The Tech-Empowered Superintendent

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COVID-19 catalyzed a digital transformation for the industry’s most in-demand role, attracting a new generation to build rewarding careers in the field By Erin L. Branham With nearly four decades of industry experience, Balfour Beatty Superintendent Kyle Kragseth thought he was prepared for any challenge or circumstance a construction project could present. That was until March, when COVID-19 led to a temporary shutdown of his project, a 289,000-square-foot interiors upfit for a leading high-tech client in Bellevue, Washington. Cognizant that jobsite operations would not return to normal even once they were able to restart the project, the team rapidly identified … Read more

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Construction Employment Rises by 23K Jobs in September, 315K for Year

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Construction employment increased by 23,000 jobs in September and by 315,000 jobs over the past year, reaching a 10-year high, while the industry’s unemployment rate decreased more than half-a-percentage point to 4.1 percent from a year earlier, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Even as firms increase headcount and increase pay, a survey by the association suggests that this expansion is threatened by a lack of skilled craft labor. “The construction industry added workers and increased pay in the past year at rates higher than the overall economy,” said Ken Simonson, … Read more

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Contractors Identify Strong Safety Programs to Address Skilled Labor Scarcity, Substance Abuse

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Q3 2018 USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index recently released indicates skilled labor shortages will have the greatest impact on commercial construction businesses over the next three years. The report revealed 88 percent of contractors expect to feel at least a moderate impact from the workforce shortages in the next three years with over half (57 percent) expecting the impact to be high/very high. The skilled labor shortage has been consistently identified as a major issue facing the industry, but it is now reported by 80 percent of contractors to be impacting worker and … Read more

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Hard Hat Heroes, Veterans Help Bridge Skilled Worker Gap

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NCCER initiative expands resources for returning military transitioning into construction careers NCCER recently celebrated the one year anniversary of its Hard Hat Heroes credentialing portal on Veterans Day. NCCER salutes its veterans by providing resources to help create a seamless transition into the construction workforce. The Build Your Future military initiative, Hard Hat Heroes, provides a way for veterans to receive NCCER credentials for the skills and training they received while in the military. Hard Hat Heroes gained momentum in 2017 by creating a military advisory council consisting of veterans and industry representatives whose focus is on recruiting, training and … Read more

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Construction Industry Adds 8K Jobs in September, 184K Throughout Year

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Construction employment increased by 8,000 jobs in September to the highest level since October 2008, amid a tight labor market that may be keeping contractors from hiring as many workers as they need, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said construction employment gains would have been higher if more high school students were exposed to construction as a possible career option. “Construction firms added employees over the past year at a much higher rate than the public and private sectors as a whole, and contractors have been boosting pay … Read more

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