Construction employment increased by 36,000 jobs in January to the highest level since November 2008 as employers increased pay in an effort to address a chronic worker shortage, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. The AGC urged public officials to strengthen training and education programs to prepare more workers for careers in the high-paying construction field.

"This report aligns with what contractors have been telling the Association—that the construction industry is still eager to add workers," said Ken Simonson, the Association's Chief Economist. "The employment gains would be even larger if there were enough workers with the right skills available to hire."

The AGC Education and Research Foundation offers Workforce Development Scholarships to students enrolled in accredited technical schools or craft training programs in any discipline of commercial construction. Students in technical or approved craft training programs will have until June 1st to apply for $1,000 scholarships (renewal for up to two years) from the AGC Education and Research Foundation.

The days are getting longer and the temperatures are rising, which means that its time for the annual Spring Summit. The 2017 Spring Summit will take place on Thursday, May 11 at 11:30 a.m. at Maggiano's Little Italy in Oak Brook. This year's event will feature important tips for risk management for contractors, honor Chicagoland's safety all-stars with our Contractor Safety Awards, and provide time for invaluable industry networking.

Our annual Safety Stand Downs are leadership opportunities for our members to demonstrate their commitment to safety and the well-being of their workforce. This year's Safety Stand Down, occurring the week of May 8-12, will focus on struck-bys and caught-ins, the leading causes of fatalities in Region V, and occur throughout the week of May 8th.

The date of the next An Evening with Industry Icons is fast-approaching, and the CLC is looking forward to hosting another panel of esteemed construction leaders. The event will take place on Thursday, May 18th at Muvico Rosemont 18. Registration will open at 5:00 p.m., with the panel discussion starting at 5:30 in Auditorium C. A cocktail reception in Bogart's Dining Room will follow the panel, from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Save the date for this year's annual Builders Foundation Golf Outing, which will take place on July 12th at Ruffled Feathers in Lemont. The annual golf outing raises funds for Chicago-area college students studying Construction Management or Construction Engineering, and has assisted 62 students fund their education to date.

It’s no secret that technology is transforming the building process from start to finish. Technology makes it possible to build smarter, with greater efficiency and effectiveness. Automation and Robotics is one area of innovation enabling this growth. This includes the adoption of drones, machine fabrication, autonomous equipment, A.I. and machine learning. Automation and Robotics isn’t 10 years away. It’s here now.

BuiltWorlds will be examining these topics in comprehensive detail with some of their earliest adopters, including pioneering companies like Full Stack Modular, Piaggio Fast Forward, Construction Robotics, DIRTT and more, at its The Rise of the Machines Conference on April 6.

Join Lean Construction Institute at a monthly Lean Coffee meeting to discuss Lean endeavors with industry peers. Take part in an open conversation about topics that are relevant to the Lean community in a small, low-pressure environment. LCI wants to hear about the problems you are solving, the issues you want to solve, and lessons you’ve learned on your Lean Journey.

Lean Coffee takes place on the first Thursday of every month at DIRTT Environmental Solutions (325 N. Wells Street, 10th Floor) from 7:30 - 9:00 AM. Lean Coffee is free to attend and you can register today for the April 6 meeting. No Lean experience required!

Crystalline silica has been listed as a carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) since 1997, and National Toxicology Program (NTP) since 2000. In addition to lung cancer, crystalline silica is known to cause silicosis, COPD, tuberculosis, and renal disease.

Corkill Insurance Agency, Inc. is hosting a free webinar on OSHA's New Silica Rule through the Construction Safety Council that will take place from 10-11 AM on Wednesday, April 12th.

Membership to Builders Association includes access to a breadth of education and training opportunities through the Construction Education Institute. Some courses that may be of special value to your company are described here.

Bait and switch is an old, unethical advertising practice where retailers "lured" consumers with an ad for one item, and switched it to an inferior version when consumers purchased it. Resumes, like advertising, can be embellished or falsified by candidates. In fact, research shows 53% of resumes and 34% of job applications contain false information! The good news is, you can uncover the facts by consistently incorporating the certain steps in your hiring process.

Builders Association welcomes Construction Cleaning Company as its newest member. Construction Cleaning Company is a woman-owned post-construction cleaning and labor force located in Chicago. They can be reached at (312) 666-8942.

Founded in 1938, Ryan Companies offers comprehensive commercial real estate services as a national developer, architect, builder, capital investment consultant, and real estate manager. Ryan's market depth includes retail, industrial, healthcare, and senior living, with development and corporate build-to-suit work spanning office, mixed-use, hospitality, multifamily housing and mission critical facilities. With a focus on bringing lasting value to its customers and the communities in which it works, Ryan has nearly 1,300 employees in its 13 offices and has completed projects in 40 states. Welcome to the Builders Association!

W.E. O’Neil Construction Co. has hired 15 new employees in preparation for several large projects breaking ground soon. We welcome you to the Association!

Chris Bernhardy – Estimating Coordinator
Katie Cherry – Project Manager
Brent Christensen – Project Superintendent
Richard Delk – Project Engineer
Matt Geyer – Project Engineer
Christie Gleason – Office Manager
Cameo Humes – Insurance Administrator
Volo Ilchyshyn – Project Engineer
Brandi Jacknow-Dyrkacz – Office Manager
Marty Kearney – Concrete Project Manager
Pedro Macias – Project Engineer
Laura Perkett – Office Manager
Laurel Protexter – Project Engineer
Alberto Reyes – Project Engineer
Anthony Santeler – MEP Project Manager

CLC Steering Committee member Mike Pohl of DSP Insurance Services was recently named CFMA Associate Member of the Year. CFMA Chicago recognizes companies and members who exemplify leadership and support for CFMA, their community, and the construction finance industry through their "Build Chicago" Awards. Congratulations, Mike!