As we wind down the year, what’s been nagging at you and draining your energy that has yet to be addressed, tackled, or confronted? What can you do in the coming weeks that will ease the pressure and get you motivated and focused for an amazingly successful 2014? Consider these points: Think about your…(Read More)
Labor and materials are continuing to boost the cost of construction projects in North America. For nearly two years, prices have increased as employers worry about the shortage of skilled workers. The data comes from the Engineering and Construction Cost Index (ECCI), which registered at 53.2 percent in November, up .6 percent from the…(Read More)
Men who lost their jobs are rejoining the workforce at a slower pace than their female counterparts. That’s because of the sluggishness in male-dominated fields, including construction and manufacturing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that men lost six million jobs during the recession and only 70 percent have been filled…(Read More)
It’s all about apps. Construction professionals are replacing their toolboxes with technology this holiday season. Here are dozens of interesting apps for industry pros, from Construction Master Pro Developer created by Calculated Industries to Field Supervisor from Bentley Systems. Most are freebies; a few are priced at $19.99. Happy shopping! http://www…(Read More)
Insurance experts contend a lack of documentation on alleged construction defects is problematic. A company’s inability to quickly locate records brings long-lasting headaches to executives. Litigation can take years, and construction companies are finding out that documents are often missing, or inaccurate. http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20131120/NEWS07/131129973?tags=|308…(Read More)
Hiring managers should expect to see a growing interest in HB-1 visas next year. The visas, which allow non-citizen workers to meet certain criteria to work in the U.S., will become available through the federal government on April 1, 2014. Only 65,000 such credentials will be allocated, and demand is high…(Read More)
The recent International Risk Management Institute conference attracted plenty of heavy hitters in construction and allied industries. The keynote address, delivered by Rik Kunnath, executive chairman of the board at Pankow Contractors and Construction, admitted innovation is woefully inadequate. “For the U.S. building industry to remain competitive, especially with so much global competition coming…(Read More)
Smokers and overweight people will be the targets of employer surcharges next year. As part of new rules in President Obama’s healthcare overhaul, big construction firms and other companies can crack down on unhealthy employees who are driving up healthcare costs. “Nearly 40 percent of large U.S. companies will use surcharges in 2014…(Read More)
A growing number of states are partnering with private companies to build and maintain highways, prisons, water facilities, tunnels and even hospitals and schools. An article on the so-called ‘P3s’ has the latest on how states like Florida and Virginia are using this approach to get things done. Elaine Povitch, a staff writer for…(Read More)
Research from the U.S. Green Building Council has favorable results on environmental practices across the country. The LEED in Motion: Places and Policies report finds there are some 17, 400 certified commercial and institutional projects, representing 2.3 billion square feet in the U.S., and another 29,599 registered (pursuing LEED but not…(Read More)
