ABC’s 2020 Construction Economic Forecast: Momentum Persists, Despite Uncertainties

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Associated Builders and Contractors’ Chief Economist Anirban Basu forecasts continued momentum for the construction sector next year but advised an overall “wait-and-see” approach based on leading and lagging indicators and economic uncertainties. Although ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator—a leading indicator that reflects projects under contract yet to be executed—climbed to nine months in August 2019, construction spending and employment—lagging indicators—have started to soften. Yet, while spending in private nonresidential categories such as office and logging has decreased, public spending categories remain a bright spot. “Indeed, one of the sources of strength for the U.S. economy over the last year has been […]

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ABC Highlights Value of Leading Safety Indicators during OSHA Public Meeting

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Associated Builders and Contractors Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment and Workforce Development Greg Sizemore spoke at a recent Occupational Health and Safety Administration public meeting on leading indicators for safety and health programs. In his remarks, Sizemore emphasized the importance of leading indicators as a proactive measure to prevent workplace hazards and reduce recordable incidents, resulting in improved safety and health performance. Citing ABC’s 2019 Safety Performance Report, an annual assessment of STEP safety management system data, Sizemore outlined the remarkable impact that leading indicators, such as toolbox talks or substance abuse programs, have on a construction company’s safety […]

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ABC Elects 2020 National Chair, Executive Committee

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Associated Builders and Contractors’ board of directors elected Tim Keating, owner and president, R. C. Stevens Construction Co., to serve as the 2020 ABC national chair during the association’s annual Leadership Institute. Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering, Keller Inc., was elected chair-elect and Stephanie Schmidt, president, Poole Anderson Construction, was elected secretary. Members of ABC’s 2020 executive committee, who will take office Jan. 1: Tim Keating, owner and president, R. C. Stevens Construction Co., Winter Garden, Florida, chair Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering, Keller Inc., Kaukauna, Wisconsin, chair-elect Stephanie Schmidt, president, Poole Anderson Construction, […]

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Construction Career Pathways Conference Builds Vital Partnerships between Industry, Education

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With younger generations no longer signing up for careers in construction, the effects are being felt across the workforce. It is key to begin implementing changes now, and the NCCER 2019 Construction Career Pathways Conference will establish how the industry working with education is a crucial way to tackle skilled worker shortage. Held in Anaheim, California, this event will take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, prior to the Association for Career and Technical Education’s CareerTech Vision 2019 conference. The cost to register is $100, which covers breakfast, lunch and a reception following the conference, […]

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Nonresidential Construction Continues to Add Jobs, Says ABC

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The construction industry added 10,000 net new jobs in October, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has expanded by 148,000 jobs or 2%. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 4,000 jobs on net in October and is up 2.1% over the past year. On a monthly basis, however, both the nonresidential building and nonresidential specialty trade contractors segments lost jobs, which comports with the recent decline in investment in structures, according to the third quarter gross domestic product release. The construction unemployment rate […]

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