Tag: Economy: Page 6

Workforce

Skilled labor shortage slows Michigan’s response to growing demand for new homes

After 60,000 of Michigan’s skilled home builders were put out of work during the recession, many left the state to find work elsewhere while some left the trade entirely, reports the Detroit Free Press. Michigan is the latest of several states around the country to report skilled labor shortages as demand for construction rebounds. The […]

June 11, 2013

Business

Recent talks suggest Congress has put transportation funding on the back burner

After attending last week’s Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) fly-in visit with Congress, John Latta, the editor of our sister site Better Roads, writes that the overall feeling among the contractors and agency officials that were there is that lawmakers do not share their sense of urgency about securing funding for transportation infrastructure. “A common theme they heard […]

June 11, 2013

Workforce

Construction industry adds 7k jobs in May, unemployment drops to lowest rate in nearly 5 years

The construction industry added 7,000 jobs in May to reach its highest total of workers in nearly four years, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Preliminary data from the BLS showed that the industry lost 6,000 jobs in April. But a revision reduced that loss to 2,000, meaning if May’s gains […]

June 7, 2013

Business

New Apple HQ will create 9,200 construction jobs

In addition to adding a ton of green space to the town of Cupertino, Apple’s planned second campus and headquarters will contribute greatly to the city’s economy. According to a report from Bloomberg, the new HQ will create “9,200 construction jobs and $38.1 million in one-time construction taxes and fees for the city.” Apple already […]

June 7, 2013

Business

Believe it or not, most Americans think good roads are more important than their iPhone or TV

To say the findings of a recent study reported on by our sister site Better Roads are a bit shocking is an understatement. Maybe the understatement of the year. Be honest. If you had access to a swath of the American population and could ask them what they value more than their iPhone or cable […]

June 5, 2013

Business

Construction spending up 0.4% in April despite another dip in government spending

Spending on construction projects in the United States rose 0.4 percent in April, continuing a volatile trend in 2013 of ups and downs, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department Monday. After dropping 4 percent in January, spending rose in February only to drop again in March. But in April things are back […]

June 3, 2013

Workforce

Facing $9 billion in demand, Iowa contractors feel impact of skilled labor shortage

Add Iowa to a growing list of states struggling to meet rebounding construction demand due to a shortage of skilled laborers. According to a report from the Des Moines Register, contractors in Iowa have reported shortages of equipment operators, steel workers, carpenters, supervisors and concrete workers. These companies expect those shortages to deepen in the coming […]

June 3, 2013

Business

Nonresidential construction index indicates gradual improvement, notes concerns with sequester, labor shortage

The FMI Nonresidential Construction Index has reached the highest mark since its inception in the first quarter of 2009. Released this week, the second quarter 2013 edition of the NRCI reached 60.1. FMI, a management consultant and investment banking provider, surveys a group of panelists each quarter to measure the health of the nonresidential construction […]

May 30, 2013

Business

U.S new-home sales rise; home prices jump to highest level in 7 years

The number of new homes sold in April rose 2.3 percent to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 454,000, the highest mark since the summer of 2008, the Associated Press and CNBC report. Compared to a year ago, new home sales are up 29 percent, according to Commerce Department data. However, the number is still well […]

May 28, 2013

Workforce

Energy boom contributes to Houston’s shortage of skilled construction workers

Like just about every other metro area of the country, the Houston-area construction industry is feeling the negative effects of strong demand with the inability to find enough skilled workers to meet it. Unique to Houston’s shortage however is the contribution, or complication, the energy boom in Texas has made, according to Houston’s ABC affiliate […]

May 20, 2013

Workforce

Skilled construction worker shortage already stifling economic recovery

It looks like Executive Editor Tom Jackson’s fear of construction’s current labor shortage stifling the economic recovery is already coming true. According to a recent report from the Associated Press, construction companies across the country say they feel the economy could be doing even better if they could find enough workers. They say they have […]

May 17, 2013

Business

Builder confidence up on strengthening housing market, but majority rate still rate it “fair” or “poor”

Though the reading is not at a point where more home builders view the current market for newly-built, single-family as “good” than “poor,” builder confidence improved three points to a 44 on the May edition of the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.   The monthly survey asks home builders to rate current […]

May 15, 2013