AGC

Thirty-nine state added construction jobs between July 2015 and July 2016 while construction employment only increased in 23 states and the District of Columbia between June and July, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said construction employment likely declined in many states as firms have growing difficulty locating qualified workers to hire.

Construction spending decreased in June for the third month in a row but most segments posted solid increases in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said spending appears to have leveled off after a strong early start to the year prompted by mild winter weather conditions in many parts of the country

Construction employment increased in 39 states between June 2015 and June 2016, although half the states shed construction jobs between May and June, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the flattening of monthly employment gains and losses indicates the urgency of beefing up programs to attract, train and retain construction workers.

Construction employment was unchanged from May to June, but an increase in hourly pay and longer workweeks, along with shrinking numbers of unemployed construction workers, suggest contractors would hire more workers if they were available, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the lack of available qualified workers for firms to hire appears to be holding back employment growth and urged Congress to pass legislation to reform and increase funding for career and technical education

Outlook Appears Favorable, as Weather Anomalies May Have Distorted Monthly Results, but Contractors Fret About Finding Enough Qualified Workers; Association Officials Push Congress to Renew, Reform Perkins Act

Anaheim-Santa Ana and Monroe, Mich. Top Growth List; Midland, Texas, and Bloomington, Ill. Have Largest Declines as Roads & Other Infrastructure Suffer From Neglect 60 Years after First Highway Bill

Despite Monthly Slowdown, Construction Hiring Outpaced Overall Jobs Market On a Year-Over-Year Basis, New AGC Career Center Will Help Firms Find Qualified Workers Amid Growing Labor Shortages

Nation’s Top Construction Official Says Federal Officials Refusal to Let Plan Take Voluntary Steps to Keep the Funds Solvent Puts Political Considerations over the Need to Protect Retirees

Construction spending increased by 8 percent in March compared to a year earlier and was also up slightly between February and March amid growing demand for many types of construction, as the spending total hit the highest level since October 2007, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the growth comes amid strong private-sector demand and new federal investments in surface transportation programs

Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine and El Centro, Calif. Top Growth List; Odessa, Texas, and Bloomington, Ill. Have Largest Declines as Energy Producing Areas Continue to See Drops in Construction Jobs. Construction employment increased in 244 out of 358 metro areas, was unchanged in 44 and declined in 70 between March 2015 and March 2016, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America.

California and Hawaii Add Most Jobs for the Year, North Dakota Has Biggest Actual and Percentage Declines; West Virginia and Pennsylvania Top Monthly List of Gainers, Arkansas and California Have Largest One-Month Decreases

Santa Ana-Irvine and Monroe, Mich. Top Growth List; Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas, and Bloomington, Ill. Have Largest Declines, Many Energy-Producing Metro Areas Experience Big Losses

Construction Jobs Growing at Twice the Rate of Total Nonfarm Jobs as Sector’s Unemployment Rate Hits 10-Year March Low; Several Spending Segments Jump 20 Percent for the Year Despite Dip in Monthly Total

Forty-three states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between February 2015 and February 2016 while construction employment increased in 27 states between January and February, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the pullback in energy prices and farm income appeared to be dampening demand for construction in some states while firms in other states continue to expand

During the 97th Annual AGC Convention in San Antonio, TX, the Building Division showcased two excellent sessions for members including a Building Division meeting and a session entitled “Lean Construction for Executives”. The Building Division meeting had two parts with the first presented by Ashley Phelps, Lean Practices Manager with Gilbane Building Company. The session reviewed Ashley’s transition as a scheduler to a Lean Champion where she launched the Last Planner system in under a year on projects in various stages of construction across Connecticut.

Winners of the 2015 AGC Outstanding Student Chapter Contest were recognized at the 97th Annual AGC Convention, during the Student Chapter Meeting, Wed., March 9.  The winners demonstrated dedication to their community and public service through their winning projects. Three applications in particular stood out from the others and AGC of America was happy to honor the following winners of the 2015 AGC Outstanding Student Chapter Contest during the Annual Convention

Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee officially kicked-off the reauthorization process for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with a markup of the Aviation Innovation Reform and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act. The AIRR Act, which fundamentally transforms air traffic control operations, is expected to pass the committee later this evening.

Nearly All Private Segments Recorded Robust 12-Month Gains as Total Spending Reaches Seven-Year High; Favorable Weather Compared to January 2015 May Have Contributed to Outsized Jump in Highway Spending

AGC will hold its fifth Contractors Environmental Conference (CEC) on October 5-6, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The CEC is a yearly management, leadership and technology-focused conference that zeros in on the most critical environmental issues impacting today’s construction professionals. Past attendees agree that this one-of-a-kind program provides contractors with the information and resources to meet environmental

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently released “Using Graywater and Stormwater to Enhance Local Water Supplies: An Assessment of Risks, Costs, and Benefits” (available for free download (link is external)).  The report acknowledges that greywater and stormwater can augment water supplies to improve reliability and extend the capacity of water systems in water-scarce or quickly growing cities, if proven safe