Total construction spending hit an unknown level in August because the Census Bureau was unable to release new data as a result of the federal government shutdown according to Â鶹ÊÓƵ of America. Association officials cautioned that the impacts of the shutdown will go beyond data as solicitations for many new construction projects come to a halt.
Construction employment expanded in 194 metro areas, declined in 88 and was stagnant in 57 between August 2012 and August 2013, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by Â鶹ÊÓƵ of America. Association officials added that despite the widespread gains, construction employment reached peak levels for August in only 19 of 339 metro areas.
Construction employment increased in 26 between July and August and in 35 states for the year, according to an analysis by Â鶹ÊÓƵ of America of Labor Department data. Association officials cautioned, however, that construction employment remains below peak levels in most states and warned of the potential impact of a halt in federal construction investments.
Construction employment stagnated in August, while the industry unemployment rate fell and a majority of companies reported difficulty finding workers, according to an analysis of new government data and an industry survey by Â鶹ÊÓƵ of America. Association officials called for education and immigration reform measures needed to ensure an adequate supply of skilled workers.
Nationwide Survey Finds Most Firms Worry There Are Not Enough Craft Workers Available to Meet Growing Demand for Construction as Officials Call for Immigration and Education Reform to Help
Seventy-four percent of construction firms across the country report they are having trouble finding qualified craft workers to fill key spots amid concerns that labor shortages will only get worse according to the results of an industry wide survey released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials called for immigration and education reform measures to help avoid worker shortages.
Total construction spending hit a four-year high in July as private residential and nonresidential activity increased while public spending declined, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by Â鶹ÊÓƵ of America. Association officials urged lawmakers in Washington to make infrastructure investment a top federal priority before funding runs out at the end of September.
An estimated 1,400 people working for Pittsburgh area construction firms and their suppliers will lose their jobs because a Pennsylvania Senate-passed transportation funding measure failed in the state house, according to an analysis released today by Â鶹ÊÓƵ of America. Those job losses would be three times higher than the number of construction jobs added in the area during the past year and threaten to reverse recent industry job gains, association officials cautioned.
The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in response to the administration’s decisions to finalize two new employment rules despite federal data indicating no need for the new measures:Â
“The administration’s decision to finalize two new oppressive employment regulations for federal contractors forces us to object to measures whose goals we support and objectives our members already meet. That is because these rules will force federal contractors to spend an estimated $6 billion a year to produce reams of new paperwork proving they are doing what the federal government already knows they are doing.
Construction employment gains spread to more metropolitan areas between July 2012 and July 2013 than in previous months but full recovery remained elusive as only a few areas have exceeded pre-recession employment records, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by Â鶹ÊÓƵ of America. Association officials said that despite the gains, construction employment remains below peak levels in most metro areas.
A nationwide group of Building Information Modeling users, known as the BIMForum, released the first-of-its kind standard establishing definitions for how complete Building Information Models (BIMs) need to be for different stages of the design and construction process. The new standard, known as the Level of Development Specifications (LOD), was developed under an agreement with the American Institute of Architects. The standard allows everyone involved with construction projects to clearly articulate how detailed model elements for the different building systems are or need to be throughout the design and construction process.