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“The president, politicians, and people are arguing one side or the other of the immigration factors from the wall to DACA to I-9, to ICE raids on construction sites. The March 5 deadline on DACA looms before Congress. President Trump has offered compromise; actually, he has offered to negotiate. There is a difference.” – Kollaer
Reshaping the Construction Industry
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The value of new construction starts in January slipped 2% at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, following a 13% jump in December, construction data provider Dodge Data & Analytics reported on Thursday.
February 26, 2018
Americans are ready to rebuild our neglected infrastructure – schools, highways, bridges, dams, and public transit. But we also can’t neglect the big challenge ahead of us: filling a shortage of 500,000 skilled construction workers – a number that could double if the promise of a $1 trillion infrastructure bill from Washington becomes a reality.
February 23, 2018
Before the Austin City Council had even taken its final vote to approve a new requirement for private employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees, Republican members of the Texas Legislature were already saying they would attempt to overturn it next year. After the council’s vote, some businesses said they’d be forced to leave the city.
February 22, 2018
C3’s strategy is simple. The commercial construction industry needs to look at and follow the lead of other successful industries. We must treat our craft workers as valued assets, as employees, and not independent subcontractors. We must teach them to work skillfully with craft training programs linked to a career path, which enables them to earn a healthy living and live a prosperous life. And very importantly, we must continuously provide our craft workers the training to work safely.
February 21, 2018
The producer price index (PPI) for final demand in January, not seasonally adjusted, increased 0.6% from December and 2.7% year-over-year (y/y) from January 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Thursday.
February 20, 2018
The latest Texas Workforce Commission employment numbers show a stronger than expected 2017. After adding only 18,700 jobs in 2016, Houston rebounded with a healthier 46,000 employment growth December over December, thanks, in large part, to Harvey recovery efforts. Construction employment, which was trending to be down 10,000 jobs for the year pre-Harvey, ended the year only 800 jobs below December 2016.
February 19, 2018
The incandescent light bulb is about to go the way of its inventor, Thomas A. Edison. The incandescent bulb will become a historical artifact in 2020 when all new bulbs will either be LED or CFLs.
February 16, 2018
Read an interesting compilation of the highest dollar amounts recovered from workers’ compensation fraud cases in the U.S. during 2017 - $697.4 Million of employer fraud from these ten cases alone.
February 15, 2018
Highway construction prices appear to be rising. The National Highway Construction Cost Index increased 4.2% from March to June 2017 and 3.4% from June to September, according to data the Federal Highway Administration posted in late January. These were the highest quarterly increases since September 2014. The 3.8% increase from September 2016 to September 2017 followed a decrease of 1.6% in the previous 12 months and -1.7% in the 12 months ending in September 2015.
February 14, 2018
