Author: agcnews

Spending on nonresidential construction projects declined for the second month in a row in April as contractors coped with an all-time high for job openings, according to an analysis the Associated General Contractors of America released today of federal spending data. Association officials said workforce shortages are suppressing the amount of construction activity that can take place and called for measures to encourage more people to pursue high-paying construction careers. “Nonresidential construction spending is being held back by a paucity of qualified workers, not a lack of projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “With job openings at an…

Construction employment increased in two-thirds of U.S. metro areas between April 2021 and April 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials noted that a lack of qualified workers kept employment down in many metro areas. “Contractors are eager to hire more workers but the pool of experienced jobseekers barely exists,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “As a result, employment gains have stalled in too many metros.” Read more.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), recently announced an extension of the Form I-9 flexibilities first announced in March 2020 and updated in March 2021. On February 18, 2022, President Biden issued a notice on the continuation of the state of the National Emergency concerning the COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19”). Due to the continued safety precautions related to COVID-19, DHS will extend the updated flexibilities until October 31, 2022. On March 20, 2020, in response to public health guidance and precautions related to COVID-19, DHS announced that it would exercise prosecutorial discretion to defer the physical presence…

Handouts Now Available on AGC.org The AGC Labor and Employment Law Council held its 37th Annual Construction Labor Law Symposium on May 5-6, 2022, in Washington, DC. The Council is a group of attorneys who regularly represent AGC members and chapters in labor and employment matters, and its annual symposium is held for such attorneys and chapter labor staff. The program covered such topics as: The program also featured presentations by guest speakers Lauren McFerran, chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, Jennifer Abruzzo, general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, and Raj Nayak, assistant secretary for policy at the U.S.…

Annual Survey by HCSS and Associated General Contractors of America Finds Drivers and Passengers are at Greater Risk of Injury and Death in Work Zone Crashes, As Officials Urge Drivers to Be Careful this Summer Sixty-four percent of highway contractors report that motor vehicles had crashed into their construction work zones during the past year, putting motorists and workers at risk, according to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and HCSS. In response, officials urged drivers to slow down and remain alert while passing through work zones during the summer…

Construction employment exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 32 states in April, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned however that record high job opening levels in the construction sector indicate that many firms are having a hard time finding workers to hire, putting future job gains at risk. “Construction employment gains have stalled in many states in recent months as the pool of available workers has dried up,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “It will be hard to satisfy demand for private projects and infrastructure unless more workers…

Ashley Phelps is the Assistant Director of Supply Chain Management at Gilbane Building Company. With the use of Lean strategies and tactics, her focus is ensuring project teams have the capacity and capability to streamline the procurement process and enhance relationships with key business partners. Prior to her role in Supply Chain, Ashley lead Gilbane’s Advanced Planning and Scheduling Department. With a background in scheduling, she coached teams on Lean planning and scheduling techniques with an emphasis on continuous improvement. In over a decade of construction experience ranging from superintendent work to drafting, Ashley thrives on the complexities of building…

Michigan State University (MSU) is a forward-thinking public owner that uses ConsensusDocs standard construction contracts as the basis for its projects. At the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) annual conference held in Grapevine, Texas, MSU’s STEM Teaching and Learning Facility was considered “the most significant construction project of 2021” by AGC. Granger Construction Company was the Construction Manager and a signatory party on the ConsensusDocs 500 contract. Granger received the association’s top prize, Construction Risk Partners Build America Grand Award, and the award for the best construction management renovation project under $99 million. MSU utilized a ConsensusDocs 500 Standard Agreement Between an Owner…

Prices of materials and services used in new nonresidential construction leaped nearly 21 percent in April from year-ago levels, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. The association urged the Biden administration to provide relief to hard-hit employers by ending tariffs on key construction materials and reconsidering its recently proposed Buy America regulations that will make it harder for firms to find and pay for key construction materials. “Nonresidential contractors have endured twelve months of 20-percent increases in the cost of items they need to build projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief…

In construction, alternative project delivery methods typically refer to design-build, construction management at-risk (CM@R or CMAR), and integrated project delivery (IPD). Design-build and CM@R have been commonly used for so long that it seems strange to call them “alternatives.” IPD and design-build are more written about as a subject matter. However, CM@R is just as popular as ever, and some practitioners see CM@R as the project delivery method that delivers project schedule towards completion the fastest. Experienced practitioners of CM@R like the ability to commence construction before all the design details for the entire project are determined. In Iowa, both…