Our all-new, redesigned Construction Excellence Awards entry website is live. Planning to submit for a 2021 award? Applications are due January 31, 2021, so get started now. For complete details on the 2021 Awards, view the awards flyer.

Although the future is uncertain — especially when it comes to emerging from the global pandemic — one thing is clear: Technology that enables remote collaboration, agility, machine automation and better decision making has helped contractors survive 2020 and will remain a top priority in 2021.

Despite chronic difficulties sustained by contractors and others with securing human capital, in January 2020, the nation added 214,000 net new jobs. It followed that up with an even more blistering 251,000 jobs in February.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report for 2019 on Dec. 15 and reported that the private construction industry had 1,061 fatal injuries for the year, up 5% from 2018 and the sector's highest number of worker deaths since 2007. The 2019 rate of injuries per 100,000 workers in the private construction industry was 9.7, up 2.1% from 9.5 in 2018. On-the-job fatalities for all industries totaled 5,333, representing a fatal injury rate of 3.5 per 100,000 workers.

A new study tracking the results of more than 730,000 COVID-19 tests found that construction workers had the highest positivity rates for asymptomatic cases of any occupation, including healthcare staff, first responders, correctional personnel, elderly care workers, grocery store workers and food service employees.

During an investor event recently, Starbucks said it plans to add about 22,000 new locations within the next 10 years — from its current 33,000-unit footprint to about 55,000 units. CNN reports this portfolio will include a variety of concepts, from smaller stores to those with drive-thru and pickup capabilities.

When President-elect Joe Biden takes office Jan. 20, those changes will include a new approach at OSHA, according to prominent worker safety experts – starting with how to abate the risk of COVID-19 infection among employees in various industries.

The National Safety Council is calling on employers to support the adoption and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of the first such vaccine for emergency use.

The Marcum Commercial Construction Index for the third quarter of 2020 reports that the industry continues to recover jobs lost from the recession caused by COVID-19. Construction employment has rebounded since plummeting in March and April, and the industry’s unemployment rate stands at 6.8% as of October, just below the 6.9% percent rate observed across all industries.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 – 1 p.m. CT
CISCA is pleased to offer this free informational webinar with our colleagues at the Gypsum Association. This 40-minute session, presented by Gypsum Association’s Technical and Market Advisor Greg Woolley, will provide an in-depth look at the GA’s code-referenced Fire Resistance and Sound Control Design Manual (GA-600-2018). A brief overview of the Manual will be followed by a deeper dive into the General Explanatory Notes for fire and sound. Often overlooked, the Notes are very helpful in problem solving and code compliance issues. After drawing attention to additional GA resources, the instructor will take questions. Registration is free to CISCA members.

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.

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.