Construction Jobs Increase in 42 States December 2016 Year-Over-Year

Forty-two states added construction jobs between December 2016 and December 2017, while 32 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between November and December, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials said a new federal infrastructure measure would help guarantee continued employment gains in the sector. “Construction employment is expanding in many parts of the country in large part because of strong private-sector demand,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Any new public-sector investments, particularly for infrastructure projects, would help accelerate job gains in many parts of … Read more

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AGC Donates Nearly $200K to Help Cover Hurricane Harvey Damages

The AGC Charities Inc, the charitable arm of the Associated General Contractors of America, is providing 83 construction workers in Texas with a total of $195,000 in donated funds to help cover losses they incurred as a result of Hurricane Harvey. The checks, which amount to $2,350 per construction worker, are intended to help employees of firms that belong to the association cover the costs of uninsured and uncompensated damages caused by the storm. “Contractors may do hard work, but they have soft hearts, especially when it comes to helping some of their own,” said Art Daniel the association’s national … Read more

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Three-Quarters of Construction Firms Plan to Expand 2018 Headcount

Seventy-five percent of construction firms plan to expand their payrolls in 2018 as contractors are optimistic that economic conditions will remain strong as tax rates and regulatory burdens fall, according to survey results released by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate. Despite the general optimism outlined in “Expecting Growth to Continue: The 2018 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook,” many firms report they remain worried about workforce shortages and infrastructure funding. “Construction firms appear to be very optimistic about 2018 as they expect demand for all types of construction services to continue to expand,” … Read more

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Georgia Safety Stand-Down Focuses on Winter Weather Hazards

ATLANTA, Ga. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Associated General Contractors of Georgia are partnering to sponsor a week-long campaign to reinforce the importance of workplace safety during the winter months. The cold weather Safety Stand-Down is scheduled for the week of Jan. 22-26. Events will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. EST. Slips and falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries in the construction industry. Slick surfaces, strong winds and below-freezing temperatures present risks of serious or fatal injuries to employees who work outdoors. During the Stand-Down, employers across … Read more

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Construction Employers Add 8,000 Jobs In November, Hourly Earnings Rise

Construction employment increased by 24,000 jobs in November to the highest level since November 2008, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that tight margins are keeping firms from paying even more to attract hard-to-find workers, noting that efforts to cut tax rates should help lead to higher average hourly earnings for the sector. “Employment and pay in construction have risen more rapidly over the past year than in the economy overall, as the supply of unemployed, experienced workers continues to shrink,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. … Read more

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