July Construction Unemployment Rates Remain Low, Says ABC

In July, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates rose nationally and in 38 states, fell in eight states and remained unchanged in four on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by Associated Builders and Contractors. For the third consecutive month, all 50 states posted construction unemployment rates less than 10%. The construction industry employed 201,000 more workers nationally compared to July 2018, despite a rise in the July 2019 national NSA construction unemployment rate of 0.4%, from 3.4% to 3.8%, according to BLS numbers. “In July, most of the East … Read more

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Media Conference Call to Release New Construction Worker Shortage Data Aug. 27 at 1 p.m. EDT

At 1 p.m. EDT on Aug. 27, the Associated General Contractors of America and Autodesk will release new data showing the severity of construction worker shortages nationwide and by region and state* during a media conference call at 1-800-875-3456 (use passcode: “Brian Turmail”). The new data is based on a comprehensive survey of construction firms and includes details on how many firms are coping with labor shortages, the possible causes for tight labor conditions – including drug use – and their impact on the industry and broader economy. Stephen Sandherr and Ken Simonson, the association’s CEO and chief economist respectively, … Read more

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ABC Provides Mid-Year Economic Outlook for Nonresidential Construction

More than 10 years after the end of the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression, the U.S. economy is again making history by continuing its longest-ever expansion. Nevertheless, emerging weakness in business investment has been hinting at softening outlays, giving commercial and industrial construction contractors cause for concern, according to a mid-year economic outlook by Anirban Basu, chief economist of Associated Builders and Contractors. “Given that every expansion in U.S. history has ended in recession, leaders of construction firms are rightly wondering when the record-setting expansion will end,” said Basu. “Looking at conditions on the ground, it likely … Read more

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Ed White Elevated to President at TDIndustries

Ed White has been promoted to president at TDIndustries. In his new role, he will have oversight of Arizona, as well as three North Texas-based business units. He will also join TD’s Executive Leadership Team. White holds many business licenses including air conditioning, refrigeration, electrical, process piping and solar. He is a long-standing board member and past president for the Arizona Builders Alliance (a joint chapter for the Associated General Contractors of America and Associated Builders and Contractors) and has served on the American Society for Health Care Engineering, Design-Build Institute of America, as well as the advisory council for … Read more

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Construction Employment Increases in 40 States, D.C. from July 2018 to July 2019

Forty states added construction jobs between July 2018 and July 2019, while construction employment increased in 25 states from June to July, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials said the new jobs totals indicate there is a need for new federal investments in career and technical education programs, along with immigration reform. “Demand for projects, and the workers to build them, shows no sign of letting up in most states, and contractors continue to increase headcount when they can find qualified workers,” stated chief economist Ken Simonson. “But job … Read more

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