Tag: business: Page 32

Business

Latest round of Caterpillar layoffs hits Pontiac fuel systems plant

After laying off nearly 200 workers at its East Peoria plant last month, Caterpillar has announced another wave of cuts, this time at its Pontiac, Michigan, plant. According to a report from the Peoria Journal Star, Cat will place 35 full-time employees at the plant, which manufactures fuel systems, on indefinite layoff and will fire another 10 […]

July 8, 2015

Workforce

Alabama’s new building permit fee will fund statewide construction education and training

Though the construction industry’s rebound is in full effect with spending at a nearly 7-year high and jobs at a six-year high, contractors across the country are still struggling to find enough skilled workers. The latest survey on the U.S. industry’s shortage from the Associated General Contractors of America found that 83 percent of construction firms […]

July 7, 2015

Workforce

Construction jobs flat in June; unemployment drops

Following two months of gains, the U.S. construction industry saw no job losses or gains in June. According to preliminary data from the Labor Department, construction employment remained at 6.380 million Americans. The industry’s unemployment rate, however, dropped from 6.7 percent to 6.3 percent. The new data also revised downward the employment figure for May from the previously […]

July 3, 2015

Business

New Labor Dept. regs require employers to pay overtime to additional 5 million workers

In an op-ed published by the Huffington Post, President Obama revealed his administration’s plan to raise the wages of millions of American workers through new Labor Department regulations. “We’ve got to keep making sure hard work is rewarded. Right now, too many Americans are working long days for less pay than they deserve,” Obama wrote. “That’s […]

July 1, 2015

Business

Carolina Cat Power Systems completes construction of 10-acre solar farm

The construction of a 10-acre solar farm, led by Carolina Cat Power Systems, is nearing completion. Scheduled to open within the next few days, the farm, located in the city of Shelby, will contain 9,828 solar panels. The farm will be capable of producing 3 megawatts of electricity—enough to power about 250 homes. Duke Energy […]

June 30, 2015

Roadbuilding

Illinois DOT chief meets with group to discuss lack of minority contractors hired

An Illinois group recently met with Illinois Transportation Secretary Randall Blankenhorn to discuss the lack of minorities hired for construction contracts. KWQC reported that the group, led by the Rev. Dwight Ford of Grace City Church in Moline, is tied to a monthly meeting called “Critical Mass” where community members discus challenges and specifically the few […]

June 30, 2015

Workforce

Shortage of skilled workers has pushed up construction costs

The immediate effect of the skilled worker shortage impacting the U.S. construction industry for the last two years was a slowdown in work. Demand rose and backlogs increased as firms struggled to find enough workers to tackle new jobs. But now, a new wrinkle is being pointed to by a development executive. Lydia Tan, senior […]

June 26, 2015

Business

Is the golden age of underground construction upon us?

During the Great Recession, one phrase reached cliché status: “this is the new normal.” In other words, suck it up, things will never be as good as they once were. Get used to diminished returns and don’t dwell on what used to be. So it tends to give you pause when Chris Daum, senior managing […]

June 25, 2015

Business

John Deere to call back some laid off workers to Waterloo plant

John Deere has announced that it will ask between 50 and 60 workers laid off earlier this year at its Waterloo, Iowa, plant  back to work. According to a report from the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, the callbacks will be made based on seniority and many of the workers receiving calls are likely working at other Deere […]

June 25, 2015

Business

Caterpillar to lay off another 170 workers at East Peoria plant

Caterpillar has announced it will lay off an additional 170 workers at its East Peoria, Illinois, plant where the company manufactures mining and construction equipment. According to a report from Peoria Journal Star, the company announced the layoffs in consecutive weeks. A cut of 120 workers from the plant was announced last week and the reduction […]

June 24, 2015

Roadbuilding

Contractors face charges for defrauding PennDOT’s female/minority-owned business program

The top executives at a Pennsylvania highway construction company are facing charges they defrauded the U.S. Department of Transportation to the tune of about $18.7 million. A federal court levied conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges on Carl M. Weber Steel Service, its president Dennis Weber and vice president Dale Weber on June 16, according to […]

June 22, 2015

Business

Nashville may soon require contractors to hire significantly more local workers on metro projects

An amendment that will be presented to Nashville voters in August is drawing the ire of some members of the local construction industry there. According to a report from Nashville Public Radio, the proposed amendment would require construction companies contracted by the city to ensure that 40 percent of all worker hours on major projects […]

June 19, 2015