Construction Sector Adds 84,000 Workers in October, Project Cancellations Undermine Future Gains, says AGC

Construction employment increased by 84,000 jobs in October, with jobs added in both nonresidential and residential categories, according to a recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials cautioned, however, that the pandemic is causing a growing number of construction projects to be canceled or delayed, according to a survey the association released in late October.   “The employment data for October is good news, but our latest survey found that only a minority of contractors expect to add to their workforce in the next 12 months,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. … Read more

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David Lee Promoted to Senior Project Superintendent

David Lee has recently been promoted to senior project superintendent with Kitchell. He has worked his way up through the field since joining the company in 1994. Known as one of the best concrete superintendents in the industry, Lee has made his mark on legacy Kitchell projects, including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, the Phoenician and, most recently, the Catalina Parking Garage. He is a leader and mentor to project engineers and field engineers, as well as project managers, colleagues and trade partners.    

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Construction Begins on 127,000-SF Port San Antonio Innovation Center  

Construction has started on Port San Antonio’s Innovation Center, located in Texas and the heart of the 1,900-acre technology and innovation campus. Sundt Construction, Inc. is the general contractor for the project. The facility will be in the heart of the campus that is already home to over 80 employers and their more than 14,000 employees that include leading names in the aerospace, cybersecurity, robotics and defense sectors. The 127,000-square-foot Innovation Center feature a 2,500-person multipurpose arena on the building’s southeast side. The new facility will host various events, including concerts, electronic gaming, technology competitions and trade shows. Additional components … Read more

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Dodge Momentum Index Posts Dip in October

The Dodge Momentum Index fell 1.8% in October to 127.5 (2000=100) from the revised September reading of 129.8. 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. The commercial component of the momentum index lost 4.4% over the month, but the institutional component gained 3.3%. The momentum index has struggled to make consistent gains since passing its post-pandemic low in June. Economic growth has slowed over the past few months, … Read more

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Common Ground Alliance Publishes White Paper on Improving Delivery of Accurate, On-Time Locates

Common Ground Alliance has published a white paper based on recent research among locating stakeholders that points to an often-strained damage prevention system. The CGA white paper, Insights into Improving the Delivery of Accurate, On-Time Locates, analyzes data from a survey of more than 400 locate technicians, information gleaned from in-depth interviews with 20 locating managers and industry decision makers and damage data from CGA’s 2019 DIRT Report to paint a picture of how the locating industry is working to manage the increasing volume and complexity of tickets. As the 2019 DIRT Report details, one call transmissions continue to rise and, in … Read more

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