.jpeg?itok=6uFZXEBH)
Most metros add jobs in February; openings soar, hiring is flat; commercial scene variesEditor’s note: Construction Citizen is proud to partner with AGC America to bring you AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's Data DIGest. Check back each week to get Ken's expert analysis of what's happening in our industry.Construction employment, not seasonally adjusted, increased from February 2015 to February 2016 in 234 (65%) of the 358 metro areas (including divisions of larger metros) for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides construction employment data, decreased in 72 (20%) and was stagnant in 52, according to an AGC release and map on Tuesday that analyzed BLS data. (BLS combines mining and logging with construction in most metros.)
Reshaping the Construction Industry
.jpeg?itok=4Vi_1nJG)
Last week I attended the last day of the 2016 Rowlett Lecture Series at the Bush Library at Texas A&M in College Station. It was a two-day affair that celebrated the 25th anniversary of the CRS Center. CRS (Caudill Rowlett Scott) was a legendary global architecture firm that started at College Station in the 1940s. Its principals taught hundreds, if not thousands, of architects and engineers Architecture By Team and Problem Seeking, processes that are still used by firms across the globe today. The CRS Center houses the historical documents and books that were produced by the firm.The firm and the multitude of professionals who worked on the CRS team were "Disrupters" of the profession, and it is no wonder that those CRS processes have morphed and are being used by architectural firms in the development of complex buildings and campuses today.I was fortunate to have played on the CRS team first as a programmer and later as the Director of Marketing. I went to hear the latest iteration of the application of the CRS Problem Seeking methodology on projects and to see many of my former colleagues and friends.One of the feature presentations was by Scott Simpson, FAIA and Senior Principal at the Greenway Group and Editor at Large of Design Intelligence. His talk, about the length of a TED talk, touched on the future of the architectural profession and he flashed a slide of the "Disrupters" of the design profession, those that will have a profound impact on the architects and the designs of the future.
April 11, 2016
The following article originally appeared in the April newsletter to clients of Kiley Advisors, LLC for the purpose of providing the latest leading indicators and industry issues to those clients. Reprinted with permission.Local economists remain cautiously optimistic when discussing Houston’s future. The revised employment numbers reduced Houston’s job growth in 2015 from 23,200 to 15,200 jobs. The revisions included losses of 23,800 in manufacturing and 17,700 jobs in mining and logging, while construction gained 12,600 jobs – thanks, in large part, to the industrial work in East Houston. The Census Bureau recently announced population growth of 160,000 from mid-2014 to mid-2015 in the Houston MSA, with a 12.4% growth in population from 2010 – 2015. After January’s expected job losses – as retailers routinely shed holiday employees and others delay layoffs until after the holidays –the next few months could indicate the pace of employment for the remainder of 2016. All would agree, Houston’s employment growth will be slower in 2016 than experienced the past five years, but nearly all still forecast growth.
April 08, 2016
The proposed Next Tokyo 2045 in Japan will be twice the height of the Burj Khalifa and feature hexagonal-shaped structures in the bay to minimize the effects of intense waves from earthquakes and typhoons.
April 07, 2016
Marek Dallas Division President John Hinson wrote the following President’s Message for AWCI's Construction Dimension magazine. Hinson is the 2015-2016 President of AWCI.A friend recently called me to vent about an audit by the Department of Homeland Security on his concrete business. Seeing me as an understanding ear, he related the impact this “enforcement action” was having on his seasoned craftsmen and their families.His employees have worked for him for more than 30 years, but he admits some of them entered the country illegally in 1986 and should face punishment and fines. And what really bothers him is that he will be forced to terminate them. It is punishment to them, their families and his business that severely outweighs the crime.
April 06, 2016
March construction employment, February spending post hefty, diverse 12-month gainsEditor’s note: Construction Citizen is proud to partner with AGC America to bring you AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's Data DIGest. Check back each week to get Ken's expert analysis of what's happening in our industry.Nonfarm payroll employment in March increased by 215,000, seasonally adjusted, from February and by 2,802,000 (2.0%) over 12 months, and the unemployment rate inched up to 5.0% from 4.9% in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. Construction employment rose by 37,000 for the month (to 6,672,000) and by 301,000 (4.7%) year-over-year (y/y). Industry employment reached the highest level since December 2008. Residential construction employment (residential building and specialty trade contractors) increased by 13,400 for the month and 166,000 (6.8%) y/y. Nonresidential employment (nonresidential building, specialty trades, and heavy and civil engineering construction) rose by 23,900 for the month and 134,800 (3.4%) y/y.
April 05, 2016
Editor’s note: Earlier, we told you about an event which focused on women in construction careers which was held in Galveston, Texas in February. The following wrap-up of the Women in Industry conference was submitted by Alexandra Ellis, Workforce Communications Coordinator at Jacobs.On February 19, 2016, the Community College Petrochemical Initiative (CCPI) hosted the Women in Industry Conference at the Hotel Galvez in Galveston, TX. The Women in Industry Conference aimed to encourage women across the Gulf Coast to take advantage of these career opportunities and explore options in the petrochemical industry. Attendees were able to hear from women currently working in the petrochemical industry while networking with industry representatives and educational administrators. The target audience for this event included high school students attending or interested in attending Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, community college students, Community College Program Directors, Workforce Solutions Participants, and sponsors from the owner community.
April 04, 2016
Braddock compares recent articles: “Some stories focus on the fact that women are finding fantastic careers in construction while others suggest it is too difficult for women to gain traction in the business.”
April 01, 2016
It was a really quiet and dark night when I stepped onto the ball and hook on the massive crane that would be delivering concrete mix for the spillway intake for the dam we were building. The spillway intake chamber was 400 feet in the ground and I had already been down there on a previous night to watch as the wooden forms and rebar cages were being put into place under the bright lights. Tonight, I was about to have the ride of my life, one that the safety engineer would frown upon, but which would make a life memory for me.The crane operator, I’ll call him Pete, was a massive man and was a master at his work for one of the major construction firms that today does major construction jobs around the globe. The other guys on the site had told stories about Pete that made him a legendary figure. He was able to drop a load almost 400 feet down the hole and stop it 18 inches from the floor with ease.
March 31, 2016
A week before travelling to Florida to compete in the ABC 2016 National Craft Championships (NCC), five Houston-area welders spoke with me about how they became interested in welding, their career aspirations, and what they love about their craft. Some of their sponsors and instructors were also on hand to comment as they met at the Construction and Maintenance Education Foundation (CMEF) Performance Verification Center for a final briefing before the competition.Jose Morua, father of three, works full time for Jacobs in addition to taking classes in the welding program at Lee College. He decided to study welding after a friend encouraged him to go to school to better himself.
March 30, 2016
