Construction Industry Adds 158,000 Workers in June, Infrastructure Jobs Decline, Says AGC

Construction employment increased by 158,000 jobs in June, but employment related to infrastructure slipped, according to a newly released analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials cautioned that additional infrastructure-building job losses are inevitable unless the federal government replenishes depleted state and local budgets for roads and other public works.   “The gain in construction employment in June was concentrated in homebuilding, with scattered increases in nonresidential building, while heavy and civil engineering construction employment—the category that includes many highway and other infrastructure workers—shrank by nearly 10,000 jobs,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief … Read more

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Construction Spending Declines 2.1%, Private Work Outweighs Public Pickup, Says AGC

Construction spending declined for the third month in a row in May as a sharp slowdown in private projects more than offset a rise in public work, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials warned that the pickup in public projects is likely to reverse soon unless the federal government acts quickly to invest in needed infrastructure and shore up crumbling state and local budgets.   “Three short-lived factors may have boosted construction spending in May: emergency healthcare projects, acceleration of highway work to make use of the drop in road … Read more

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New AGC, HCSS Survey Catalogs Work Zone Risks for Motorists, Workers as Construction Activity Increases

Construction employment increased in 329 out of 358 metro areas between April and May as a new survey finds that two-thirds of highway construction firms had at least one crash in the past year at highway work zones they operate. Officials with the Associated General Contractors of America and HCSS, which conducted the survey, urged drivers to slow down and be aware while driving through highway work zones during their summer travels.   “As industry employment increases, it is safe to assume that more people are working in highway work zones that are typically close to moving traffic,” said Ken … Read more

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New Data Shows Signs of Construction Recovery, Need for Federal Assistance

A new survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, and data from construction technology firm Procore, show that construction activity is returning to pre-coronavirus levels in many parts of the country and some firms are adding workers.The new economic data, however, also shows some future projects are being canceled and many others are being delayed by supply chain issues and labor shortages, underscoring the need for additional federal recovery measures, association officials noted. “Many of the immediate economic impacts of the coronavirus have passed and, as a result, activity and hiring are up, a bit,” said Ken Simonson, the … Read more

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AGC Recognizes BNBuilders’ Safety Culture on Complex Worksites

In March, BNBuilders was honored with a first-place 2020 Construction Safety Excellence Award during the Associated General Contractors National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company received a 1st place award in the Building division, in the 900,000 – 2 Million Work Hours category for its exceptional safety performance. This is the second time the firm has been recognized with this award. The CSEA selection process is known for its rigor, with a comprehensive review of a written application and an in-person interview. A panel of five judges make their selection based on company management involvement, active employee participation, safety … Read more

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