Construction Firms Add 45K Jobs in April; Unemployed Workers Drop to 14-Year Low

  • Posted on

Construction firms added 45,000 jobs in April and 280,000 over 12 months, as the sector’s unemployment rate fell to a nine-year April low of 7.5 percent, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that even as the industry continues to expand, growth has been erratic and inconsistent. “Construction employment resumed strong growth in April after slipping in March and is now growing at more than double the growth rate for total non-farm employment,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Nevertheless, job growth remains spotty with the nonresidential building sector losing jobs even […]

Filed under: Economic News, eNewsTagged with:

American Builders 2017 Teams Up with Kids’ Chance to Promote Construction Safety

  • Posted on

ATLANTA, Ga. — As part of ongoing safety efforts on the Atlanta Braves” SunTrust Park, American Builders 2017 has teamed up with Kids’ Chance, a nonprofit organization that supports children affected by catastrophic workplace accidents. This partnership is designed to promote safety awareness and education on the jobsite, in the construction industry and in the community at large. Additionally, American Builders 2017 has committed to fund two five-year scholarships for Georgia students affected by construction-related accidents. “This partnership helps reinforce the value of safety,” said American Builders 2017 Safety Director Lisa Capicik. “By supporting Kids’ Chance, we keep the reality […]

Filed under: eNews

Brasfield & Gorrie, Dickson County Schools Introduce Students to Construction Careers

  • Posted on

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Brasfield & Gorrie is working with Dickson County Schools to help introduce high school students to careers in the construction industry. Brasfield & Gorrie’s work with programs for high school students is part of its efforts to help close the gap in construction labor created by a growing industry, an aging workforce and lingering effects of the economic downturn. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2012, employment in construction occupations is projected to grow 21.4 percent by 2022, much faster than the average for all industries. Meanwhile, the current workforce is aging and the […]

Filed under: eNewsTagged with:

First Sustainable Airport Central Utility Plant Arrives at LAX

  • Posted on

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Arup recently celebrated the official opening and ribbon cutting event for the new central utilities plant at Los Angeles International Airport, California. As the engineer-of-record and lead consultant to the Clark/McCarthy Joint Venture, Arup delivered full architecture, engineering and commissioning services for the new 75,000-square-foot, $438-million LAX CUP. The first major design/build project undertaken by the city of Los Angeles, the new LAX CUP replaces the 50-year-old existing CUP with a more modern and efficient facility. Arup’s innovative design has saved the airport $20 million in capital costs and is expected to save $7 million each […]

Filed under: eNews

OSHA Issues Final Rule to Protect Construction Workers in Confined Spaces

  • Posted on

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a final rule to increase protections for construction workers in confined spaces. People working in confined spaces, such as manholes, crawl spaces and tanks, face life-threatening hazards including toxic substances, electrocutions, explosions and asphyxiation. Last year, two workers were asphyxiated while repairing leaks in a manhole, the second when he went down to save the first — which is not uncommon in cases of asphyxiation in confined spaces. “In the construction industry, entering confined spaces is often necessary, but fatalities like these don’t have to happen,” said Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. […]

Filed under: eNews, Organizations