Author: agcnews
This new education experience will feature keynote speakers focusing on the intersection of HR and workforce development in the construction industry. The event will also feature networking opportunities, as well as optional workforce excursions and HR workshops. If you’ve attended an HRTED Conference or Workforce Summit in the past, this event was designed with you in mind. And if you care about human resources and the need to develop the next generation of workers, this is definitely the event for you. AGC Members: Don’t miss your chance to save on the premier construction HR, workforce & training conference of 2024! Sign…
Construction spending declined by 0.1 percent between April and May to a seasonally adjusted rate of $2.139 trillion, amid declines in demand for a range of nonresidential and residential construction projects. However, construction spending levels are up 6.4 percent compared to May 2023, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America released today of new federal data. Association officials noted that public construction demand was up 0.5 percent for the month, helping offset declines in other types of activity. “The Census Bureau today responded to requests by the association and others to show data centers separately from the overall…
AGC and Progressive Policy Institute released the report during an event at the U.S. Capitol complex that featured comments from congressional officials, the report’s authors, a construction general contractor and a community college administrator. The panelists talked about the challenges posed by the current federal funding levels and urged policy makers to help. The report, titled Building a Stronger Workforce: Federal Spending on Postsecondary Education and Training, notes that of the $139.5 billion the federal government spends annually on postsecondary education, only $28.2 billion goes to workforce education and training programs. The other $111.3 billion supports “traditional” degree programs that only…
Stay informed with our mid-year economic insights from Chief Economist, Ken Simonson and Senior Research Analyst, Macrina Wilkins. Discover key trends in economic growth, spending, inflation, and interest rates. Learn about the continued demand in construction for data centers, renewable energy, and infrastructure, despite challenges in the office market and rising labor costs.
Construction employment increased in 39 states in May from a year earlier, while 26 states added construction jobs between April and May, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials noted that construction labor shortages remain acute even as demand for construction remains varied by project type. “Although some project types are slowing, there is unrelenting competition for workers for data centers, manufacturing plants, power and infrastructure projects in much of the country,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The industry’s ‘war for talent’ is driving up labor-related costs…
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released “Promising Practices for Preventing Harassment in the Construction Industry,” a document that highlights recommendations that the EEOC would like industry leaders to consider to combat harassment in construction. AGC has testified in front of the EEOC on the issue and convened association staff and member subject-matter experts in meetings with the agency to help the EEOC understand the particularities of the industry and the substantial efforts contractors are taking to prevent and address harassment. Much of this input hopefully was considered by the EEOC in the development of this guidance and…
According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., contractors are projecting 2024 construction staff wages to increase an average of 4.38%, as reported by over 360 companies in the 42st edition of the Construction / Construction Management Staff Salary Survey. Typically, projected increases are .3% to .5% higher by year end, so there is a good chance that pay will hit 4.7% or more this year. For pay increase comparison – according to WorldatWork, across all industries, exempt professionals saw 2023 increases of 4.5% with initial projected 2024 increases of 4.1%. Jeff Robinson with PAS will be presenting…
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) celebrates a significant legal victory in its ongoing efforts to protect members from overreaching federal regulations. On June 24, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Lubbock granted AGC’s motion for a nationwide preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking AGC-challenged provisions to a rule issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) expanding coverage of the Davis-Bacon Act. AGC filed a narrowly tailored lawsuit in federal court against the DOL challenging the agency’s unlawful expansion of Davis-Bacon coverage to truck drivers and to material suppliers owned and operated by general contractors or subcontractors.…
Associated General Contractors of America Argues New Rule Exceeds Statutory Authority Under the Davis-Bacon Act, Court Agrees The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) celebrates a significant legal victory in its ongoing efforts to protect members from overreaching federal regulations. Today, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Lubbock has granted AGC’s motion for a nationwide preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking the AGC-challenged provisions to a rule issued by the U.S. Department of Labor expanding coverage of the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA). Read more.
The rule adds requirements to an already complicated permitting process and ignores permitting reforms previously passed by Congress. On Tuesday, June 18, Senators Joe Manchin (D–W.Va.), Dan Sullivan (R–Alaska) and Congressman Garret Graves (R–La.) introduced an AGC-supported Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to nullify the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s) final rule, “National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Regulations Revisions Phase 2”. You may recall, AGC previously reported on this rule when it was released in May. The NEPA Phase 2 rule elevates climate and community impacts—requiring extensive review of effects, alternatives analysis, and mitigation on top of an already protracted process. Through this…