We hear a lot about job creation and how critical it is to our nation’s economic health and future. But who are America’s job creators? Are they the nation’s richest individuals? Are they big public companies? Hot start-ups? The answer is: none of the above. New research sponsored by the Small Business Administration: “Accelerating Job Creation in America: The Promise of High-Impact Companies” by Spencer L. Tracy, Jr., shows that almost all net U.S. job creation in recent years came from existing private, high-growth companies.If we are really going to get serious about job creation, policymakers and communities should focus
Construction’s unemployment rate rose in December to 13.5%, from November’s 12.2%, even with an industry gain of 30,000 jobs last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The latest monthly BLS employment report, released on Jan. 4, also showed that construction’s jobless rate last month was down from the December 2011 figure of 16.0%. December marked the 27th straight month in which construction posted year-over-year improvement in its unemployment rates.The BLS rates are not adjusted to reflect seasonal swings. In the highly seasonal construction industry, cold-weather months tend to show a drop in the volume of projects in much of
Prices for construction materials inched down in December, closing out a year of relatively subdued changes in both materials costs and bid prices, according to an analysis of new federal figures recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the price decline was likely to be temporary, noting that the vast majority of contractors predict materials prices will rise in 2013. “Moderate price swings for several materials last year gave contractors some breathing room, but future price spikes could push many firms into the red,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the construction trade association. “Contractors
Significantly more construction firms are planning to add new staff than plan to cut staff, while demand for many types of private-sector construction projects should increase this year, according to survey results recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America and Computer Guidance Corp. The survey, conducted as part of “Tentative Signs of a Recovery: The 2013 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook,” provides a generally optimistic outlook for the year even as firms worry about rising costs and declining public-sector demand for construction.“While the outlook for the construction industry appears to be heading in the right direction for
GH Phipps Construction Cos., Greenwood Village, will build a new Hunger Relief Center for Metro CareRing, which is based in Denver but serves the seven-county metro area. Courtesy of Metro CareRing/Rendering by Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture This view of the new Hunger Relief Center is from the northwest, looking toward the entry at East 18th Avenue and Downing Street. GH Phipps is intent on helping Metro CareRing as it works toward a new home that can accommodate the growing number of people in metro Denver who need help. This is part of Phipps’s commitment to community philanthropy, a key component
Residents of Olathe, Kan., gathered December 15 for the groundbreaking of their future community recreation center. In 2011, the team of Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture of Denver and SFS Architecture of Kansas City won a national design competition for the 72,000-sq-ft, $23.8-million Olathe Community Center. Rendering courtesy of BRS The 41-acre site for the center is planned at Stagecoach Park and will feature an outdoor living room, amphitheater and great lawn. The 41-acre site for the center is planned at Stagecoach Park and will feature an “outdoor living room,” amphitheater and great lawn. The city council wanted a modern building
Here is a summary of key milestones on the FasTracks transit program for Denver’s Regional Transportation District during 2012. Courtesy of RTD Girder installation along the FasTracks Eagle P3 East Rail Line to Denver International Airport. 1. West Rail Line Testing – Completed first systems tests along the West Rail Line. Integrated testing continues until opening day, April 26.2. I-225 Light Rail Line Contract – Awarded a contract to Kiewit Infrastructure Group to complete the full I-225 Rail Line by the end of 2015.3. I-225 Segment One Construction – Began construction on the first segment of the I-225 Line from
Trimble, the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based advanced technology systems maker, saw a record 3,500 attendees from 80 countries during its sixth annual Dimensions event held in November at The Mirage hotel and casino in Las Vegas. The conference consisted of 480 sessions focused on increased field and office productivity through Trimble hardware and software in a variety of applications from heavy civil and building construction to mapping and surveying. Courtesy of Trimble The Trimble tablet is powered by an Intel Atom 1.6-GHz processor, with dual eight-hour lithium-ion batteries. Among other things, the 34-year-old publicly traded company (NASDAQ: TRMB) unveiled a new rugged,
The Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building on the University of Colorado Boulder’s East Campus has earned LEED-Platinum designation for new construction from the U.S. Green Building Council. The 336,800-sq-ft facility houses more than 60 faculty and 500 researchers, staff and students from various science, humanities and engineering disciplines. Photo courtesy of JE Dunn Construction The Jennie Smoly Caruthers Building at CU Boulder supports life-changing research for a variety of health issues. The Jennie Smoly Caruthers building is 30% more energy efficient and 40% more water efficient than similar, code-compliant research buildings that have been recently built. Designers maximized energy efficiency in many
The Utah Dept. of Transportation has completed the Utah County I-15 Corridor Expansion project. Construction was finished in an unprecedented 35 months, making I-15 CORE the fastest billion-dollar public highway project ever built in the United States. I-15 CORE reconstructed 24 miles of freeway from Lehi to Spanish Fork. Photo courtesy of HDR I-15 CORE reconstructed 24 miles of freeway from Lehi to Spanish Fork and widened the freeway by two lanes in each direction. The project widened the freeway by two lanes in each direction; replaced the original asphalt with new 40-year concrete pavement, extended the Express Lane from Lehi’s
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