Construction employment declined in the District of Columbia and every state except South Dakota in April, an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government data shows. At the same time, the association released a new survey that finds that rising project cancellations are forcing many firms to furlough or terminate employees even as federal relief measures help avoid further job losses. Association officials urged Washington officials to act quickly on measures like new infrastructure funding, liability protections for employers and extending the Paycheck Protection Program.

The coronavirus crisis has had a negative effect on construction firms across the country but those working in a handful of states, especially those with government-mandated jobsite shutdowns, have been especially hard hit.

Learn more: Now that construction is rebooting across the U.S., some contractors are wondering if they should set up on-site coronavirus testing for employees.

As news of the coronavirus impact continues to unfold, this page will serve as a way to track projects or cities that have halted construction due to the pandemic.

Over the past two decades, there has been an explosion of intelligent technologies in the construction industry as enthusiasts and entrepreneurs are using emergent technologies to optimize the construction project life cycle. 

How prepared is your construction business to close its leadership gap? Baby Boomers are retiring at a rapid rate. The next generation of leaders is often not ready to take their place. The gap is especially wide in industries impacted by the 2007-2009 recession, such as construction, engineering and manufacturing. A generation of workers who would now be ready to step up and lead the business moved to other fields. Construction firms will likely face another gap in the future if the COVID-19 economic downturn persists. 

Outdoor work is often physically challenging, and even the fittest worker will feel the impact of extreme heat. Don’t simply shrug it off as part of the job. Yes, there is work to be done no matter what, but you want to complete it without jeopardizing your health and well-being.

The key to a successful construction software implementation is planning. After 10 years of experience guiding contractors through implementations, I can conclude that most companies need around eight weeks of planning and preparation time before going live on a new construction software system. More nimble companies may be able to shorten that duration to six weeks and very large companies may want to spend more time preparing for their conversion.

Here are some approaches to help you get creative when managing small budgets in an environment with limited cash flow.

CISCA is the global premier authority for the interior construction, acoustical ceilings and acoustical treatment industry. Market your products/services to the multi-billion dollar interior systems industry today.

CISCA is the global premier authority for the interior construction, acoustical ceilings and acoustical treatment industry, fostering professional development and exchanges for and between association members and industry professionals. Be sure to visit our website often as new material is posted regularly.