Construction Firms Add 29,000 Jobs in February, Industry Employment Level Reaches All-Time High

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Construction employers added 29,000 jobs in February and 321,000 over the past year, reaching the highest employment total in six years, as the sector’s unemployment rate fell to an eight-year low of 10.6 percent, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned, however, that construction jobs in the highway and transit sector were at risk because of Washington gridlock. “Despite challenging weather conditions in much of the country, both the number of workers and their average weekly hours rose last month to the highest levels since the recession,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief … Read more

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Brasfield & Gorrie Named Contractor of the Year, Earns Top Honors from National Construction Organization

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Brasfield & Gorrie announced the company has been named Contractor of the Year by Associated Builders and Contractors, a national construction organization representing 22,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms. The award was presented during ABC’s national awards banquet in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. “Brasfield & Gorrie’s dedication to workforce development, safety and producing the highest quality construction projects is a tremendous example of all that the merit shop philosophy stands for,” said 2015 ABC National Chair Pamela Volm, president of Annapolis Contracting, Inc., Annapolis, Maryland. “Brasfield & Gorrie has been recognized throughout the industry for their commitment … Read more

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Western Construction Group Tops List of Nation’s Safest Construction Companies

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Western Construction Group has successfully achieved a pair of world-class safety ratings, the best in the company’s 100-year history. In January 2015, Western received an OSHA Total Recordable Rate of 2.73 — well below the nation’s masonry/concrete restoration industry average of 4.2. Three months prior, Western was awarded an industry-leading .55 Experience Modification Rating. Lofty achievements in safety, considering that Western’s line of work often requires employees to work hundreds of feet in the air on suspended scaffolds, underground in crumbling parking garages and perched atop precarious roofs and monuments. Not to mention working daily with … Read more

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Construction Spending Rises Year Ago, Slips from December

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Construction spending rose modestly in January from year-earlier levels despite retreating from a six-year high in December, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned, however, that those spending gains could be at risk if Congress and the Obama administration fail to address highway funding shortfalls that once again threaten a new road repair season. “Construction continues to expand overall but with a lot of variability by month and segment,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The generally positive trends are obscured by an unreliable estimate for residential improvements which purportedly shows a … Read more

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OSHA Schedules Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold a special meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health March 31-April 1, in Washington, D.C. The meeting will consider a draft proposal to revise OSHA's crane operator qualification requirement in the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard. The tentative agenda also includes remarks from Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, OSHA's presentation of the draft proposed standard, public comments to ACCSH and the committee's   recommendation on the proposed rule. A draft of the proposed regulatory text and a summary … Read more

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