Tag Archives: Breaking News

The Blame Game: Construction Employment Dips in April

Posted on by
1

Construction employment dips in April 2013Great news on job creation last week was offset somewhat by surprising employment losses in construction. While the national economy added 165,000 jobs, construction was actually down 6,000 jobs in April. That’s the first time since October 2012 that construction saw a decline in new jobs.

Governmental Blame

Dow Jones reports that blame for April’s construction industry stumble should be left on the government’s doorstep. With various budgetary cuts at the Federal level attributed to the Sequester, funding reductions are now making their way to the state level, and adversely affecting local infrastructure projects.

Continue reading →

Construction Projects Most Impacted by the Sequester

Posted on by
1

Construction Projects Most Impacted by the SequesterThe Department of Energy, the EPA, and the U.S. military are among the federal and construction programs now feeling the effects of the Sequester’s $4 billion in mandatory budget cuts that began on March 1st, according to recent article on ENR.com.

A report to Congress by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) outlines cuts made by the Sequester. Here’s a quick look at where they’ll be felt most.

Sandy Recovery

Hardest hit by the cuts are the states still recovering from Hurricane Sandy, with the $50 billion already approved by Congress for natural disaster relief earmarked for reduction. Specifically, New York, Continue reading →

Watch Your Step Today, Daylight Savings Increases Workplace Injuries

Posted on by
1

Daylight Savings Time responsible for more workplace injuriesThere are a few more weary eyes in the workplace today since Daylight Savings robbed us all of an hour sleep. More accurately, an average of 40 minutes per person was lost according to a 2009 study that appeared in the Journal of Applied Psychology. Now we’re all at greater risk for injuries in the workplace.

In reviewing historical data from OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding workplace injuries, researchers concluded that a lack of sleep is directly responsible for a measurable bump in workplace incidents on the Monday after Daylight Savings goes into effect.

The moral of this story… watch your step today, and try to catch up on sleep tonight.

Construction Adds 48,000 Jobs in February, Leads Nation in Growth

Posted on by
Reply

Construction Jobs236,000 jobs were added in the U.S last month driving the jobless rate to 7.7 percent, the lowest since December 2008, according to a Friday March 8 report from the Labor Department.

Construction led the way with 48,000 new jobs, the single largest gain since March 2007, as reported by Reuters. The report is a good indicator that low January numbers could be indicative of Fiscal Cliff and Sequester fears. As industry experts continue to gauge the impact of changing federal policies and the soaring stock market, it seems, at least for now, that construction is on track for a positive 2013.

New Policy Recommendations for the U.S. Energy Boom

Posted on by
Reply
New Policy Recommendations for the U.S. Energy Boom

Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli

The Bipartisan Policy Center, a non-profit organization created in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George J. Mitchell, recently convened a group of industry professionals, environmentalists and law makers to evaluate the current energy boom and make recommendations for a balanced approach that secures a better future for America. Here is a brief list of those recommendations as reported in a recent article by CNNMoney.com:

  • Fracking should continue, but tighter regulations on the practice should be imposed, particularly at the federal level
  • Continue reading →

Non-residential Renovation Starts to Rise in 2013

Posted on by
1

toolsAn infographic in the February 2013 edition of the Architectural Record suggests that renovation projects in the non-residential sector will jump 8 percent to $42 billion this year.

The report, which is based on data from McGraw-Hill, further suggests that New York City led the nation in 2012 with $6.12 billion in renovation starts. Perhaps the surge of new work already underway in NYC is the reason why the same report also named the Northeast as the only region that will not experience an increase in renovation starts this year.

Other top cities for renovation starts in 2012 were Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Boston. That focus is expected to shift in 2013, with the Southeast leading the way for new renovation projects.

See the full infographic from the Architectural Record
.

Modular Buildings Speed Up Natural Disaster Relief, Recovery

Posted on by
Reply

Modular buildings key to natural disaster relief, recovery It’s now clear that the impact of Sandy will be felt for years and possibly decades to come. As communities in the storm-affected areas embark on the long road to recovery, we’re reminded of a similar situation just last year in western Massachusetts.

On June 1st, Springfield, Massachusetts, was ravaged by a tornado. Though western Massachusetts did not face nearly the destruction residents of New Jersey and New York woke up to on Tuesday morning in the wake of superstorm Sandy, many of the Continue reading →