ALACHUA, Fla., June 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) released its 2024 Construction Craft Salary Survey, and the results reflect high earning potential for skilled craft professionals. NCCER received responses from 183 organizations representing nearly 323,000 employees from the industrial, commercial and residential construction industries across the United States.

According to the results, average annual salaries ranged from $52,520 to $89,609, with more than 80% of positions reporting salaries above $65,000. General foreman and instrumentation technician topped the list with salaries of more than $89,600 and $84,700, respectively. The salaries represent average annual earnings for individual craft areas and do not include overtime, per diem or other incentives that are common in the construction industry.

In addition to specific craft positions, some of the other factors that determine a skilled professional's salary include construction type, credentials, certifications and experience.

About NCCER – The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) is the leading provider of construction education for industry and career and technical education programs. With flexible workforce development and learning solutions, NCCER's programs provide consistency and quality to ensure craft professionals and learners receive industry-recognized certifications and credentials. To learn more, visit www.nccer.org.

Britain’s construction industry expanded at its fastest pace in 14 months in April, adding to confidence the economy is rebounding from a recession.

The construction purchasing managers’ index jumped to 53 in April, up from 50.2 the previous month, S&P Global said Tuesday. It was well above economists’ expectations of 50.4, with any score above 50 signaling growth.

It added to signs that the economy kept expanding in the second quarter after a shallow downturn in the final months of last year. Official data on Friday is expected to show that the gross domestic product returned to growth at the start of 2024, with forecasters predicting a 0.4% gain in the first quarter.

In the bustling world of construction, where towering structures rise and heavy machines hum, the dangers that lurk within the workspace often go unnoticed. Among these hazards lies a significant and frequently disregarded threat: concussions.

A concussion is a simple way of saying mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI). In terms of traumatic brain injuries, there are three types: mild TBI, moderate TBI and severe TBI. This article will discuss mTBI within the construction industry.

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR VULNERABILITIES
Concussions pose a significant but frequently disregarded risk within the construction industry, arising from various occupational hazards. Studies show a notable incidence of concussions resulting from falls, falling objects and other construction-related incidents, underscoring the widespread occurrence of these injuries in the sector. The impact of concussions goes beyond immediate health implications, encompassing short-term cognitive impairments, long-term neurological issues and an increased risk of accidents at construction sites.

Reprinted courtesy of Jennifer Klose and Dr. Lauren Koth, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.

US construction firms boosted payrolls last month by the most since May 2022, helping the overall labor market nail down the strongest job growth in nearly a year.

Nearly 42% of the 39,000 increase in construction industry employment was due to the additions of nonresidential specialty trade contractors. However, payrolls growth also strengthened in the residential categories as well as heavy and civil engineering construction.

“Structural transformations in the economy, including replenished domestic supply chains, expanded data center demand and augmented infrastructure, are making it difficult for many project owners to wait for lower construction delivery costs,” Anirban Basu, chief economist at Associated Builders and Contractors, said in a statement.

The $1.4-billion rebuild of Seattle’s Portage Bay Bridge to meet current seismic resiliency standards was awarded to Skanska by the Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) last month.

The U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Texas contractor Hurtado Construction Co. March 15 after an 18-year-old worker was killed in a trench collapse last September. OSHA proposed $257,811 in fines.

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa., April 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- April is a busy time of the year, notifying 811 for every digging project, every time helps ensure worker safety and prevents costly utility damage.

Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc. dba Pennsylvania 811 is proud to join a nationwide effort to raise awareness and promote safety. Safe Digging Month emphasizes the importance of contacting 811 at least three business days, no more than 10 business days, in Pennsylvania before any excavation work. It is never worth risking safety and financial consequences by not following proper procedures.

Help Pennsylvania 811 keep everyone safe during all excavation projects. No matter how large or small your project is, always contact 811 at least three business days before you dig! Safety is in your hands. Every dig. Every time. www.pa1call.org/notify

About Pennsylvania 811
Pennsylvania 811's mission is to prevent damage to underground facilities. To promote safety, Pennsylvania 811 provides an efficient and effective communications network among project owners, designers, excavators, and facility owners. Since its inception in 1972, membership has increased from 6 utilities to over 3,700 underground facility owners and operators in 67 counties. Membership has been mandatory for facility owners that serve customers or consumers since 1987. The service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Pennsylvania 811 serves all 67 counties and employs over 80 people.

Construction posted another monthly employment gain–the industry’s 11th consecutive monthly increase–adding 23,000 jobs in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported.

Reprinted courtesy of Tom Ichniowski, Engineering News-Record

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

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Florida is often considered an underwhelming place to play golf. Sure, it’s fun to wear shorts in February, but good golf terrain has movement, and bland, flat marsh doesn’t have the same cachet as wind-swept cliffs overlooking the Pacific. The Sunshine State stereotype is a course surrounded by retirement homes that looks as if it just rolled off the production line. The state has more than 1,200 courses, the most in the US, but just three on Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses list.

That’s a lot of mediocre links—and yet it isn’t enough. More courses opened in the US last year than any time in over a decade, according to the National Golf Foundation, and almost a third of them were in Florida. NGF says the state has 16 new course projects under construction or in planning, twice as many as any other state.

According to research from the National Association of Realtors, the United States is facing a shortage of 5.5 million homes. The gap continues to grow despite widespread efforts to meet rising demand, like a multi-family housing boom in 2023. While construction companies are fighting hard to keep up, they are limited by a pressing labor shortage, among other critical hurdles like supply shortages and steep pricing. The same is true in real estate, an industry dealing with pandemic-spurred job hopping and an aging workforce that’s retiring and leaving a sea of empty seats to fill. Without people to do the work, growth is an elusive target.

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

Last year’s Pittsburgh area Fern Hollow Bridge collapse and the I-95 Philadelphia collapse may portend more infrastructure spending to come. The U.S. Department of Transportation's 2021 national inventory estimated that 44,000 bridges nationwide are rated in poor condition. Contractors must be able to act fast and have a plan in place to secure infrastructure work, including obtaining bid bonds in a timely manner while preparing and updating bids.

The savviest construction and engineering companies are already leveraging technology solutions to optimize the construction phase, to increase productivity, trim costs and track projects in real time. Bidding/bonding is one essential and underutilized phase in which digital solutions can help contractors win in a fiercely competitive environment. Contractors should seek to take control of their bidding by leveraging online tools for bonding.

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