We are hiring people for these projects. They created an incredible opportunity across the country but particularly here in Wisconsin.”

That uncertainty, she said, poses a real problem for long-term planning in construction and energy infrastructure.

“It’s just been the general back-and-forth that is creating a lot of problems, I think, for people trying to make long-term decisions, trying to plan,” she said.

Pritzkow also addressed the Wisconsin Building Trades Council’s legislative priorities during the current state budget cycle. Chief among them is securing strong funding for transportation infrastructure—a critical issue for labor and economic development alike.

She closed by referencing a recent study by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute that highlighted the financial strength of union construction jobs in Wisconsin. According to the report, union trades workers in the state earn an average of $41 per hour—more than the average wage for graduates of the Universities of Wisconsin system.

These discussions underline the complexity of today’s economic and policy environment for construction workers, and the crucial role of strategic, stable investments in keeping the sector moving forward.

Originally reported by WIS Business.