In the Thanksgiving spirit, we've decided to take this holiday as an opportunity to look at what the construction industry has to be thankful for. While a portion of the industry is still recovering from the recession, the current climate has vastly improved and points to strong future performance. Here are five things we think the construction industry should be thankful for:

1. Predictions of steady growth in 2015 and 2016

Construction economists have offered up countless predictions of industry performance through the end of 2015 and for 2016 — and they have been overwhelmingly positive. Earlier this month, Dodge Data & Analytics released its 2016 Dodge Construction Outlook. Dodge Data Chief Economist Robert Murray noted that total 2015 construction activity, reflecting starts data, is on pace to reach the largest gain during the current expansion — since the crippling economic recession. Dodge predicts total construction activity this year will grow 13% to $675 billion, largely due to major gains in nonbuilding construction and residential building.

Dodge also predicted construction starts in 2016 will grow 6% to $712 billion, with residential building leading the pack with a 16% gain. The annual Outlook report is seen as a reliable bellwether of future activity in the various construction sectors. While a few segments of the industry are expected to decline in 2016, Dodge Data offers a generally positive picture of future building performance.

In another economic outlook, Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu predicted 7.4% growth in nonresidential construction spending next year. He said the industry is seeing strong momentum that will carry into 2016. 

"The construction industry has benefited from increased stability stemming from low materials prices and greater certainty regarding federal budgeting and monetary policy," Basu said.

2. Likely long-term highway funding solution

Both the House and Senate have passed multiyear highway funding bills that include six years of spending policy, but only three years of funding. The chambers are still negotiating a combined version of the two long-term measures. Last week, the House and Senate sent another two-week funding extension to President Obama, as they needed more time to work out the details of a combined bill.

Construction industry reaction was understandably enthusiastic after the House passed its multiyear bill earlier this month, as the funding uncertainty from Washington has interfered with states being able to plan their highway and infrastructure capital programs. Equipment giant Caterpillar attributed a portion of its decrease in sales to lack of a federal highway plan, and the Associated General Contractors of America contends the lack of a bill in place has contributed to construction job losses.  

However, industry experts still caution that Congress has failed to address long-term funding issues by not including funding for all years of their bills, and the AGC said it will "work aggressively to make sure that Congress not only completes this vital measure but that our elected leaders include a viable, long-term solution for funding future transportation investments either in this measure or another bill."

Industry excitement for public construction projects still has some strings attached before it can truly grow, but the significant progress toward multiyear highway funding is a major step in the right direction.

3. Surge in construction-related startup funding

Construction-related startups have seen major investor interest recently, and construction companies are getting in on the action as big investors. In this case, startups should also be thankful for the construction industry.

In October, technology startup Uptake reached a $1.1 billion valuation after raising $45 million from investors, including heavy equipment giant Caterpillar. 

On the same day as Uptake's funding announcement, Fieldwire, a startup offering mobile and web platform services for construction projects, announced it had secured $6.6 million in Series A financing. And BuildingConnected, a construction bid management platform startup, announced it raised $8.5 million in Series A. Construction software startup PlanGrid also announced an investment of $40 million in its Series B financing round.

These big funding rounds for construction startups and from construction company investors reflect the industry's current move toward incorporating more technology on the job site to streamline projects and avoid cost overruns and delays — something everyone can be thankful for.

4. Improving construction employment

Construction employment recently rose to its highest level since 2009, as the industry added 31,000 jobs in October. That number is more than four times the job gains of the previous four months combined, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors. The construction unemployment rate dropped to 6.2%, the lowest October rate since 2007.

The AGC also reported that 35 states added construction jobs between September and October, while year-over-year, 43 states and the District of Columbia saw increases. October’s employment numbers were welcome news after tepid job growth in September.

The ongoing skilled labor shortage continues to plague the industry, as employers struggle to fill both hourly craft jobs and salaried professional positions. But the recent gains in employment signal that some employers have been able to find talent, possibly with the help of successful recruiting efforts and an increase in wages.

5. Loan restrictions easing up

A recent National Association of Home Builders survey found that builders and developers are seeing continued easing credit conditions for acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) loans.

A net 30.3% of builders and developers surveyed said that overall, lending standards on AD&C loan availability had eased in the third quarter of 2015, marking the 10th consecutive quarter of improvement.

In the Dodge 2016 Construction Outlook, Chief Economist Robert Murray also pointed to easing loan standard expectations across the construction industry in the coming year. 

And in the National Association of Realtors' recent commercial real estate forecast, the association's chief economist Lawrence Yun predicted that increases in lending and investment activity for Realtors will be driven by steady job growth and slightly easier access to credit.