Detroit’s recent bankruptcy filing has pushed city leaders and residents to find new ways to manage its financial, human and natural resources. After several years in the red, some Detroit decision-makers are now looking to take the Motor City into the blue… as in blue infrastructure.
Blue infrastructure refers to the redirection of rain water from sewers to ponds and other storage facilities. The same runoff is then Read more
The national outlook for the construction industry remains positive, though some regions are outpacing others on the road to recovery. As new projects get started across the country, here’s a look at where the U.S.’s current and future construction hot spots lie.
New York City leads the way, according to a recent report from Forbes.com. The City (and its NY and NJ suburbs) remains strong in residential and non-residential development. Two massive Read more
For the first time since 2008, unemployment in the in construction industry has dropped below double digits to 9.8 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed the addition of 195,000 jobs for June, 13,000 of which were in construction. Gains in construction were offset by the loss of 6,000 manufacturing jobs. The national unemployment rate remained at 7.6 percent.
June’s job growth comes on the heels of a recent industry-wide increase in construction Read more
The outlook for new residential and non-residential construction is increasingly positive. But with more projects on the horizon, new fears are emerging regarding a potential shortage of skilled construction workers.
According to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), many tradesmen retired or left the industry over the past decade causing a shortage of skilled plumbers, electricians, roofers and other essential trades.
AGC is attempting to curtail the shortfall by urging education officials to bolster Read more
The mercury is rising and people who work outdoors are at an increased risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Risk of heat related illnesses peaks when temperatures reach 95o F with humidity over 60%. Symptoms can range in severity from mild heat cramps to life-threatening heat stroke. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a Heat Illness Prevention Campaign to minimize the casualties of this 100% preventable condition.
If an individual shows signs of heat stroke, seek professional medical treatment immediately! Call 911 or your site designated emergency number.
The greatest event in golf tees off tomorrow at the historic Merion Golf Club as Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson and the rest of the fan favorites vie for the title at the U.S. Open. While all eyes are on the course, more than 120 ModSpace modular buildings will be behind the scenes helping the USGA make it all happen.
Modular buildings at events of this magnitude are standard issue these days. Just this year ModSpace was at the Final Four and the Super Bowl. But the U.S. Open is different. From the first tee to the clubhouse and beyond, our mobile offices are being used for everything imaginable, including player registration, media, merchandising and hospitality by companies like NBC Sports, Sports Illustrated, Lexus and the USGA.
Challenge: Watch the U.S. Open this weekend and count how many ModSpace mobile offices you see.
Newly-released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) confirms the US economy added 175,000 jobs in May — 7,000 of which were in the construction sector. At the same time, May’s positive employment numbers resulted in a slight uptick in the unemployment rate, from 7.5% to 7.6%, as more job seekers have reentered the market, according to Bloomberg News.
The good news in construction comes by way of an increase of 7,000 jobs in May. Enthusiasm regarding the gain is tempered by the 6,000 construction jobs lost in April. Specialty Trade Contractors posted the highest gains in Read more
Great 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.
The 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.
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, Read more
There 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.
