Fourth Quarter Marcum Construction Index Available

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The Marcum Commercial Construction Index for the fourth quarter of 2022 reveals that the construction industry retained momentum at year’s end despite constraints facing the industry, including labor shortages, materials costs and elevated borrowing costs. While some construction segments have fared better than others, an overheated economy and gloomy economic outlook will eventually begin to drag on the industry. Labor shortages remain the most pressing issue for the construction industry. Material prices rebounded at the start of 2023, but the moderating input price escalation observed across much of 2022 is likely here to stay. While higher interest rates have significantly diminished … Read more

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Chung-Ang University Researchers Develop Smart Portable Sensing System for Monitoring Precast Structures During Delivery

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Precast concrete structures reduce workforce dependency and construction time. However, they are subjected to vibrations and strain during transport from their manufacturing site to the construction site. Effective quality control measures require continuous logging of vibration and strain measurement during the delivery, an essential feature that is missing in current systems. Researchers have now developed a portable sensing system that can monitor strain and acceleration to enable efficient PCS delivery. The smart sensing system was developed to monitor PCS during transportation in real time. The system integrates IoT sensors that detect vibrations and deformations during movement. In an article published … Read more

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New Data Study from Today’s Homeowners Highlights Continued Female Underrepresentation in Construction Industry

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With a newly released data study, researchers at Today’s Homeowner ask: Why do so few women work in construction, and why aren’t more women considering joining the field? The team examined some of the challenges facing women in construction along with solutions for improving representation going forward. Some of the main findings: Women make up nearly 9% of construction managers, but only about 3% of construction trade workers. The pay gap between female and male construction managers is roughly six percentage points smaller than the national average across all occupations (88.9% vs. 83%). The gap for construction trade workers is … Read more

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AGC Workforce Development Scholarship Application Deadline June 1

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The AGC Education and Research Foundation offers Workforce Development Scholarships to students enrolled in accredited technical schools or craft training programs in any discipline of commercial construction. Students in technical or approved craft training programs will have until June 1 to apply for $1,000 scholarships (renewal for up to two years) from the AGC Education and Research Foundation. To review the complete list of criteria click here. Students can click here to apply. For further questions, contact Paige Packard, paige.packard@agc.org.

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Appenate Extends Paperless Drive Offer

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Many construction companies hold on to paper processes even while more efficient options are emerging. One such option is paperless mobile forms and apps that don’t require any prior programming knowledge. For this reason, Appenate has chosen to extend its 90-day offer to companies that are still looking for adequate evidence to discard paper and embrace digital solutions. The company offers a comprehensive initial offer, to help create a more environmentally conscious and sustainable construction industry, worldwide. This extension is not indefinite, yet no fixed closing date has been determined. Now could be an ideal time to start the switch … Read more

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