OSHA Announces Safety Stand-Down at Worksites Throughout Southeast

  • Posted on

ATLANTA, Ga. – In 2014, 2,630 workers suffered from heat illness while 18 died from heat stroke and related causes on the job – all of which was preventable. To raise awareness about these dangers, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employers and trade associations will conduct a one-hour Safety Stand-Down at construction sites and workplaces in eight Southern states from June 27 to July 1. Workers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee will stop work voluntarily for one hour at 7 a.m. EDT to conduct safety training focused on … Read more

Filed under: NewsTagged with: , , , ,

Construction Headcount Dips in May, Qualified Workers are Scarce

  • Posted on

Construction employment dipped for the second consecutive month in May, but rising industry pay and plunging unemployment suggest contractors would be hiring more workers if they were available, according to a recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that worker shortages may be reaching the point where they undermine the sector’s growth. “Although construction employment slipped in April and May, the industry has added workers in the past year at double the rate of the overall economy,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Average pay in construction is rising faster than in the rest … Read more

Filed under: eNewsTagged with: , , ,

AGC Reports on Construction Employment April, May 2016

  • Posted on

Thirty-nine states added construction jobs between May 2015 and May 2016 while construction employment only increased in 19 states between April and May, according to analysis of Labor Department data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said monthly construction employment levels declined in most states as many firms appear to be running out of workers to hire amid growing labor shortages. “With construction demand remaining high and construction unemployment getting lower, the slowdown in monthly hiring probably has a lot more to do with a lack of workers than it does a lack of work,” … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,

AGC Launches New Construction-Focused Podcast

  • Posted on

AGC of America recently launched ConstructorCast, its new monthly podcast that explores in depth issues affecting the construction industry. For each episode, an AGC representative will speak with a different authority on today’s topics including public policy, safety and health, labor and many more. In the first episode, the organization speaks with David Ashinoff, director of AGC’s PAC and Political Advocacy, about the 2016 elections. Upcoming episodes will focus on OSHA’s new silica rule and multi-employer pension reform. Listen to the first episode here: https://soundcloud.com/agcofamerica/constructorcast-2016-elections.

Filed under: NewsTagged with: , , ,

Construction Employment Increases in 235 of 358 Metro Areas Year-Over-Year

  • Posted on

Construction employment rose between April 2015 and April 2016 in two-thirds of the nation’s metro areas, while spending on most types of structures increased for the year despite a drop in the latest month, according to a new analysis of federal data on employment and construction spending recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that many parts of the country continue to benefit from strong demand for construction services. “Construction growth remains widely distributed by location and project type,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “However, job gains were uneven: many states included metros … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,