AIA Calls for Renewal of Program to Spur Job Creations in Design and Construction Industry  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Institute of Architects has called on Congress to renew in full the Build America Bonds program, in the wake of an AIA estimate that it generated between $44 to $50 billion in new construction activity and jobs in the last two years alone. By providing an attractive tax-credit bond to a wide range of investors, the program exceeded most expectations, and more than $180 billion in municipal debt was issued through the BABs program in 2009 and 2010. Under the … Read more

Construction employment increased in 30 states between January and February, while 19 states added construction jobs during the past 12 months, the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of state employment data released by the Labor Department. Association officials cautioned, however, that it was too early to tell whether the relatively positive report reflects improving economic conditions or the benefit of warmer weather much of the country experienced in February. “These are certainly some of the best state-by-state numbers the industry has seen in quite some time,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “But it is … Read more

Construction Workers May Have Benefitted from Improving Winter Weather as Industry Experiences Largest Monthly Employment Gain Since March 2007, Construction Officials Note The construction industry added 33,000 jobs in February even as the industry's unemployment rate was 21.8 percent, more than twice the national average, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. As welcome as the new figures are, association officials cautioned that it was too early to tell whether the industry is improving or simply benefitting from the more favorable weather in February compared to the previous month. … Read more

Drops in Nearly All Private Nonresidential Categories Offset Small Public Gains, Mixed Residential Results; Construction Officials Urge Quick Congressional Action to Keep Federal Funds Flowing Construction spending slumped 0.7 percent from $798 billion in December to $792 billion in January, the lowest seasonally adjusted annual rate since July 2000, the Associated General Contractors of America noted today in an analysis of new Census Bureau data. Association officials noted that nearly every private nonresidential category plunged, offsetting pickups in some residential and public nonresidential segments. They added that since January 2010, construction spending has declined by 5.9 percent. “These discouraging figures … Read more