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 … Read more
Lift & Move USA Showcases Stadium Project for Students at CONEXPO-CON/AGG
More than 350 students from Clark County School District visited the Workforce Solutions area at the recent CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lift & Move USA featured an interactive presentation about the role of crane, rigging and specialized transportation operations in the construction of Allegiant Stadium, new home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. A video series, From the Ground Up, narrated by Mike Rowe, was the inspiration for the presentation. “We highlighted things like how many trailers it takes to mobilize cranes, how a crane operator and signal person work together and the various career paths into our industry,” … Read more
Industry Associations Form Partnership to Strengthen Workforce Alignment
The National Association of Workforce Boards and the signatory Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association have formed a partnership that will strengthen the relationship between local workforce development boards and the sheet metal and air conditioning industry, with a mutual goal of supporting the workforce needs of the sheet metal industry across the country. NAWB and SMACNA believe collaboration is one of the most effective ways workforce development boards and the industry can meet their respective objectives. The partnership will work to establish relationships between SMACNA’s network of 97 chapters and 1,834 members and workforce development boards and … Read more
Construction Employment Rises in 38 States & D.C. Year-Over-Year, 29 States Add Construction Jobs in April
Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between April 2017 and April 2018, while 29 states added construction jobs between March and April, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials said the employment growth likely would have been higher if firms could find more qualified workers to hire. “Firms in many parts of the country are working to keep pace with growing demand for construction services,” said chief economist Ken Simonson. “Many of those firms are having a hard time finding and hiring enough qualified workers as … Read more