US Construction Shows No Signs of Slowdown, Caterpillar CEO Says

March 27, 2023
Joe Deaux - Bloomberg

Construction activity isn’t showing any signs of slowing down across North America this year, Caterpillar Inc.’s top executive said on the sidelines of the industry’s largest conference.

Even as some worry building demand could start to slow, especially if the US dips into a recession or if the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank infects other sectors, Caterpillar’s customers are still seeing new projects coming in, Chief Executive Officer Jim Umpleby said. And their outlook is pretty unanimous: That strength will last through at least the end of 2023.


Establishing and Developing Next-Gen Construction Leaders

March 20, 2023
Construction Executive

While a downturn in economic activity is rarely welcome news in any field, construction may soon have more bandwidth to tackle long-simmering, high-stakes challenges that have plagued the industry for years. A potential slowdown provides an opportune time for every firm to take a hard look at its leadership pipeline.

Much of the industry focus in recent years has been the shortage of construction workers to fill jobs to keep up with construction expansion needs, as the Home Builders Institute estimated a shortfall of 2.2 million workers between now and 2024. That problem still needs attention and hardly exists in a vacuum from management deficits—but without question, leadership needs for the near and long term in construction have not gotten the consideration they deserve.

Reprinted courtesy of Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.


Strong Construction Jobs Gain in February, With 24,000 Added

March 13, 2023
Tom Ichniowski - Engineering News-Record

Construction employment continues to record solid gains, with 24,000 new jobs in February and increases in all industry sectors, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. BLS also says in its latest monthly employment report, released March 10, that construction’s jobless rate declined to 6.6% in February, from January’s 6.9% and the year-earlier's 6.7%.

Mr. Ichniowski may be contacted at ichniowskit@enr.com


OSHA Withdraws Effort to Revoke Arizona Job Safety Plan

March 6, 2023
James Leggate - Engineering News-Record

The U.S. Dept. of Labor has called off its efforts to revoke Arizona’s occupational health and safety plan after the state addressed federal officials’ workplace safety concerns.

Mr. Leggate may be contacted at leggatej@enr.com


Subcontractors Trade Association Selects Felice Farber as New Executive Director

February 27, 2023
Subcontractors Trade Association

New York, NY January 12, 2023 - Felice Farber has been appointed as Executive Director of the Subcontractors Trade Association (STA) breaking barriers as the first woman to hold this leadership role in the Association's 66-year-old history. Farber will replace retiring Henry (Hank) Kita who has served as STA's Executive director for nearly a decade.

The STA is New York's leading association of union subcontractors, advocating for its over 350 members that include many of New York's leading union subcontractors. STA's mission is to improve and enhance theireconomic position in New York's complex construction industry.

STA's new Executive Director Felice Farber, a widely regarded expert and accomplished champion for New York City's construction industry, said, "I am excited to ardently advocate for and uplift STA's membership by using my experience helping subcontractors navigate the industry's thorniest issues." Previously, for over a decade, Farber served as Senior Director of Policy and External Affairs for the General Contractors Association (GCA) of New York, a 300 plus member trade association representing the unionized heavy civil construction industry in New York City.


Technology Is the Key to Overcoming Labor Hurdles

February 20, 2023
John Meibers - Construction Executive

The construction industry currently has around 430,000 job openings, with 40% of the U.S. construction workforce poised to retire over the next decade. At the same time, President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is set to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs by 2028. Although the BIL will increase job opportunities in the coming years, the construction industry will likely struggle to find skilled workers to fill these critical roles.

To supplement this labor gap, construction firms must make strategic technology investments that reduce jobsite and administrative inefficiencies. The right technologies can offset labor challenges by empowering teams to optimize workflows and complete projects faster. They can also lessen the amount of hard labor required to complete projects—protecting and incentivizing construction workers in labor-heavy roles.

Reprinted courtesy of John Meibers, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.


Overcoming Obstacles to Drive Digital Transformation in Construction

February 14, 2023
Val Ziavras - Construction Executive

The construction industry is becoming increasingly technological. Think of the evolution from drafting tables to CAD and Revit software, or the introduction of cloud computing, 3D printing, drones, wearable technology and more. Construction industry leaders are looking to decrease costs and improve productivity with digital tools.

Digital transformation in construction goes far beyond augmenting specific functions with software or robots. Embracing digital tools results in a fundamental shift in how businesses operate and help them stay competitive in an increasingly digital work landscape. Time is money on the jobsite, and as the construction industry continues to grapple with labor shortages, supply chain roadblocks, heightened inflation and a likely recession, leveraging technology to drive efficiencies and streamline controllable expenses is more important now than ever.

Reprinted courtesy of Val Ziavras, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.


Construction Continues to Add Jobs, Gaining 28K in December

February 6, 2023
Tom Ichniowski - Engineering News-Record

Construction posted its eighth straight monthly jobs gain, recording a strong increase of 28,000 positions in December, but the industry’s unemployment rate showed mixed results, the Labor Dept.’s Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported. In its latest monthly look at the nation’s employment picture, released on Dec. 6, BLS said all construction sectors added jobs, led by nonresidential specialty trade contractors, which gained 10,200.

Mr. Ichniowski may be contacted at ichniowskit@enr.com


New York Moves to Final Phase of $1.7B Bronx Highway Project

February 1, 2023
James Leggate - Engineering News-Record

The New York State Dept. of Transportation awarded a $446-million contract for the third and final phase of work on the $1.7-billion Hunts Point Access Improvement Project, after work on the first phase of the New York CIty project finished up in October. The project is expected to mitigate air pollution in the South Bronx community caused by heavy truck traffic moving into and out of the busy Hunts Point wholesale produce market.

Mr. Leggate may be contacted at leggatej@enr.com


NYC Prepares to Implement Large Building Emissions Limits

January 23, 2023
James Leggate - Engineering News-Record

Construction firms are poised to play a key role in cutting New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions as large building owners move to comply with a local law limiting emissions from their properties. But some concerns remain around the law and the way it will be carried out.

Mr. Leggate may be contacted at leggatej@enr.com


Update Fire and Life Safety Standards for a Safer Winter Season

January 17, 2023
James Pecz - Construction Executive

With fire on construction sites still a leading cause of loss of life and costly damages, the need for worldwide education and safety provision remains high. As winter closes in, bringing with it further perils for site safety managers, Ramtech's 2022 white paper, “No Site Left Behind: The Modern Fire and Life Safety Solutions for Construction” helps deliver fire and life safety awareness in the United States.

At the heart of the white paper is an understanding of the fire safety challenges faced by American construction sites, which continue to receive mainstream attention, such as the recent three-alarm blaze that took place at an under-construction memorial school in Massachusetts.

Reprinted courtesy of James Pecz, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.


Hiring a New Generation of Workers to Address the Construction Labor Shortfall

January 9, 2023
James Barlow - Construction Executive

The construction industry is coming to grips with a massive problem: finding, hiring and training the next generation of construction workers in the United States. Between the fallout from job loss due to the pandemic, the “Great Resignation” (where people increasingly and voluntarily quit their jobs) and an aging Baby Boomer workforce retiring in droves, the construction industry must immediately prioritize attracting a new workforce.

According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), construction faces a workforce shortage of over 650,000 workers in 2022 alone. They noted that since the end of the Great Recession, workers aged 25-54 had dropped 8%, while workers 55 and over have risen by 20%. With the average retirement age at 61 years old, a fifth of the industry could resign within the next six years.

Reprinted courtesy of James Barlow, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.

Mr. Barlow may be contacted at jamesbarlow@bzisteel.com


In November, Construction Jobs Rose to Record Level

January 4, 2023
Tom Ichniowski - Engineering News-Record

Construction posted strong employment numbers in November, adding 20,000 jobs during the month, and also recording improvements in its unemployment rate, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported.

Mr. Ichniowski may be contacted at ichniowskit@enr.com


Robots in Construction Can Help Maintain Productivity at a Time When Fewer People Are Pursuing a Career in the Industry, Says GlobalData

December 26, 2022
GlobalData

The construction industry's lack of digitalization and new technologies mean that companies will struggle to fulfil projects as younger people choose to pursue a career in other industries, says GlobalData. The leading data and analytics company notes that by adopting robotics technology at scale across the industry, companies can attract younger workers and maintain or increase their current productivity levels.

Two markets that can be lucrative for the construction industry are commercial drones and exoskeleton. According to GlobalData forecasts, the commercial drones segment was worth just $3.4 billion in 2020 but is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.6% to 2030 and will reach $57 billion. The exoskeleton market was worth $200 million in 2020, but it will be worth $10.9 billion in 2030, emerging as the fastest-growing robotics category with a CAGR of 49.0%.

In GlobalData's Construction Industry Sustainability Survey 2021 (159 respondents), 72% of respondents said the construction industry in their region was concerned or very concerned with the health and safety of construction workers. GlobalData's latest report, 'Robotics in Construction – Thematic Intelligence', identifies several other benefits that robots can bring to the industry such as construction robots, which can address these concerns by greatly increasing the safety of workers.


Contractors Face $700K OSHA Fines for South Boston Power Plant Collapse

December 18, 2022
Scott Van Voorhis - Engineering News-Record

Suffolk Construction and key subcontractor NorthStar Contracting Group face $691,000 in federal safety fines stemming from a wall collapse during demolition of a shuttered power plant in South Boston that left three workers injured, one seriously.

ENR may be contacted at enr@enr.com


Novel $750M Gas Power Plant With No Air Emissions Set in Texas

December 13, 2022
Mary B. Powers - Engineering News-Record

Natural gas power plant developer NET Power LLC, with partners Baker Hughes, Occidental Petroleum and Constellation Energy, will narrow selection of an EPC contractor by year end to build a $750-million utility scale power plant that it claims will be the world's first to burn natural gas with oxygen to generate power and produce pure carbon dioxide as a sellable byproduct with no harmful air emissions.

ENR may be contacted at enr@enr.com


Expert Tips on Height Safety for Roof Workers

December 5, 2022
Andy Graham - Construction Executive

Without the correct safety measures in place, working at height can be dangerous. In fact, accidents from height are one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and injuries.

Plan Effectively
Clear plans should be in place before any at-height work takes place and risk assessments should be carried out to identify potential hazards.

Reprinted courtesy of Andy Graham, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.


Vertical Growth

November 28, 2022
Christopher Durso - Construction Executive

The thing about working for an elevator company that’s been hired to modernize the elevator in the Washington Monument is that, due to the very nature of the project, the only way to get to the machine room at the top is to walk. That’s up 897 cold iron steps, in a narrow, windowless staircase that spirals within the 555-foot-high structure.

Jose Carrasco thought it was great. The stairs have been closed to the public since the 1970s, but when Delaware Elevator Inc. (DEI) got the job to lift the monument’s elevator into the 21st century, Carrasco—the company’s vice president of construction modernization—relished “the opportunity that not many people have to walk the steps.”

Reprinted courtesy of Christopher Durso, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.


New Technologies for Reduced-Carbon Concrete Are On the Horizon

November 21, 2022
Nadine M. Post, Jeff Yoders, Emell D. Adolphus, Scott Judy - Engineering News-Record

Startups and more established suppliers of products that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete are developing systems to capture and sequester carbon dioxide. Some are even seeking ways to produce the material and its ingredients without creating huge carbon footprints.

Reprinted courtesy of Nadine M. Post, ENR, Jeff Yoders, ENR, Emell D. Adolphus, ENR and Scott Judy, ENR

Ms. Post may be contacted at postn@enr.com
Mr. Yoders may be contacted at yodersj@enr.com
Mr. Adolphus may be contacted at adolphuse@enr.com
Mr. Judy may be contacted at judys@enr.com


Balance Disorders: The Unseen Effects of Jobsite Fall Injuries

November 15, 2022
Michael Morgan - Construction Executive

Nonfatal workplace injuries resulting from falls continue to occur at a higher rate in the construction industry compared to the private industry at large. To heighten awareness and reinforce construction worksite safety measures around this ongoing problem, OSHA developed the National Safety Stand-Down campaign, which encourages contractors to emphasize the importance of fall prevention by training employees on the worksite hazards that lead to falls.

After an employee suffers a fall or direct blow to the head, healing from injuries incurred is of paramount importance. But depending on the type of injury, there could be underlying neurological impairments even after the musculoskeletal injuries have healed. These impairments can include dizziness or a persistent imbalance that occurs while walking, bending or performing other normal physical activities. These sudden, recurring bouts of unsteadiness can place a construction employee at higher risk of falling again on the job.

Reprinted courtesy of Michael Morgan, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.


We Need to Talk: Suicide Prevention in Construction

November 7, 2022
Maggie Murphy - Construction Executive

"I’m good, man.”

“Nothing’s wrong, just tired.”

“You don’t wanna know.”

In an industry historically characterized by its stoic nature, these are often the responses you get if you ask a construction employee how they’re doing. Hard workers in a grueling industry, they’ve been conditioned by the very nature of the job to tough it out and get it done—and that’s taking a toll on their mental health. The numbers don’t lie: Construction is already a dangerous occupation, with 1,008 work-related jobsite fatalities in 2020, but the industry’s suicide rate for the same year is a staggering four times greater, at 5,242 employees.

Reprinted courtesy of Maggie Murphy, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.


Where Are the Workers?

November 1, 2022
Tina Nazier - Construction Executive

According to the Home Builders Institute, the construction industry needs an additional 2.2 million workers between now and 2024 to keep up with construction expansion and worker replacement. News outlets have called the situation “staggering” and “desperate.” But nobody should be saying it’s a surprise—or temporary. In Wipfli’s 2021 construction transition planning report, nearly 90% of construction leaders said they plan to start transitioning out of their companies in the next decade. Owners have been retiring and exiting the business in waves, taking a wealth of knowledge and skills with them.

Retirement is just one reason construction workers are walking away. Construction is tough, physical work. Sometimes, even dangerous. Companies have struggled to find workers who enjoy and thrive in the environment. It’s also hard to retain workers when wages and opportunities are plentiful outside the sector. The labor shortage is a ubiquitous problem, so construction firms are competing against “cushier” and “easier” career offers.

Reprinted courtesy of Tina Nazier, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.


The Domino Effect of Labor, Construction and AI

October 24, 2022
Richard Harpham - Construction Executive

Before and since the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction industry has been beset by a struggle to fill positions of all shapes and sizes. Though many industries throughout the United States have had ongoing labor issues in this time, construction has felt it more acutely than others, as McKinsey found that by October 2021, the industry had 402,000 open positions, the second highest level since December 2000. This is problematic because the report also found that construction will need to add anywhere from 300,000 to 600,000 new employees every year for the next decade due to the passing of the Biden administration’s infrastructure law. This need is further complicated by the fact that by 2031, approximately 41% of the current workforce will retire—a trend that has accelerated since the pandemic hit.

Reprinted courtesy of Richard Harpham, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.


New Report: Civil Engineering Salaries and Job Satisfaction Are Strong and Continue to Climb

October 17, 2022
The American Society of Civil Engineers

RESTON, Va. – Civil engineering salaries continue to trend up according to the 2022 ASCE Civil Engineering Salary Report today released by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), with an average annual salary of nearly $125,000. The median pre-tax annual salary in 2021 among survey respondents was $124,296. Base salaries rose by about 6% from 2020 to 2021. The median primary income for those civil engineers with a Professional Engineers license was $130,000, nearly $23,000 more than those with no licenses or certifications.

The report also shows high job satisfaction and opportunities for career growth in 2022.Of the salary survey respondents, 63.3% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their financial compensation. That number was even higher, though, when asked about overall job satisfaction: 85.2% said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their civil engineering jobs. More than nine in 10 respondents receive health and insurance benefits through their employer and nearly 79% are offered telework options – an increasingly important and desired employee benefit since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 150,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE works to raise awareness of the need to maintain and modernize the nation's infrastructure using sustainable and resilient practices, advocates for increasing and optimizing investment in infrastructure, and improve engineering knowledge and competency. For more information, visit www.asce.org or www.infrastructurereportcard.org and follow us on Twitter, @ASCETweets and @ASCEGovRel.



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