Tariffs Trigger Layoffs at Massachusetts Concrete Firm

Pittsfield, MA — Contract delays and rising material costs driven by new tariffs are forcing major layoffs at a prominent Massachusetts concrete company.

Pittsfield-based Unistress Corp. and its subsidiary, Berkshire Concrete Corp., have announced they will lay off 233 workers, according to a Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) notice filed for the week ending June 27.

CEO Perri Petricca confirmed to The Berkshire Eagle that the cuts stem from the delay of two large contracts after President Donald Trump’s recent decision to double tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% on June 3.

“These tariffs have caused significant price swings for key construction materials, which forced us to delay projects and adjust operations temporarily,” Petricca told the paper.

The company’s portfolio includes major infrastructure and landmark projects such as Boston’s Big Dig and New York City’s Yankee Stadium. The layoffs, which amount to nearly half of the company’s workforce, are set to take effect between July 7 and August 25, according to the filing.

Unistress typically secures about a dozen major contracts each year, but the two stalled jobs put substantial financial pressure on the firm. “The move is temporary,” Petricca emphasized, adding that the company is hopeful the contracts will proceed once pricing stabilizes.

Construction Dive reached out to Unistress, which declined to comment further on the job cuts.

Industry-wide, contractors are bracing for more turbulence. Construction input prices rose 0.2% in May and are up 6% year-over-year, according to Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Economists warn that the recent tariff hike has yet to fully impact these numbers, with steel and aluminum expected to climb further in the coming months.

ABC’s data also shows that nearly 25% of builders reported canceling projects in May due to tariff-driven cost spikes. Average backlog dipped to 8.4 months, down from a two-year high, while builder confidence in sales and staffing has also declined.

Broader Implications for the Construction Sector

The Unistress layoffs underscore the ripple effect tariffs can have on local economies, supply chains, and American jobs. Industry leaders and economists warn that prolonged price volatility could stall additional projects, threaten smaller contractors, and complicate plans for infrastructure expansion.

Calls for Policy Certainty

Many construction executives are urging policymakers to address trade uncertainty to prevent future disruptions. Organizations like ABC and the Associated General Contractors of America have called for solutions to stabilize material pricing and ensure U.S. firms remain competitive.

Support for Displaced Workers

Local officials in Pittsfield say they’re working with state labor agencies to help the affected workers find new employment or retraining opportunities. Temporary layoffs can have long-term impacts on local families and regional supply chains, especially in specialized industries like precast concrete manufacturing.

Originally reported by Sebastian Obando in Construction Dive.