The construction added 21,000 jobs in January, as a second consecutive month of unseasonably mild winter weather helped the industry raise employment to a two-year high, according to an analysis of new federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the gains remain fragile amid declining public-sector investments in construction and infrastructure. “Although it’s great news that the industry has added 52,000 jobs in the past two months, the unemployment rate in construction is still double that of the overall economy, and construction employment remains at 1996 levels,” said Ken Simonson, the
Construction employment increased in 148 out of 337 metropolitan areas between December 2010 and December 2011, decreased in 128 and stayed level in 61, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. The construction employment increases were likely fueled by a 4.3% increase in total construction spending between December 2010 and December 2011, driven largely by growing private-sector demand, association officials noted.“Many communities are benefitting from growing demand from the private sector for new construction activity,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Unfortunately, too many other areas are still
The Denver City Council recently approved a plan to redevelop Marycrest, a former convent at the northeast corner of West 52nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard in Denver. The plan creates the Marycrest Urban Redevelopment Area, allowing for the use of tax increment financing (TIF) to support redevelopment at the site. Rendering courtesy of Urban Ventures Rendering of the West 52nd Avenue Townhomes planned for the Marycrest redevelopment. The project will redevelop 18 acres with about 360 new residential units, a 50,000-sq-ft parcel for commercial development and preserve the site’s existing 18-resident Warren Village, which provides transitional housing for women and
Full construction will get under way this spring at the new Aspen Art Museum, but the Denver office of Turner Construction, in partnership with Roaring Fork Valley contractor Summit Construction, has already begun preconstruction and general contracting services on the nearly $16-million building. Rendering by Shigeru Ban Architects The new 30,000-sq-ft AAM facility will be built at South Spring Street and East Hyman Avenue in downtown Aspen. After nearly 32 years of operating in a converted, historic hydroelectric plant on North Mill Street, the museum— which attracts 35,000 visitors a year from around the world—will move to a new 30,000-sq-ft
Construction employment rose in 28 states and the District of Columbia between December 2010 and December 2011, the largest number of states with year-over-year employment gains since November 2007, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. In contrast, 24 states plus D.C. lost jobs between November and December 2011 while 23 states added construction jobs for the month. “It is encouraging that a clear majority of states added jobs during 2011, but it is too early to conclude that the industry is on a steady upswing,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist.
New construction starts in December fell 3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $410.0 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Cos. Nonresidential building in December held steady with the prior month, and residential building was able to show modest improvement. However, the non-building construction sector lost momentum in December, as electric utilities retreated from the record pace witnessed earlier in the year. For all of 2011, total construction starts slipped 2% to $421.4 billion, following the slight 1% gain reported for 2010. After the steep declines reported during the 2007-2009 period, when activity dropped a
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had increased in December, retreated in January. The index now stands at 61.1 (1985=100), down from 64.8 in December. The Present Situation Index declined to 38.4 from 46.5. The Expectations Index edged down to 76.2 from 77.0 in December. Consumers’ appraisal of current conditions was less favorable in January. Those claiming business conditions are “good” decreased to 13.3% from 16.3%, while those stating business conditions are “bad” increased to 38.7% from 33.5%. Consumers’ assessment of the labor market was also less positive. Those saying jobs are “plentiful” decreased to 6.1% from 6.6%, while
Jacobsen Construction Co., Salt Lake City, has made significant changes in its corporate structure, including appointing a new CEO. WellingDouglas C. Welling, the company’s president and chief operating officer since 2006, has been appointed as Jacobsen’s chief executive officer. Welling took the reins from Lonnie M. Bullard, who served as CEO for 15 years, as well as Jacobsen’s chairman of the board.Bullard will retain his post as board chairman and maintain his involvement in strategic planning, business development and community affairs. He will continue as a member of key public and private boards, and as Jacobsen’s chief public spokesman.A second
These trying economic times require more knowledge and creativity to survive and prosper. With many trade contractors failing, general contractors and owners need to know and take actions that could reduce or eliminate losses when their contractors or subcontractors don’t pay their bills. One of those actions available in Colorado is under the Trust Fund Statute originally enacted in Colorado in 1973, largely at the behest of this columnist.While most trade contractors do business as corporations or limited liability companies intended to shield their owners against personal liability for their companies’ debts, the Trust Fund Statute may be used to
During the past several years, the green building trend has soared, with an increase in government incentives and availability of affordable supplies driving a huge growth of U.S. Green Building Council LEED-certified buildings. With the LEED program ambitiously hoping to certify one million commercial buildings by 2020, it’s no surprise that this trend has come under some scrutiny. And while most great rewards often have a price, in this case it could be at the expense of the safety of construction workers on the job (see related sidebar at the end of this story). When Matthew Hallowell, assistant professor in
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