Data Bulletin Examines COVID-19 Impact on Workers, Businesses

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The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the construction industry hard, with nearly 1 million workers losing their jobs between March and April. The new issue of the CPWR Data Bulletin focuses on COVID-19’s economic impact on the industry from March to June 2020, including job losses, business closures and medical absences. Among the key findings: About 80% of small construction businesses experienced either a large or moderate negative impact, effects were disproportionately high for Hispanic workers and self-unincorporated workers and absences from work due to personal medical reasons initially rose 70%. This issue also incorporates a new feature — mouse-over definitions … Read more

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Construction Industry Adds 20K Employees in July; Nonresidential Employment Dips, Says AGC

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Construction employment increased by 20,000 jobs in July but the gains were limited to housing, while employment related to infrastructure and nonresidential building construction slipped by 4,000, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials cautioned that non-housing construction job losses will continue unless the federal government provides infrastructure funding for state and local budgets, enacts liability reforms and other relief measures. “It is gratifying that the construction industry continued to add jobs in July, but last month’s gains were entirely in residential building and specialty trades,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s … Read more

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Dodge Momentum Index Increases in July

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Dodge Momentum Index moved 3.4% higher in July to 124.7 (2000=1000) from the revised June reading of 120.5. The momentum index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. During the month, the commercial component increased 5.3% while the institutional component was unchanged. This month’s increase in the Dodge Momentum Index was the first in all of 2020. Since December 2019, the momentum index has lost 18% with most of the … Read more

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AGC Calls for New Infrastructure, Other Relief Measures

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Construction employment decreased in 225, or 62%, out of 358 metro areas between June 2019 and last month despite widespread increases from May to June, according to an analysis of new government data that the Associated General Contractors of America released. Association officials urged government officials to enact liability reform, boost infrastructure investments and extend tax credits to help the industry recover and rebuild. “It’s troubling to see construction employment lagging year-ago levels in most locations, in spite of a strong rebound in May and June,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Those gains were not enough to erase … Read more

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COVID-19 Crushes Construction Starts in Most Metro Areas during First-Half 2020

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The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession have wreaked havoc on U.S. building markets. According to Dodge Data & Analytics, commercial and multifamily starts were quite healthy during January and February but stalled as the pandemic hit the nation in March. For the first three months of 2020, U.S. multifamily and commercial building starts inched up 1% from the same period of 2019. The commercial and multifamily group is comprised of office buildings, stores, hotels, warehouses, commercial garages and multifamily housing. Not included in this ranking are institutional building projects (such as educational facilities, hospitals, convention centers, casinos, transportation terminals), manufacturing buildings, single-family … Read more

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