The jobs outlook for the rest of 2014 is more in line with pre-recession forecasts. That’s according to Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder, who adds that employers are casting a greater vote of confidence in permanent and seasonal hiring. “What’s also encouraging is that recruitment plans for small businesses with more than…(Read More)
It’s a mini-boom in plant construction. A 12.6 percent increase in new and expanding factories (and other non-residential construction) is sparking economic growth, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. USAToday.com reports that after years of factory closings diminished the nation’s industrial footprint, the uptick is welcome news. “An…(Read More)
Engineers at Tufts University in Boston, MA are using wireless sensors and flying robots that could eventually be utilized by authorities to monitor the condition of bridges in real time. That’s according to Jean-Pierre Joosting’s article in Electronics-eetimes.com. He says that with rising maintenance and inspection costs, automated preventative technology…(Read More)
Cabinet officials met recently in Washington, DC to encourage creativity that will increase private investment in highways, bridges, and other infrastructure. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew led the brainstorming summit, and shared details on public-private-partnership projects that are getting underway in Florida and Pennsylvania. Lew says the…(Read More)
Road work—especially on highways—is an ongoing problem for firefighters and many other emergency responders. Are construction companies aware of how traffic, detours, and broken up road surfaces challenge emergency crews in life and death situations? This story from Fort Worth, TX offers insights from the other side. http://www.betterroads.com/highway…(Read More)
Construction companies continue the struggle to fully staff projects. The skilled labor shortage is giving workers the edge in busy markets such as Houston, but quieter areas are also short-staffed. How bad is it? Camden Property Trust, a Houston-based apartment developer has recently started putting guards on job sites to keep its workers…(Read More)
Care to guess the top 2013 revenue makers in the commercial construction sector? High-profile projects helped bring in huge revenues for these companies. For example, the firm that built the Hoover Dam (Bechtel Corporation) had $30.7 billion in revenue last year. The company that constructed the new Yankee Stadium (Turner Construction) brought in…(Read More)
“About 7.1 million Americans were employed in construction-related occupations last year—and only 2.6 percent were women,” according to a recent story from the Associated Press. “That percentage has scarcely budged since the 1970s, while women have made gains since then in many other fields.” One group rising to meet the challenge…(Read More)
Safety issues on jobsites aren’t only about falls from ladders and speeding traffic in work zones. Many people in the construction industry are overweight and use tobacco products. “A recent study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that about one in five workers in construction and mining smoke or chew…(Read More)
Success leaves clues. Women who thrive in male-dominated fields typically describe themselves as persistent, tenacious, and goal-oriented. What traits have helped the women profiled in this article succeed? Read about how they have learned to overcome challenges and the advice they offer to other women in the industry. http://www.lowesforpros.com/Construction…(Read More)
