AGC Launches New Initiative to Address Climate Change, Pushes for Construction of Less Carbon-Intensive Projects

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Construction officials outlined a series of steps public officials and the construction industry should take to address the impacts of the built environment on climate change. The new initiative from the Associated General Contractors of America is designed to lessen the carbon footprint of the built environment, while also making the process of building projects even more efficient. “The construction industry is the delivery vehicle for building a greener, more climate-friendly future,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO. “Finding a way to ensure that what our members build is more efficient will have a significant impact on climate change.” […]

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July Construction Employment Lags Pre-Pandemic Peak in 36 States, Delta Variant Threatens Further Gains

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Construction employment in July remained below the levels reached before the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020 in 36 states, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data. Association officials said construction employment would benefit from new federal infrastructure investments and urged the House to quickly pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill. “This data shows that full recovery remains elusive for construction in most states,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “In fact, the fast-spreading COVID-19 delta variant may make it harder to find employees eligible to work on restricted sites and may also […]

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Construction Employment Declines or Stagnates in 101 Metro Areas, Reports Association

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Construction employment declined or stagnated in 101 metro areas between February 2020, the last month before the pandemic, and June 2021, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data. Association officials said that labor shortages and supply chain problems were keeping many firms from adding workers in many parts of the country. “Typically, construction employment increases between February and June in all but 30 metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The fact that more than three times as many metros as usual failed to add construction jobs, despite a hot housing […]

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Construction Officials Caution Rising Materials Prices Threaten to Undermine Economic Recovery

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Unprecedented price increases for a wide range of goods and services used in construction pushed up contractors’ costs by a devastating 26.3% from June 2020 to June 2021, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials cautioned that rising materials prices are making it difficult for many construction firms to benefit from the re-opening of the economy, undermining the sector’s ability to add new, high-paying jobs. “Contractors have been pummeled in the past year by cost increases, supply shortages and transport bottlenecks,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Meanwhile, falling demand […]

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Association Officials Report Construction Employment Declines by 7,000 in June

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Construction employment declined by 7,000 between May and June as the industry still employs 238,000 fewer people than before the pandemic, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. Association officials said that job losses in the nonresidential construction sector offset modest monthly gains in residential construction as many firms struggle with worker shortages, supply chain disruptions and rising materials prices. “It is hard for the industry to expand when it can’t find qualified workers, key building materials are scarce and the prices for them keep climbing,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO. […]

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