Author: agcnews

In 2020, AGC partnered with Autodesk to distribute 300 safety harnesses designed for women to 20 companies nationwide. This video follows up with Christman Constructors, Inc., one of the grant recipients, to see how they are benefiting from the smaller fitting harnesses and to emphasize the importance of proper fitting PPE. Over the past few years, the number of women working in construction has significantly increased, and Christman Constructors is dedicated to supporting diversity and equity in the trades. The new harnesses, which provide better comfort and mobility, are greatly appreciated by the women in their workforce. The improved design…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working on new programs to standardize the use of environmental product declarations (EPDs) and develop a low-carbon emission construction materials program as specified by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). EPDs provide data on the environmental attributes of a product and are a tool to support “buy clean” programs that mandate the use of low-carbon materials. Buy clean programs are new and untested. On May 1, AGC provided written feedback to EPA that urges a measured approach to reduce any negative impacts on the supply chain and encourages innovation. AGC highlighted the need to control the…

Construction employment increased in 259, or 72 percent, of 358 metro areas between March 2022 and March 2023, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials said expanding manufacturing construction was helping drive demand for new workers in many parts of the country. “The growth in manufacturing construction is helping offset softening demand for housing and other types of projects,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer referring to new construction spending data the association releasedearlier this week. “The manufacturing boom is one of the key reasons construction firms in many parts…

Total construction spending increased by 0.3 percent in March as growth in manufacturing and education pulled up nonresidential construction spending for the month, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America today of new federal data. Association officials said the increases in construction demand were occurring during a time when most firms are struggling to find workers to hire. “The manufacturing construction boom is really helping construction weather the softening residential and other nonresidential markets,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “But even as overall demand continues to increase, most firms are having a…

AGC of America joined three other employer associations in filing an amicus brief at the U.S. Supreme Court on April 24, 2023, in a case addressing what language is needed in a notice to terminate a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to satisfy the termination procedure in a CBA containing an “evergreen clause.” The brief supports a petition by two trucking companies for Supreme Court review of a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Transervice Logistics, Inc. v. Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund, which AGC previously reported on here. The circuit court imposed a strict standard…

According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., construction executive staff wage increases came in at 5.5% for 2022 and are also projected to rise by an average 4.7% by 2023 year-end. Historically, executive staff predictions are about 0.5% low. However, 2022 projections compared to 2022 actual numbers did not follow this pattern (see below), so it is possible that actual increases will exceed the 5.2% forecast. PAS reported on its most recent Vehicle Allowance and Practices Survey. The survey sought to answer questions around monthly allowances and common practices such as who receives a vehicle allowance versus a…

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), after giving federal contractors and subcontractors several opportunities to submit objections, recently published EEO-1 data for contractors that “either affirmatively agreed to, or did not object to, the release of their EEO-1 data.” For contractors that have submitted objections, OFCCP is in the process of considering those objections and will make determinations as to whether the information provided must be disclosed or may be withheld under FOIA Exemption 4. In the event that OFCCP determines that a contractor’s EEO-1 data must be disclosed, OFCCP will provide the objecting contractor with written notice of its determination…

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently announced the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) hiring benchmark for 2023. Effective March 31, 2023, the hiring benchmark will be 5.4 percent, slightly down from 5.5 percent in 2022. This benchmark is an annual goal for the percentage of hires who are veterans at each affirmative action plan (AAP) establishment. VEVRAA requires contractors with written affirmative action programs (AAPs) to either establish hiring benchmarks for protected veterans each year or to adopt the OFCCP’s annual national benchmark. As a result of this requirement, contractors must compare…

The James L. Allhands Essay was established by the late James L. Allhands, one of the founding members of AGC and a prolific writer of construction related works. The award recognizes a student essay on a specific topic that is deemed to be beneficial to the advancement of technological, educational, or vocational expertise in the construction industry. This year’s topic “Climate Change Impacts on and Actions from the Construction Industry: Past, Present and Future”. Read More

Construction employment increased in 44 states in March from a year earlier, while only 20 states added construction jobs from February to March, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials said most contractors report they are still eager to hire but have been stymied by a lack of qualified applicants. They urged officials in Washington to strengthen employment-based immigration and fund more career and technical education. “A one-two punch from a pullback in homebuilding and unusually severe weather, especially in California, caused employment to drop in most states from February…