The U.S. construction industry gained 19,000 jobs in March and the construction unemployment rate fell to 11.3% (non-seasonally adjusted), according to the April 4 employment report by the U.S. Dept. of Labor (DOL). Nonresidential construction segments added 6,700 jobs in March, a marked improvement from the 2,800 jobs (revised) added in February. The improvement led the construction unemployment rate to fall from 12.8% in February 2014 and 14.7% in March 2013. The residential sector continued to build momentum, adding 9,100 jobs for the month. Heavy and civil engineering added 3,200 jobs in March and has added 22,100 jobs in the
The U.S. Census Bureau says that nonresidential construction spending increased 0.6% in February and has risen 6.1% since February 2013. The gains follow nonresidential construction spending declines in both January and December. Spending for the month totaled $580.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis. “February’s construction spending data is difficult to interpret, as was the case in December and January, because of the lengthy and harsh winter,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The conventional wisdom is that this year’s winter weather has suppressed spending and that will make the spring recovery even stronger than it
The founder and CEO of Salt Lake City’s Bodell Construction Co., James Huggard Bodell, died February 13 in Sandy, Utah, at age 90. James founded Bodell Construction Co. with his four sons in 1972. Bodell Construction has built more than $1 billion in industrial and commercial projects throughout the western United States and Hawaii. Landmark projects include expansion of the Salt Palace Convention Center; renovation of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building; projects for the University of Utah, Utah State University and BYU Hawaii, as well as several power and industrial projects.James was a decorated veteran of World War II in
Colorado has more jobs than ever before, but recovery from the Great Recession continues to elude some areas of the state.Those are some of the findings included in a recent report from Colorado State University’s Regional Economics Institute (REI). The report notes the economy in the northern Front Range has seen the most job activity, while the Colorado Springs and Grand Junction areas continue to lag. “Although the state economy overall has performed better than the nation since the end of the recession, many Colorado communities, businesses and individuals are still struggling with the aftermath,” said Martin Shields, who directs
Founded in 1989, Hadco Construction has grown from a small family irrigation company to become one of the largest privately owned construction companies in Utah. Now in its 25th year, the company is based in Lehi, Utah, and specializes in residential, commercial and heavy highway construction. The business has 350 employees, 50 trucks and operates four sand and gravel pit locations.Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Hadco Construction focused mostly on residential construction projects. However, company owner John David Hadfield made sure 20% of the projects that Hadco undertook were commercial construction. That strategy proved crucial during the financial crisis
Honnen Equipment Co. is building a new facility at 1380 S. Distribution Drive near the corner of Bangerter Highway and California Avenue in Salt Lake City. Honnen Equipment is the authorized dealership for sales, parts, service and rentals for John Deere Construction equipment, Hitachi construction equipment, Wirtgen milling machines, Hamm rollers and compactors, Vogele pavers, Kleemann crushers and more. “We are excited about the increased space in our parts warehouse and the new service offerings this larger facility will provide for our customers,” says Mark Honnen, president of Honnen Equipment. “We are currently on track for opening the new facility
Layton Construction Co Inc. was recently named 2013 Contractor of the Year by the State of Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM). The award was based upon the successful completion of construction projects awarded to Layton by DFCM, including the Veterans Administration Nursing Homes in Payson and Ivins and the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center at the University of Utah. Photo courtesy of Layton Construction Each VA community includes its own kitchen, living room, den, outdoor patio, nurses station and 12 single-occupancy bedrooms. The Utah Dept. of Veterans Affairs added two 108-bed nursing homes to meet the
The Colorado Dept. of Transportation begins work in mid-March on its first continuous flow intersection (CFI) project at the U.S. 160/550 west intersection near Durango. Map courtesy of CDOT The CFI reconfigures the highway by allowing vehicles to cross to the left side of the highway before the intersection. CFIs reduce congestion and increase safety at high-traffic intersections, based on other CFIs constructed nationwide. The first CFI in Colorado was built in 2010 by the city of Loveland on Madison Avenue for access onto Eisenhower Blvd./U.S. 34. The one near Durango is the first CFI on a Colorado state highway.“This
After starting out the year on a positive note, there was another minor increase in the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) last month. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine- to 12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects reported the February ABI score was 50.7, up slightly from a mark of 50.4 in January. This score reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 56.8, down from the reading of 58.5 the previous month.“The
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