Related Links: Bureau of Labor Statistics release See Associated General Contractors' statement See Associated Builders and Contractors' analysis In an encouraging sign for construction, the industry’s jobless rate dipped in September, to 13.3%, from the August level of 13.5%, the Labor Dept.'s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Last month's mark also was much improved from the 17.2% rate in September 2010.Moreover, construction gained 26,000 jobs last month, seasonally adjusted, according to the latest monthly BLS unemployment report, released on Oct. 7.September was the 12th-straight month in which construction's unemployment rate improved over year-earlier figures.On the down side, however, construction’s unemployment
Related Links: Read the Bureau of Labor Statistics press release View analysis by AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson View analysis by ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu The construction industry's unemployment rate edged downward in August, to 13.5% from July’s 13.6%, the Labor Dept.'s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Last month's rate also was an improvement over the August 2010 level of 17.0%. But the latest monthly BLS unemployment report, released on Sept. 2, also said construction lost 5,000 jobs in August and construction’s jobless rate was still the highest among U.S. industry categories. Ken Simonson, the Associated General Contractors' chief
Attendees at the International Bridge Conference, held in June at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, saw something they had never seen before: the 3,500-sq-ft main pavilion was devoted to the all-stars of the South Korean engineering and construction world. The exhibition included Samsung, Daewoo, Hyundai, rail and highway agencies, and governmental research laboratories. Collage by Justin Reynolds A special ENR feature. Related Links: Main Story: Construction Takes Steps to Improve Workplace Diversity Chinese-Americans Find Themselves Bridging the Gap Between the U.S. and China It was only the second time in the conference's 27-year history that a country—rather than a
Endi Zhai is a cheerful, charismatic geotechnical engineer who can charm people into doing what he asks. For example, he persuaded top-level transportation officials, mayors, city councils, and some 200 engineers and contractors from several countries to attend the International Chinese Transportation Professionals Association conference, which was held in Los Angeles in May. PHOTO BY Michael Scott Kenney AMID TWO WORLDS: Chinese-Americans like Zhai have become key players in the new world order. Graphic by Justin Reynolds for ENR An ENR special feature. Related Links: Main Story: Where a New Inclusiveness Is Changing the Face of the Construction Industry Minorities
The idea of workplace diversity is nothing new, but its progress in the engineering and construction world is, well, diverse. Some firms take a minimal approach, adhering to federal rules regarding minority and disadvantaged businesses or anti-discrimination laws. Others cite diversity and inclusion as a core value and business imperative. Related Links: Minorities Lament their Low Numbers in Engineering and Construction How a Support Group for Gays in Aviation Took Flight Korean-Americans Build Cultural Inroads in U.S. Construction Chinese-Americans Find Themselves Bridging the Gap Between the U.S. and China A Generation of Iranians Displaced by Revolution Put Their Math and
Fernando Aveiga, a 28-year-old Ecuadorian, is improving productivity, safety and understanding at construction sites in Iowa. With degrees in economics and international development, Aveiga serves as a multicultural workforce specialist for the Master Builders of Iowa, the state chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. PHOTO BY BRENT ISENBERGER BUILDING TRUST Aveiga and the Iowa chapter of AGC created a bilingual manual for jobsites. Graphic by Justin Reynolds An ENR special feature. Related Links: Main Story: Where a New Inclusiveness is Changing the Face of the Construction Industry Chinese-Americans Find Themselves Bridging the Gap Between the U.S. and China
It's 4:30 a.m., and Ana Taveras is starting her day by flying up the New Jersey Turnpike, likely above the speed limit, to reach the local office of a laborers' union some 75 miles north. There, she officially begins a day of shuttling to meetings and construction sites as a regional labor organizing coordinator. PHOTO BY SCOTT SCHEDIVY RESULTS Ana Taveras, once told she didnt belong here, is now a rising laborers union regional organizer. Graphic by Justin Reynolds A special feature in ENR. Related Links: Lacking Diversity in Race and Ethnicity, the Construction Industry Takes Strides Chinese-Americans in Construction
The Middle Eastern men gather every year at the annual internal seminar held by their employer, Kleinfelder. They share notes about families, raising children and perhaps trade news from their homeland. For this cluster of Iranian-Americans, this kind of networking is a microcosm of a socio-cultural immigrant phenomenon: They are a generation of engineering talent that came to the U.S. to study and train but never returned to their home country. Photo courtesy of kleinfelder ENGINEERING GEN Makarechi (second from left), Behboodi (second from right), Moossazedeh (right). Graphic by Justin Reynolds A special ENR feature. Related Links: Main Story: Where
Attendees at the International Bridge Conference, held in June at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, saw something they had never seen before: the 3,500-sq-ft main pavilion was devoted to the all-stars of the South Korean engineering and construction world. The exhibition included Samsung, Daewoo, Hyundai, rail and highway agencies, and governmental research laboratories. Collage by Justin Reynolds for ENR A special ENR feature. Related Links: Main Story: Where a New Inclusiveness Is Changing the Face of the Construction Industry Minorities Lament their Low Numbers in Engineering and Construction How a Support Group for Gays in Aviation Took Flight Chinese-Americans
Construction's unemployment rate continued its downward trend in June, falling to 15.6% from May's 16.3%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Last month's rate also was significantly better than the June 2010 level of 20.1%. The latest monthly BLS unemployment report, released on July 8, also had some discouraging numbers for construction, however. Construction lost 9,000 jobs in June on a seasonally adjusted basis and its jobless rate was still the highest among major U.S. industries. Nearly all construction segments posted job losses in June. The exception was nonresidential specialty trade contractors, which recorded a gain of 3,100. The largest