Related Links: Get Ready for Work Force Shortages Industry Struggles To Find Qualified Crane Workers Construction firms, once starved for work during the downturn, now say they cannot find enough qualified talent to take on new projects. The problem is likely to get worse, firms say."Everyone is afraid that we are going to get to a point where we were in 2006-7, where we had a shortage of skilled workers," explains Brian Turmail, spokesman for the Associated General Contractors of America. The trade group on Sept. 4 released the results of a survey it performed this summer on worker shortages.
Related Links: Bureau of Labor Statistics release, with data tables Associated General Contractors of America release, analysis Associated Builders and Contractors release, analysis The construction industry’s jobless rate leveled off in August at 9.1%, the same as July’s rate, but improved from the August 2012 mark of 11.3%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported.The BLS August employment numbers, released on Sept. 6, showed that construction’s jobs total last month also was flat, compared with July’s figure.The August bright spots among construction sectors were residential specialty trade contractors, which gained 4,900 jobs, and heavy-civil engineering construction, which added 1,200.All other
Photo by Tony Illia/ENR Dispute pits the national president of the 500,000-member carpenters' union against his regional-chief brother. Related Links: United Brotherhood of Carpenters 14(d) Charges against Mike McCarron (7/2/2013) Emergency Supervision Order of Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters (7/19/2013) Carpenters' Union Trial Procedures Dec. 4, 2012 ruling: UBC (Carpenters' union) v. Building & Construction Trades Dept., Case No. 12-CV-0109 Feb. 21, 2012 Lawsuit: UBC (Carpenters' union) v. Building & Construction Trades Dept., Case No. 12-CV-0109 A messy public feud between carpenters' union General President Douglas J. McCarron and his brother, Southwest regional council chief Mike McCarron, that resulted in
Related Links: Summary of Labor Dept. rule regarding veterans (with links to text of rule, other info) Summary of Labor Dept. regulation applying to individuals with disabilities (with links to rule, other data) The Labor Dept. has issued a pair of final rules that set new requirements for federal contractors in recruiting and hiring veterans and individuals with disabilities. The department says the regulations, announced on Aug. 27, will provide more job opportunities for people in those groups.But major construction contractor organizations blasted the rules, particularly their new record-keeping requirements, and say they are studying possible court challenges.Both regulations are
Courtesy of Zhejiang Construction Investment Group Residential complexes, such as this one in Algeria, have to be defended against attacks during political unrest in unstable nations. Related Links: China International Contractors Association Zhejiang Construction Investment Group With 82.6% of their market share in Asia and Africa, Chinese construction companies working globally and in mostly unstable nations face unforeseeable risks that, if not managed properly, could weigh heavily on their business. Attacks on construction sites have pushed companies to adopt more comprehensive defenses and take further precautions for risk recovery and management.Uncertainties aside, last year was a good one for Chinese
Only 21% of respondents say their company incentive plans are "very effective." Related Links: Website of FMI-Industry Management Consultant While most contractors now have employee incentive plans and offer them to half of their staffers, on average most rely on “discretionary” plans that do not note bonus goals in advance or what it takes to earn them, says a recent survey of 224 contractor executives by industry consultant FMI.Only 21% of respondents say plans were “very effective,” says FMI."The biggest surprise in conducting this study was that majority of construction companies are spending significant dollars on their incentive compensation programs
Related Links: UnLocking Your Brilliance and STEMspire website PK Electrical website Why is there such a gender imbalance when it comes to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields? What characterizes a career in math or in science that keeps it male-dominated even today, when women—at least on paper—share the same freedoms as men? What is it about, say, physics that attracts men and repels women?Is testosterone a required variable for understanding inertia or balancing the Schrödinger equation? Why are there so few women?PurcellThere is no easy way to explain why more women are not encouraged to follow STEM
Photo by Tudor van Hampton, ENR Well-managed mobile tool cribs can cut jobsite equipment losses to less than 3%, compared with the 30% to 40% industry average. Related Links: Equipment Cost on the Rise Equipment for the 21st Century Effective equipment management plays a critical role in remaining competitive as more firms vie for fewer jobs. Although equipment rentals typically make up 1% to 3% of total project costs, a non-functioning machine can cripple a jobsite. As a result, contractors are increasingly using turnkey rental services to reduce overhead and decrease downtime, improve safety and increase profitability. A managed equipment
Related Links: Bureau of Labor Statistics employment report for July, with data tables AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's analysis ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu's analysis The construction industry’s unemployment rate continues to improve, dropping to 9.1% in July from June’s 9.8%, but the industry also shed 6,000 jobs as losses in the nonresidential sector outpaced residential-segment gains.The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest monthly employment report, released on Aug. 2, also showed that construction’s July jobless rate was down markedly from the July 2012 level of 12.3%.Last month’s 9.1% was the industry’s lowest monthly mark since August 2008, when it stood
Related Links: Bureau of Labor Statistics release (with data tables) Construction’s unemployment rate dropped under 10% for the first time in more than four years, hitting 9.8% in June, as the industry added 13,000 jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported.Construction’s jobless rate was an improvement over May’s 10.8% and down sharply from the June 2012 level of 12.8%, according to the latest BLS monthly employment report, released on July 5.The last time construction’s rate was less than 10% was in September 2008, when it stood at 9.9%. BLS unemployment rates are not adjusted for seasonal variations.All construction sectors
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