Some 960 banks— including many in Kansas, Wyoming, and Colorado—began making construction and land development loans in the second quarter of 2013. Banks regulated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City made $110 million in construction and land development loans in the quarter, reports Dennis Domrzalski of Albuquerque Business First. “But it was…(Read More)
As the labor shortage continues, a new survey of 700 construction companies reveals that qualified craft workers are becoming harder to find. Research from the Associated General Contractors of America concludes that of the 74 percent of respondents, the most frequently reported difficulties are in filling onsite construction jobs such as carpenters, equipment operators, and…(Read More)
High-efficiency buildings, code implementation, and carbon reduction are among the environmentally friendly construction processes impacting the industry. VK Sustainable Concepts’ Principal Andrea Vollf writes on Ecoseed.org: “Even construction firms now struggle to come up with different solutions to reduce their carbon footprints and the damage to the environment caused by their products.” Is…(Read More)
By the year 2020, more than 40 percent of the U.S. workforce—or 60 million workers—will be freelance or contingent workers. That’s an increase of more than 10 percent from 2006, when a similar was conducted. The construction industry has long been filled with independent contractors. But there is more to come…(Read More)
They may not be from the construction industry, but we can certainly learn from the 10 winners of Glassdoor.com’s inaugural Talent Warrior Awards. Talent and acquisition execs from AT&T, Progressive Insurance, and Philips Healthcare are among those on the forefront of social recruiting. “They are constantly thinking of innovative ways to…(Read More)
Qualifications aside, hiring managers in the U.S. look for several traits when interviewing talent. A recent survey from CareerBuilder concludes that common interests are important. “Given two job candidates with equal qualifications, 27 percent indicated the candidate’s sense of humor could be a deciding factor in which of two candidates would get the…(Read More)
Socially conscious businesses and consumer buying habits are changing the landscape of retail shopping. Despite the e-commerce boom, experts maintain that U.S. consumers still prefer shopping and dining experiences offered by bricks-and-mortar businesses. Garrick Brown of Terranomics Retail Services told attendees at the International Council of Shopping Center’s meeting that…(Read More)
A new study finds that a majority of construction companies are spending significant dollars on their incentive compensation programs while losing millions in annual revenue. The research by industry consultant FMI concludes that only 21 percent of the contractor executives polled believes discretionary plans that don’t note bonus goals in advance or what it…(Read More)
For businesses to successfully implement strategic plans, hiring managers and C-suite executives must have a deep understanding of their employees. As Lee Smither writes on ConstructionExec.com, successful execution lies in the hands of the firm’s employees. Smither covers areas that impact your business, including hiring the right people and the option of…(Read More)
Construction projects along the East Coast are taking on new dimensions as New Jersey and New York rebuild from last October’s hurricane. The Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, which issued a report this week, has recommended that new construction be built to withstand the force of increasingly dangerous storms, a deadly consequence of climate…(Read More)
