Tag: Economy: Page 8

Business

Study connects traffic jams to economy, forecasts cost to consumer to exceed $1,000 annually by 2020

The total cost of traffic congestion to the U.S. economy in 2011 was $121 billion, according to a report from our sister site Better Roads. Better Roads analyzed the findings of a Texas A&M study conducted last year, which found that the average consumer spent $818 in 2011 on traffic congestion costs. The report says […]

April 8, 2013

Workforce

Construction adds 18k to workforce amid weak jobs report

Though industry growth slowed considerably month-to-month, by adding 18,000 jobs in March, construction continued its streak of job growth, according to preliminary figures from the U.S. Labor Department. Construction’s unemployment rate dropped to its lowest rate since 2008 to 14.7 percent. In January, the unemployment was at 15.1 percent. March’s tally is just under one-fourth […]

April 5, 2013

Business

Construction equipment investment expected to continue above average growth in 2013

Construction equipment investment is expected to continue to grow and an above average rate over the next three to six motnhs, according to the 2013 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook from the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. However, the ELFF warns that the rate of growth construction equipment has enjoyed “should continue to decline from […]

April 4, 2013

Business

Construction, manufacturing spending growth push U.S. stock futures forward

Ahead of reports on manufacturing and construction spending for February, U.S. stock futures edged higher after the three-day Easter holiday, according to a report from the Associated Press. The AP reports that Dow Jones industrial futures were up 10 points at 14,507 while S&P 500 futures edged up 0.4 point to 1,563.10 and Nasdaq futures […]

April 1, 2013

Business

Smart, skilled class of contractors necessary to navigate worst recovery in modern history

In this era of partisan news both sides will spin any facts any way to make their side look better. So getting any kind of macro-level read on the real state of the economy is difficult if not impossible. But from what I’ve seen with my own two eyes and heard with my own two […]

March 26, 2013

Workforce

Why construction unions are wrong in fighting immigration reform

Ah politics! Strange bedfellows. Even stranger enemies. One would think the universal brotherhood of union workers would welcome with solidarity the teeming masses from south of the border. But that is certainly not the case if those Hispanic workers have construction skills. Buzzfeed Politics is reporting that the AFL-CIO in the pending immigration bill is […]

March 26, 2013

Workforce

NAHB survey finds labor shortages in “all aspects” of home building

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, labor shortages are hurting the housing and economic recoveries here in the U.S. Since June 2012, residential construction firms are seeing a growing number of shortages in all positions in the industry including carpenters, excavators, framers, roofers, plumbers, bricklayers, HVAC, building maintenance managers and […]

March 25, 2013

Business

ASCE says U.S. infrastructure investment is “treading water”

After giving American infrastructure a grade of D+, the American Society of Civil Engineers says that the country’s investment planned through 2020 will fall $1.6 trillion short of what is needed to maintain existing infrastructure. According to a report from Bloomberg, the ASCE recommends funding be increased by 80 percent to $3.6 trillion in order […]

March 25, 2013

Workforce

The 10 Best Construction Jobs

As we discussed yesterday, construction hiring isn’t exactly growing as quickly as we’d all like it to be. But the fact of the matter is, it is growing and there are still quite a few jobs to be had out there. But as U.S. News and World Report recently pointed out, you need experience. With […]

March 22, 2013

Workforce

Disney Springs dining and entertainment district will create 1,200 construction jobs in Orlando

For years, Downtown Disney has been where adults go to play once the kids are away on family trips to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Floria. But in the next three years Downtown Disney will double in size and become Disney Springs, Similar to the complex it will replace, Disney Springs will offer visitors shopping, […]

March 20, 2013

Home

All-American-made homes would provide economic boost, but are they feasible?

Is it possible to build a home from 100 percent American materials? That’s the question Anders and Jake Lewendal decided to try and find out with a recent build, as chronicled by Builder. Anders Lewendal Construction Inc., a custom builder based out of Bozeman, Montana, set out to build a home made completely of materials […]

March 18, 2013

Workforce

Maryland light rail projects expected to create 7,000 construction jobs

Two Baltimore light rail projects are expected to create nearly 7,000 construction jobs in the area and state officials are rushing to prepare the state’s workforce. The Baltimore Purple and Red Line light rail systems, estimated to cost $2.15 billion and $2.5 billion respectively, will create jobs for "equipment operators, electricians, cement and brickmasons, carpenters […]

March 18, 2013