Tag: construction jobs: Page 13

Business

STEM graduates are finding a weak job market. Why that could be a big opportunity to fix construction’s skilled labor woes

A recent article at Business Insider revealed an odd wrinkle in the job market. According to Census Bureau statistics, less than half the college graduates with STEM degrees (science, technology, engineering and math) find jobs in STEM related fields. This wouldn’t be surprising except for the fact that so many people bleat on like a […]

July 11, 2014

Workforce

Construction adds 6,000 jobs in June as industry retains grip on highest employment in 5 years

For six straight months, the U.S. construction industry has added jobs and held tight to its highest employment figures in five years. However, there have been signs of slipping as growth of its workforce slowed considerably in May and fell off even more in June. During June the industry added 6,000, compared to May’s revised number […]

July 3, 2014

Workforce

Construction workers save elderly woman struck by cab in NYC by lifting the SUV off of her

An 83-year-old woman is recovering from a broken wrist and several fractures in her right leg at Bellevue Hospital in New York City after being hit by a cab Monday morning. But it could have been a lot worse if a certain construction crew weren’t on their coffee break, according to a report from the […]

July 2, 2014

Workforce

Western Pennsylvania road builders launch “virtual apprenticeship” video game for recruiting teens

The Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania has come up with a promising way to attract more recruits to the industry. They’ve set up a “virtual apprenticeship” video game in which young people can find out if road building construction is right for them. According to this article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette visitors to the Future […]

July 1, 2014

Business

Study: Construction among America’s least depressing jobs

According to a new study, blue-collar jobs like construction, mining and those in the oil and gas industry are among the least depressing jobs in America. The study, done by a team of researchers in Cincinnati led by Lawson Wulsin, was limited to the region of Western Pennsylvania, according to a report from Discover magazine. […]

June 16, 2014

Construction Equipment

Robotic welders called in on new Tappan Zee bridge after contractor has difficulty finding skilled workers

After troubles with the installation of the massive steel piles that will support the $3.9 billion replacement of the Tappan Zee bridge near New York City, bridge builder Tappan Zee Constructors has brought in robotic welders. About 1,000 of the steel piles will support the new twin-span bridge that crosses the Tappan Zee, a natural […]

June 12, 2014

Business

Construction job growth slows in May with 6,000 jobs added

The U.S. construction industry notched its fifth straight month of employment gains in May but saw growth fall off considerably. The industry added 6,000 jobs in May, compared to April’s revised number of 34,000. The original April data from the Commerce Department showed a gain of 32,000 jobs. Construction now employs 6.004 million Americans, 3-percent higher […]

June 6, 2014

Technology

Xbox-like remote control could make operating construction equipment as easy as playing video games (PHOTOS)

[imagebrowser id=87] Over the years, advances in controls have greatly improved intuitiveness and thus simplified the operation of construction equipment in many cases. Beyond that, ever-improving GPS technology and machines like Komatsu’s intelligent Machine Control dozers and upcoming excavator, point to a not-so-distant future where a lot of operators could be doing so from outside of […]

June 5, 2014

Business

Wages for construction and other skilled trades are on the rise

Wages for skilled tradesmen in the construction and mining as well as those in logging and manufacturing are on the rise, according to a new report from the Economist. Citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the report says that hourly wages have grown at an annual rate of around 2 percent for the last […]

June 4, 2014

Workforce

Go Build Alabama helps boost trade school attendance 30%, redirects ads to teens

Nearly four years into the Go Build Alabama construction career promotion, there’s evidence kids are heeding and acting on its message, says Jason Phelps, executive director of the Alabama Construction Recruitment Institute, which heads the program. “Alabama has seen a 30 percent increase between the past two school years in the number of enrollments in […]

June 3, 2014

Workforce

How to survive your first month working in construction

In a previous post, I described the attitudes and behavior newbies need to survive their first week on a construction site. Now let’s turn our attention to what folks new to the construction industry need to know to survive their first month. Assuming you show up 15 minutes early every morning, come prepared, and work […]

May 30, 2014

Business

Minnesota construction firms likely need to boost pay, reduce expectations to find enough workers to meet demand

Construction is Minnesota’s fastest growing industry, and as demand continues to pile up, construction firms there are having a hard time finding enough skilled workers. And one labor analyst suggests they might need to make some serious changes to fill those vacancies. According to a report from Minnesota Public Radio, the skilled trades in Minnesota […]

May 27, 2014