The magazine was first published as Labour News on 30 August 1871, having been founded by Victorian reformer Alsager Hay Hill to try to ease the blight of unemployment by printing information about job vacancies.

[2] Prior to its acquisition for £7.6m by Emap in August 1995, Construction News and its related media interests was owned by the Thomson Corporation.

[9] In October 2015 Top Right Group announced plans to scrap the Emap brand and to stop producing print editions so that, over the next 12–18 months, all titles, including Construction News, would become digital only.

[10] However, this plan was subsequently put on hold and Construction News continues to produce print editions.

"[13][14] The brands were purchased by Metropolis International Ltd (owner of the Property Week title since 2013) in a £23.5m cash deal, announced on 1 June 2017.