.jpeg?itok=6uFZXEBH)
“If you work hard and show initiative, there is no end to where you can go. The work is out there, all you have to do is go find it and never stop learning.” – Moore, Pipe Welder at Jacobs
Reshaping the Construction Industry
.jpeg?itok=4Vi_1nJG)
December 14, 2015
The Bureau of Labor Standards (BLS) has released its projections for job growth for the period from 2014-2024, and construction job growth leads the goods producing sector with an increase of almost 800,000 jobs. That is good news for the industry, but one statement in the release is revealing. “Construction is projected to add 790,400 jobs by 2024. Even with these additional jobs, employment in the construction major sector is not projected to return to the 2006 peak.”The numbers show a picture of continued growth in the service sectors, especially in healthcare (25% of the total job growth or 3.8 million jobs) that reflects the aging population. Manufacturing is projected to be the big loser with the 2024 numbers reflecting a loss of 814,00 jobs, likely to increased productivity at home or continued globalization of the manufacturing workforce.You can read the press release and delve into the charts here.
December 11, 2015
One of the perhaps ironic challenges discovered by Construction Citizen during the publication’s recent visit to Lee College is that because jobs in the petrochemical industry can be so lucrative, we have some trouble at times recruiting enough instructors to meet demands.Ideal candidates for instructors are people with industry experience, but our college and others often can’t pay enough to lure them from the well-paying jobs they currently hold. My colleague Layton Childress, Dean of Applied Sciences, said "I've never seen such demand where the jobs are there and the salaries are so high.” He added that many students “don't even realize what an opportunity they have here to go to school for two years and then be set for life.”
December 10, 2015
After a yearlong debate about the right way to handle it, the Dallas City Council this week passed a requirement for mandatory rest breaks for construction workers.
December 09, 2015
Texas has room to improve its appeal as a state for contractors to do business according to a scorecard launched by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).“Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard” reviews and grades state-specific information significant to the success of the commercial and industrial construction industry. The scorecard website, meritshopscorecard.org, identifies states, such as Texas where strategic improvements need to be made to create an environment where merit-shop contractors are well positioned to succeed and states that have created contractor-friendly business environments.
December 09, 2015
Click on image to view more information.Construction employment in November, spending in October climb brisklyEditor’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 increased by 211,000 in November, seasonally adjusted, and by 2,637,000 (1.9%) year-over-year (y/y), while the unemployment rate held steady at a 7-1/2 year low of 5.0%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday. Construction employment rose by 46,000 for the month (to 6,490,000) and by 259,000 (4.2%) over 12 months. The employment level was the highest since January 2009. The number of unemployed jobseekers who last worked in construction decreased from 629,000 in November 2014 to 536,000 in November 2015, the lowest November total since 2000.
December 08, 2015
The design of new speculative office buildings will now shift. We are about to see sensors embedded in walls and floors around elevator cores and entry doors that will scan for chemicals and explosives.
December 07, 2015
Determination, dedication and diligence…Those words seemed to be the trending topic amongst industry leaders on Thursday, November 19, 2015 as construction industry and educational leaders joined together at the ABC & CMEF Workforce Development Luncheon held at the NRG Center in Houston, Texas. Their goal, you may ask? To inform fellow Houstonians about current workforce development activities, construction career opportunities and the benefits of the NCCER curriculum.The presenters list included Michael Gremillion, Vice President—Houston Office, ISC Constructors, LLC; Mike Holland, Chief Operating Officer for Marek; Donnie McCoy, Senior Operations Manager at Austin Industrial; Renea Dillon, Director at Goose Creek Consolidated ISD and Career & Technical Education Principal at the Stuart Career Center; Ezequiel Garcia, CTHS CTE Department Chair and Welding Instructor at Pasadena ISD; and Eleazar Hinojosa, Fabrication Division Welder at Turner Industries Group.
December 04, 2015
The following article originally appeared in the December 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.On November 12th, Dr. Bill Gilmer gave his forecast for 2016, and despite Houston's attempts to diversify since the 1980's, oil remains a dominant factor in the Houston economy. As such, the price of oil will directly impact how fast Houston recovers from the recent downturn. And while Dr. Gilmer does not yet see a recession for the Houston area, he does expect continued slow growth going forward, with lower job growth and population growth projections in 2016.
December 03, 2015
To the surprise of many observers, construction spending jumped in October across the nation. The federal government announced this week that construction spending was up 1 percent in October from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of more than $1.1 trillion. It hasn’t been at that level since December of 2007.From the Associated Press:The construction of single-family homes and apartments climbed 1 percent in October, also reaching their highest level since December 2007. Manufacturers boosted their construction spending by 3 percent. And federal government building soared 19.2 percent, the biggest increase since October 2006.
December 02, 2015
