The remainder of 2014 looks promising for the construction industry. Leaders from the Associated Builders and Contractors and the American Institute of Architects are among those predicting economic improvements will last into 2015. Low interest rates and surging energy production are two of the factors driving the uptick. http://www.constructionmagnet.com/rural-builder…(Read More)
Construction companies are digging deeper into their pockets when purchasing materials and supplies. There have been fractional increases these past few months, which has gotten the attention of Chief Economist Anirban Basu of the Associated Builders and Contractors. Prices may continue to rise—albeit modestly—through the rest of 2014. Materials including softwood lumber, crude…(Read More)
A career in construction hasn’t been very appealing to young people, a problem that’s causing work shortages across the U.S. Employers have been fighting misperceptions about the industry and a lack of understanding about job availability. But that’s beginning to change, according to Kelly Davidson’s article on ENR.com. Brian…(Read More)
Construction, utility, and other sectors with outdoor workers face a plethora of health hazards each day. Aside from extreme weather conditions, construction teams and contractors often face exposure to dangerous chemicals, biohazards, poisonous plants and venomous wildlife. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers advice to employers. “Employers should train outdoor workers about their…(Read More)
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) says spending on non-residential construction is less than anticipated. The result: Economic forecasting is off. State and local governments have scaled back investments on schools and health care properties, according to the AIA’s chief economist, Kermit Baker. Bloomberg.com reports that a slowdown in funding for institutional…(Read More)
Germany has been struggling with failing infrastructure and World War Two-era construction materials that are compromising older buildings and homes. Now, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute are pioneering the development of small flying robots for the purpose of inspecting buildings for damage, explains Mark Howe, who writes about construction and energy issues on Sourceable…(Read More)
It’s not the winning lottery ticket, but folks working in construction will likely be earning a bit more money in the coming months. Buck Consultants, a pay adviser, predicts that there will be raises for all construction workers, including those involved in commercial and industrial buildings, averaging more than 3 percent for a second…(Read More)
A solar powered, wireless surveillance camera designed for construction sites can help project managers improve marketing, documentation, and safety. A press release from Sensera Systems outlines the company’s MultiSense MC30 Camera for Construction and Site Security. The web-based technology offers a rich set of functions for time-lapse, on-demand images, alerting, data…(Read More)
The cloud, mobile, and Big Data are just a few of the rapidly emerging construction-technology trends this year. Tech start-up companies catering to the construction industry are also making a splash in the market. The Constructech 50 2014 features leading construction technology businesses that may sound familiar. Project management firms mentioned include Healthcare…(Read More)
“The average job opening went unfilled for 25.1 days in May, the longest duration since at least 2001,” writes columnist Catherine Rampell in The Washington Post. But there’s good news from the construction sector. “In construction—a sector where some analysts have argued that a skilled-labor shortage has held back the housing…(Read More)
