Construction employment grew in 244, or 68 percent, out of 358 metro areas between September 2018 and September 2019, declined in 61 and was unchanged in 53, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released recently by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that despite the widespread job gains, the association’s recent survey found 80 percent of contractors say hourly craftworker positions remain difficult to fill.

The U.S. construction industry, like agriculture and manufacturing, has a reputation for relying on undocumented workers. That's mostly because legal workers simply aren't available and cost much more to employ when they are. 

There are many tax planning strategies a construction contractor can implement to reduce the company’s tax liability. Now is a good time to review the company’s financial goals, operations and results over the past year. Discuss what was done and how to qualify for tax deductions or credits with a construction accounting specialist. 

During the month of November is National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) in the United States. Championed by the United States Department of Labor, NAW is a week-long event that "highlights the benefits of apprenticeship in preparing a highly-skilled workforce to meet the talent needs of employers across diverse industries." During NAW, apprenticeship sponsors can showcase their programs, facilities and apprentices in their communities.

It’s in the news too often: Cyberattacks shut down yet another company. And, while the attacks seem random and sporadic, the truth is the construction industry is one of the hardest hit.

Five more firms have joined a unique industry group focused on sharing data to advance jobsite safety. Skanska USA, Skanska Sweden, Webcor Builders, Obayashi and concrete contractor Lithko Contracting have signed on with the Predictive Analytics Strategic Council, which was launched earlier this year to share and analyze safety data from each firm in the group.

The unconscious biases that bedevil everyone, including business leaders and corporate decision-makers, flipped Kevin McCarthy’s life upside down and dropped him in a prison cell for 33 months, convicted of a crime he committed unwittingly.

The reality is that many A/E/C professionals are introverts by nature. Firm leaders can be just as reluctant to put introverts into this role, focusing their efforts on more extroverted staff. Introverts (and those who manage them), take heart. You really can learn to be more comfortable with—and even enjoy—BD activities. And you can become proficient without the pressure to be someone you’re not.

Anyone who is familiar with the world of construction knows about the limited supply of construction talent that industry leaders are grappling to manage. It’s estimated that around 10,000 baby boomers reach the age of retirement every day. That number is jarring enough, but it’s especially disconcerting for the construction industry, as baby boomers make up a substantial amount of the industry’s workforce.

Join us in Las Vegas, March 23-26, 2020 for the 2020 CISCA Convention and INTEX. Registration is now open and there is a special CISCA rate for lodging. For additional questions, call CISCA at 630-584-1919 or email cisca@cisca.org.

Noise in restaurants is a hot topic: Customers either complain about the high decibel level or seek it out; restaurateurs bill their establishments as quiet or a hot spot to attract just the right clientele and critics often rate acoustics as important parts of their reviews.