Building a New Reality for Safety Training

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By Dan Ruane Even as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration demands a high standard, construction safety continues to be an area of opportunity for the industry. As the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 1,008 fatalities in 2020, there remains a compelling need for improvement. All workers have the right to a safe work environment, and jobsite safety should always be a top priority for any construction company. Beyond the moral obligation, it makes financial sense. A U.S. National Safety Council survey reveals that each dollar invested in safety measures returns $2 in avoided costs. The challenge: traditionally, safety … Read more

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Majority of Metro Areas Added Construction Jobs in 2021, Soaring Job Openings Indicate Labor Shortages Getting Worse

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Construction employment increased in nearly two out of three U.S. metro areas in 2021, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Yet association officials noted that labor shortages likely kept many firms from adding even more workers. “Construction employment topped year-earlier levels in almost two-thirds of metros for the past few months,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But contractors in many areas say they would have hired even more workers if qualified candidates were available.” Job openings in construction totaled 273,000 at the end of December, an increase of … Read more

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Surety Industry Launches Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program

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The Surety & Fidelity Association of America and the National Association of Surety Bond Producers have jointly developed and launched the surety industry’s new Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program. This free program helps small, new, emerging, minority-owned and other disadvantaged contractors learn how to qualify for construction surety bonds, thereby expanding their business opportunities and providing the services and benefits of these bonds. The Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program includes two components: a set of eLearning modules available online 24/7, which can be taken on demand at the learner’s pace, and an optional mentor program with industry professionals … Read more

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Construction Firms Foresee Growing Demand for Most Project Types, Reports AGC

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Construction contractors expect increasing demand for numerous types of projects in 2022 despite ongoing supply chain and labor challenges, as most firms plan to add workers this year, according to survey results released today by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage. The findings are detailed in Expecting Growth While Coping with the Lingering Impacts of the Pandemic: The 2022 Construction Hiring & Business Outlook. “Contractors are, overall, very optimistic about the outlook for the construction industry in 2022,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO. “While contractors face challenges this year, most of those will be centered on … Read more

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Material Prices Soar 20% in 2021, Most Contractors in Association Survey List Costs as Top Concern in 2022, Reports AGC

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Prices of construction materials jumped nearly 20% in 2021 despite moderating in December, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials said contractors rate materials costs as a top concern for 2022, according to a survey predicting the industry’s outlook for the industry the association just released. “Costs may not rise as steeply in 2022 as they did last year but they are likely to remain volatile, with unpredictable prices and delivery dates for key materials,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “That volatility can be as hard to cope with … Read more

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