September Construction Starts Settle Back 5 Percent
New construction starts in September fell 5% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $709.6 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The September downturn followed 9% declines in both July and August, as the pace of construction starts has now pulled back for the third month in a row after…
Safety Risks in Commercial Construction Industry Exacerbated by Workforce Shortages
The Q3 2018 USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index (Index) released recently indicates skilled labor shortages will have the greatest impact on commercial construction businesses over the next three years. The report revealed 88 percent of contractors expect to feel at least a moderate impact from the workforce shortages in the…
Project Management Basics Every Project Manager Needs to Master
Project managers play a significant role. They are responsible for driving a project from planning towards execution. But how do they get there? The specific responsibilities of a project manager differ from the type of project and industry. However, there are project management basics that every project manager needs to master regardless of the kind…
Construction Materials Increase as Contractors Squeezed
The cost of many products used in construction climbed 7.4 percent over the past year due to double digit increases in commonly-used construction materials, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new Labor Department data. Association officials noted that the cost increases come as many construction firms are already grappling…
Construction Material Prices Rebound in September, Says ABC
Prices for inputs to construction rose 0.3 percent in September and are 7.4 percent higher than a year ago, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today. Overall prices for nonresidential construction inputs rose 0.4 percent, reversing last month’s downward trend. Among individual subcategories, softwood lumber…
Construction Industry Adds 23,000 Jobs in September, Says ABC
The U.S. construction industry added 23,000 net new positions in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the last 12 months, the industry has added 315,000 net new jobs, an increase of 4.5 percent. Nonresidential construction employment expanded by 18,600 net jobs…
How to Avoid Construction Rework: Address Issues before Construction to Prevent Costly Rework and Errors
When I was in elementary school, I distinctly remember having to do rework. For some reason, the instructions were incomplete, or I misread them. Regardless, the work I completed was wrong and needed rework. Other times, I was in such a rush to complete my work that the quality was sub-par. Similarly, I had to…
Celebrating the Craftsmanship of the Building Arts
NCCER is proud to help make the presentation of the exciting film, “Good Work: Masters of the Building Arts,” possible, along with The American Institute of Architects and The Associated General Contractors of America. Premiering in October on PBS (check local listings) in conjunction with Careers in Construction Month, the film recognizes the diverse opportunities…
Contractors Remain Upbeat in Q2, According to ABC’s Latest Construction Confidence Index
Construction contractors remained confident during the second quarter of 2018, according to the latest Construction Confidence Index released by Associated Builders and Contractors. More than three in four construction firms expect that sales will continue to rise over the next six months, while three in five expect higher profit margins. More than seven in 10…
Bobby Heuber Joins Mashburn Construction in Charleston as Division Manager
Charleston, S.C.—Mashburn Construction welcomes Bobby Heuber as the Division Manager in the firm’s Charleston office. Heuber, a graduate of Miami University, Oxford, OH, brings 13 years of commercial and residential construction experience and the ability to oversee estimating and value engineering efforts. Heuber has held project management positions with several large general contractors in the…
