.jpeg?itok=6uFZXEBH)
According to Reuters, “A leading indicator of nonresidential construction in the United States, [the American Institute of Architects Billings Index,] fell for a fourth straight month in July, in a sign that demand for offices and other commercial properties is weakening.”That is not a good sign for the shrinking backlogs of construction companies around the country and might point to a really tough next 6 months and even into 2012.The index dropped to 45.1, and since anything under 50 speaks to a weakening economy, we may be looking at more consolidations and mergers in both the design and construction firms around the country.The billings index usually leads the construction indexes by 12 months or so, those pundits who
Reshaping the Construction Industry
.jpeg?itok=4Vi_1nJG)
CBS News’ What’s Trending recently spotlighted Gary Russo, a construction foreman working in New York on the second avenue subway project. Russo has attracted much attention and has generated several YouTube posts which have gone viral since he brought his karaoke machine to work and began singing Frank Sinatra songs for his fellow workers and passersby during his lunch breaks.In the video interview by Michelle Castillo of What’s Trending, Russo offers this advice:“Find out what you love to do, and do it. Don’t worry about getting paid, don’t worry about is it hard or not, just do it.”The 50-year-old claims to be a normal guy who has gone through many of the same problems as others,
August 17, 2011
The debate goes on without resolution. “Are undocumented workers taking good construction jobs away from hard-working Americans?” One side says an emphatic “Yes.”...
August 15, 2011
Blogger Mike Holland discussed a workforce initiative of the Houston Chapter of the Associated General Contractors in his November 3, 2010 post. Since that time, over fifty individuals from Houston area contractor and specialty contractor companies have been working in seven task forces to fulfill the mission of creating a method whereby socially responsible owners, contractors and specialty contractors can positively affect the growth of a sustainable workforce. The task forces aim to achieve this by advancing principles that raise the image of the industry, attract and retain verifiably qualified workers, provide a safer and healthier environment and improve efficiency and productivity. Formerly called the Construction Industry Sustainable Workforce Alliance (CISWA) and now known as the Construction Career Collaborative (C3), the initiative has sought the support of other leading industry organizations from ABC, ASA, MCA, OSHA, HASC to SCTC in the effort
August 11, 2011
Graduation ceremonies are interesting. They are celebrations, “crossing of the bar,” successful completions. Not only are they completions, but they are new beginnings. Graduation ceremonies mark significant milestones in our lives and in our industry.Recently we attended, along with leaders from the industry, family members, company coaches and leaders, the graduation of 16 “helpers” at The Marek Company’s Houston office. These individuals had completed the 2,000 hours of jobsite work as well as a year long series of safety, equipment and on-the-job training courses designed to teach them the industry and the craft that they have chosen as a career.We have written about the Marek Company several times for their outstanding commitment to a sustainable workforce for the future and for their commitment to a structured workforce development program. They truly understand the importance of having highly skilled
August 08, 2011
An eye-opening article in Britain’s Construction Enquirer this week reported on the looming predicament the construction industry is facing: the aging workforce and the resulting imminent shortage of skilled craftsmen. Editor Aaron Morby interviewed Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills about the latest statistics reported by that company.The numbers paint an ominous picture of an impending skilled workforce shortage. The article reports:“The number of workers aged 55 years and over in the industry has increased by 65% since 1990, while those aged 24 and under has fallen
August 05, 2011
According to Chris Ward, executive director of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, construction of the memorial at the site of the 9/11 attacks to the World Trade Center...
August 04, 2011
Protests were held last week near several Hyatt Regency hotels to call attention to the use of labor brokers for construction work on the renovation of the Hyatt Regency in New...
July 28, 2011
If you are being forced to use a Project Labor Agreement to construct a public building as the result of President Obama’s executive order, you might want to take a close look at...
July 28, 2011
Channel 4’s investigative news team from WSMV has been digging around on several issues surrounding the construction industry, specifically around the $585 million Music City...
July 27, 2011
