A Chat with Henry Hinojosa, Superintendent at Hoar Construction

Culture of family, cool jobs keep him coming back for more By Chris Maday Schmidt Henry Hinojosa, superintendent at Hoar Construction for the past 18 years, began his career with the company as a carpenter’s helper and worked his way through the ranks to his current position. Employed in Hoar’s Florida division, based in Orlando, Hinojosa has led projects across entertainment, hospitality, mixed use, office and industrial market sectors. Join Construction Superintendent as Hinojosa shares how relationship building, problem solving and staying humble are the keys to success in this industry. (Q) Share a little about what drew you to … Read more

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New CPWR COVID-19 Exposure Control Planning Tool Available

CPWR has developed multiple resources for the construction industry to help protect workers from COVID-19, prevent its spread and keep jobsites open. In addition to developing the COVID-19 Standards for U.S. Construction Sites in conjunction with NABTU this spring, the organization has created a Toolbox Talk, the COVID-19 Construction Clearinghouse, and recently launched a free online COVID-19 Exposure Control Planning Tool. This planning tool was developed in response to a need submitted by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, a member of the Masonry r2p Partnership. This new tool also responds to recommendations from OSHA and NIOSH that … Read more

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Two-Thirds of Metros Shed Construction Jobs from August 2019 to August 2020, AGC Urges Congress to Pass COVID Relief

Construction employment decreased in 241, or 67%, out of 358 metro areas between August 2019 and last month, according to an analysis of new government data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged Congress to pass new coronavirus relief measures before leaving town.   “Although residential construction is picking up in many areas, public and nonresidential construction are shrinking,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Project cancellations are spreading, and fewer new projects are starting up. That combination makes further employment declines inevitable unless the federal government steps up support for infrastructure.”   Simonson noted … Read more

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Marcum Construction Index Shows Industry Holding Steady in COVID-19 Economy

The Marcum Commercial Construction Index for the second quarter of 2020 reports the industry is holding relatively well in the face of the COVID-19-driven recession. Construction employment has rebounded since plummeting in March and April, and the industry’s unemployment rate stands at 8.9%, below the 10.2% rate observed across all industries. The index is produced by Marcum’s National Construction Services group. “The data indicate that construction has recovered faster than any other major economic segment. Over the three-month period ending in July, the industry recovered 59% of the jobs lost in March and April,” wrote Anirban Basu, author of the … Read more

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Construction Sector Adds 16K Workers in August, Nonresidential Jobs Shrink + Pessimism Rises, Says AGC

Construction employment increased by 16,000 jobs in August, but the gains were concentrated in housing, while the infrastructure and nonresidential building construction sector lost 11,000 jobs, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data. The new jobs data comes as association officials reported that a survey of more than 2000 contractors it released found growing pessimism about a return to normal levels of construction business amid a proliferation of project cancellations.   “Construction is becoming a tale of two sectors, as homebuilding and limited nonresidential niches thrive but most other private, as well as … Read more

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