Tag Archives: Research

The Blame Game: Construction Employment Dips in April

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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.

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Sustainable and Modular Construction Still Hot for 2013

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Sustainable and Modular Construction Still Hot for 2013A recent article on Construction Digital indicates that both sustainable building and modular construction remain trends with traction. Four months into 2013, these trends are two of the driving forces behind the improving construction industry.

Green and Natural

The use of sustainable building materials and construction techniques Continue reading →

5 Ways Modular Construction is Greener

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Modular Construction is GreenerAs we pause to celebrate Earth Day today, many of us may stop to consider what we can do to help the environment. Selfishly, we hope your considerations lead you to waste reduction through modular construction.

At nearly 25 percent, construction waste is the largest contributor to our waste stream. Cutting it would have a measurable impact on landfills, air pollution and our consumption of natural resources.

The US Green Building Council agrees. That’s why modular construction is worth additional points for Continue reading →

March Caps 10 Months of Construction Employment Gains. What’s next?

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Construction employment improves and modular is thereConstruction added 18,000 jobs last month, driving industry unemployment down to 14.7 percent according to the recently released Jobs Report. It was the 10th consecutive month of increases in construction jobs, and a three-year national high.

Analysts for the Associated General Contractors of America maintain a tempered optimism however, as strong growth in the residential and non-residential sectors is contrasted by flat or falling trends in public works construction. Officials noted that, for policy makers to benefit, they must focus on improving infrastructure for the entire construction industry.

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Decoding Mixed Messages in Construction Industry Reporting

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Decoding Mixed Messages in Construction Industry ReportingYou don’t have to look far to find contradicting reports on the current and future state of construction. On their own, the numbers usually speak for themselves. Putting them together for a clear view of the industry and where it’s headed is the challenge.

Statistical Confusion

This month, Reuters reported that construction spending in January was unexpectedly weak. A week later, the news agency reported that new Labor Department numbers showed a February increase in construction sector hiring, with approximately 48,000 employees added to national payrolls — nearly Continue reading →

Watch Your Step Today, Daylight Savings Increases Workplace Injuries

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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.

New Policy Recommendations for the U.S. Energy Boom

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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
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