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HEADLINES ADDED: July 07, 2009
14 Myths About Women in the Construction Trades
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HEADLINES ADDED: June 24, 2009
30,000 workers in the skilled trades needed for the economic upturn
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 15, 2009
What is the difference in pay between Union construction jobs and non-union
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 13, 2009
1.4 Million Construction Workers Unemployed Since Early ’07
Unemployment in the construction sector climbed to a “horrendous” 19.2 percent (not-seasonally adjusted) as an additional 59,000 construction workers lost their jobs in May according to new federal data.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 27, 2009
Caterpillar to Halve Hours of 985 Workers
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 04, 2009
More than 4,000 builders on Olympics
The total workforce building the Olympic Park has broken the 4,000 barrier with one half of 2012 construction workers living in London.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 30, 2009
More than 4,000 builders on Olympics
The total workforce building the Olympic Park has broken the 4,000 barrier with one half of 2012 construction workers living in London.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 18, 2009
Todays workers, despite being worried about their jobs, feel they have other options...
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 04, 2009
Construction Job Losses Continue In March
Employment in construction has fallen by 1.3 million since peaking in January 2007.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 19, 2009
3000 projects and 1 million jobs
Living just outside of Chicago I can attest to a recently published truck driver survey that I-55 and I-90 are two of the worst roads in the country (and they don’t get much better once you drive on them outside the Chicago metro area). Not a good thing, as the reason the roads are so bad is we’ve neglected them for so long. As a recent overview of road construction in Parade magazine, How We Can Save Our Roads, points out, those years of neglect might just be the... Read More
Improve Workforce Performance through Feedback
If you want a workforce that performs work correctly and efficiently for every job, you will need two important components: proper work processes and timely feedback. Unfortunately, many owners and supervisors either say nothing " or too much " neither of which leads to the behaviors you want. In this Construction Business Podcast Jeff Stokes of Next Level Contractor Systems discusses how to provide timely and balanced feedback that both encourages your workers and improves their on-the-job behavior as well as feedback’s effects on younger workers. Guest: Jeff Stokes... Read More
Construction Workers Win $8.5-million Settlement Against National Contracting Firm
An article in the Los Angeles Times reports that thousands of mostly Latino workers will share in an $8.5-million settlement with a national construction firm they had accused in a class-action lawsuit of violating California’s wage and hour laws. The suit, believed to be among the state’s largest class actions involving wage claims by Latino workers, alleges that the company failed to pay the workers for a full day’s work when warranted. Masco Contractor Services Inc. and its California subsidiaries, Western Insulation and Schmid Insulation Contractors, “deny any liability,”... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 16, 2009
Stimulus Creating Construction Jobs in Rhode Island
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HEADLINES ADDED: February 20, 2009
Construction wage rates in Ireland - employers call for 10% cut
Wage rates for construction workers in Ireland come under the spotlight today when unions present their case for 3.5% rise, whereas employers will argue for a 10% pay cut.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 14, 2009
Construction redundancies soar, 48,000 in last three months
More than 48,000 construction workers were made redundant during the final quarter of last year.... Read More
Polish army aims to recruit workers laid off in UK
The Polish army is hosting events in Hammersmith, west London - the heart of the UK's Polish community - in a bid to recruit Polish plumbers and construction workers who have been laid off in the recession.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 11, 2009
Workers demonstrate outside Alstom HQ
As Total announced a settlement of the dispute at its Lindsey refinery, unemployed engineering construction workers today mounted a demonstration at the London HQ of Alstom, main contractor at the Staythorpe power station.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 29, 2009
1,000 construction workers strike over foreign labour - VIDEO
Wildcat strikes erupt at 12 energy sites over use of foreign labour; flying pickets descend on Lindsey Refinery site.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 14, 2009
Blueprint launched to save construction jobs
Small business leaders published an action plan today to help keep contractors working and save thousands of jobs.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 03, 2009
New nuclear power station planned for Anglesey
Hundreds of construction jobs could be created after German power giant RWE secured a grid connection for a new nuclear power station in Anglesey.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 29, 2008
Contractors with direct workforces lose out as pay rates plummet
Contractors with directly employed workforces are losing jobs as the recession sees labour rates plummet.... Read More
Pettifer Construction in administration, 120 redundancies
Staff at Pettifer Construction were hearing how many people will be made redundant today after the firm went into administration yesterday.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 26, 2008
Contractors with direct workforces lose out as pay rates plummet
Contractors with directly employed workforces are losing jobs as the recession sees labour rates plummet.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 13, 2008
Opportunity to adopt effective recruitment strategies
Rising unemployment has been centre stage again this week, including a report that the construction industry is experiencing the biggest increase in job losses in 20 years. Two thirds of new unemployment claims in some regions are from workers in the building trades. Perhaps this isn’t so surprising with construction accounting for approximately eight per [...]... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 11, 2008
Construction managers and engineers head skills shortage list
Britain needs more construction managers and engineers, according to a provisional list of shortage occupations drawn up by immigration authorities.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 10, 2008
Irish building supplies group Grafton to cut a further 1,000 jobs
Irish building supplies group Grafton is to axe up to 1,000 jobs this year due to the housebuilding downturn in the UK and Ireland.... Read More
Construction managers and engineers head skills shortage list
Britain needs more construction managers and engineers, according to a provisional list of shortage occupations drawn up by immigration authorities.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 01, 2008
Construction jobs fall 70% in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s construction workforce has plummeted by 70% in the past 12 months, according to a new survey.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 31, 2008
Construction jobs fall 70% in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s construction workforce has plummeted by 70% in the past 12 months, according to a new survey.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 26, 2008
Kier's housebuilding division: 350 jobs go as 4 offices shut
Kier has embarked on a major shake-up of its residential housebuilding operation with the loss of 350 jobs.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 18, 2008
Workers on £1.6bn Westfield development to double to 5,000
The number of construction workers on the £1.6bn Westfield London project is set to double to 5,000 by the end of the month as work on the site hits its peak.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 17, 2008
Workers on £1.6bn Westfield development to double to 5,000
The number of construction workers on the £1.6bn Westfield London project is set to double to 5,000 by the end of the month as work on the site hits its peak.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 28, 2008
Saskatchewan heads to Philippines and Ukraine to recruit workers
The Saskatchewan government led a delegation, including representatives from the construction industry, on a recruitment mission to the Philippines and the Ukraine. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is an immigration program designed to allow the provincial government to select skilled workers and entrepreneurs based on their ability to contribute to the local economy.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 26, 2008
Saskatchewan heads to Philippines and Ukraine to recruit workers
The Saskatchewan government led a delegation, including representatives from the construction industry, on a recruitment mission to the Philippines and the Ukraine. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is an immigration program designed to allow the provincial government to select skilled workers and entrepreneurs based on their ability to contribute to the local economy.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 13, 2008
Construction strategy calls for 230,000 new workers by 2010
The construction industry has been told it must recruit 230,000 new workers by 2010 and train 13,5000 apprentices to meet new government targets.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 11, 2008
Construction strategy calls for 230,000 new workers by 2010
The construction industry has been told it must recruit 230,000 new workers by 2010 and train 13,5000 apprentices to meet new government targets.... Read More
Foreign workers form small but essential part of Canada’s labour force, panel says
Temporary foreign workers may only account for five percent of Canada’s construction workforce but their importance cannot be ignored, a Construction Sector Council (CSC) panel recently emphasized.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 02, 2008
Vancouver Regional Construction Association considers recruiting in United Kingdom
The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) is trying to determine if its membership is interested in recruiting workers from the United Kingdom.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 29, 2008
McGee Group: entire workforce hold CSCS card
McGee Group, the demolition and civil engineering contractor, has reported that its entire workforce now holds a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 26, 2008
Redrow to make hundreds redundant
Redrow has become the first major housebuilder to cut jobs as it made around 15% of its workforce - about 200 people - redundant.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 12, 2008
Construction workers contribute to rise in number of employees with no fixed workplace
The construction industry accounted for one-third of the increase in workers who reported no fixed workplace address between 2001 and 2006, according to Statistics Canada.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 29, 2008
Heritage skills gap threatens Britain's historic buildings
Millions of old buildings are under threat due to a lack of skilled heritage workers.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 26, 2008
Polish workers returning home
The tide of migration is turning and the construction industry could lose many of its Polish workers following the launch of a Polish government campaign to encourage builders to return home. Newspaper adverts and a glossy brochure at Polish cultural centres is talking up the opportunities in Poland which is experiencing a building boom and [...]... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 25, 2008
Polish construction workers lured home
The construction industry could lose its Polish workers, if a campaign to lure the migrants back home is successful.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 19, 2008
Chavs abuse Bullock builders
Construction workers employed by Bullock were been forced retreat from a North Lincolnshire estate after a number of "serious incidents".... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 09, 2008
Cheap and Easy Employee Recruitment Idea
A news story came across the wire this morning that I found very interesting and wanted to share with the readers of this blog. General contractor, R.W. Allen, headquartered in Augusta, Georgia took advantage of its recent project - the construction of a high school - to showcase opportunities graduating high schoolers have available to them in the construction industry. 16 high-school students toured the jobsite of the new school to get a better understanding of what is involved in commercial construction and find out the possibilities of joining... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 08, 2008
Northern Ireland construction jobs threatened
Hundreds of thousands of construction workers in Northern Ireland could lose their jobs if a downturn in the industry continues.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 04, 2008
Hundreds of builders earn green credentials
Some 300 construction workers have had their environmental and green building expertise officially recognised.... Read More
Success With Hispanics: Construction Woes and the Latino Subcontractor
The current shakedown in the construction industry allows for two very important things to happen that are to the benefit of both the organization and the workers. It allows companies to refocus on training their workforce for the long term and it helps clean up the subcontractor industry.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 25, 2008
Harjim Industrial Services on the job at Pacific Sport Institute
Workers with Marjim Industrial Services put the finishing touches on some steel columns on the west side of the gym at the Pacific Sport Institute project at Camosun College’s Interurban campus on the outskirts of Victoria.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 19, 2008
British Columbia Construction Association casts net overseas in bid for skilled workers
The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) attended two job fairs in Germany in early March to recruit skilled construction workers.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 18, 2008
Construction Work Left Undone
During my trip to Florida last week, my son and I drove from Ft. Lauderdale down the Florida Keys to Key West and then back up to Islamorada (by Key Largo). We drove back and forth on this road several times over the three days we were there and we noticed something we thought very unusual. There were a number of homes and commercial buildings in various stages of completion with no one working on them. This was the case all the way down to Key West. We asked... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 02, 2008
Third of American workers expect to quit this year
A third of American workers say they will only "probably" still be with their employer by the end of the year, highlighting the deep unhappiness felt by many at what they perceive to be the lack of opportunities offered to them by their managers.... Read More
Construction Industry Faces Ethical Challenges, Exec Says
To replace departing Baby Boomers, industry must change its behavior.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 26, 2008
90,000 new workers needed every year until 2011
Construction needs to recruit almost 90,000 workers-a-year as growth in the industry climbs to a peak in 2011, according to the latest employment predictions from the ConstructionSkills Network.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 25, 2008
Construction Youth Trust launches scheme for 'Budding Brunels'
The Construction Youth Trust is to launch the ‘Budding Brunels’ pilot scheme, giving pupils aged 16-17 the chance to experience aspects of construction, including trips to construction and engineering sites and visits to working museums.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 17, 2008
Success With Hispanics: How to Give Safety Talks to Latinos
Company leaders consistently tell me that their No. 1 priority is safety. For the most part, I believe this is the case. This being said, the reality is that our safety talks to Latinos very frequently fall short of the level of importance and priority we affirm. I would like to help you with your safety talks with Latinos. I am speaking specifically here about the presentation of the actual safety talks. There are three key words that will point the way as it relates to delivering information on... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 08, 2008
The New Generation
To paraphrase, "They are reckless, ill-mannered and disrespectful of adults". Sounds like today's young people. You're right. However, Socrates said this over 2,000 years ago about the youth of his day. We can be awfully harsh on the next generation. Most of it is undeserved. They are just young and inexperienced, full of emotion and ideals. No scar tissue. They just don't know some basic truths about what can happen to them. How fragile life is and how fickle it can be. Lastly, that God has a sense of... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 06, 2008
Government of Alberta invests $1.5 million in trades-training facility for women
The Government of Alberta announced on Jan. 31 that it is investing $1.5 million toward the completion of a training facility for women entering the trades. The program, operated by the Women Building Futures not-for-profit organization, helps women achieve economic independence and build strong futures through trades training, mentorship and employment support.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 04, 2008
Construction Challenge Excites Youth About Industry
Nearly 170 bright and eager high-school-aged students descended on Milwaukee's Midwest Airlines Center January 12th to compete in the Midwest Regional Rally of the first-ever Construction Challenge competition. During the day-long competition, 28 teams of five to seven members matched construction-industry knowledge, creativity and quick wits to answer questions related to the construction indu...... Read More
Minorities In Construction
Detroit Businessman Expands Operations Joel Haashiim is the owner of Joel's Enterprise Inc., of Detroit, which does construction trucking and over-the-road trucking. The company has been in business for over 20 years. "We have a total of 17 trucks; however, we have three trucks that are for aggregate hauling and heavy duty hauling for construction sites," Haashiim said.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 03, 2008
Ladies - The Design and Construction Industry Wants YOU!
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HEADLINES ADDED: January 30, 2008
Manitoba construction industry prepares to pay more for skilled trades workers
Manitoba’s construction industry will be in a better position to compete for skilled trades workers across Canada as a result of recommended wage increases by the Construction Industry Wages Consultation Panel.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 29, 2008
A Progressive Program Showing That Construction Offers Many Opportunities
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HEADLINES ADDED: January 24, 2008
Why builders should just say yes to drug testing
Safety on the jobsite has been compromised since the beginning of modern home building by workers under the influence of alcohol and illicit drugs. It is up to builders and their crews on the ground to implement and enforce a strict drug and alcohol policy.... Read More
December Job Growth Highlights Weak Areas in U.S. Economy
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HEADLINES ADDED: January 22, 2008
Weak jobs reports set off another confidence crisis
The unexpectedly small 18,000 job gain in December threatens to destabilize the fragile financial market yet again and push buyer confidence even lower. By itself, one weak month of job growth is usually not so significant. But investors and business managers had been trying to conduct “business as normal”, hoping for no more bad news. Now it has happened. The unexpectedly small 18,000 job gain in December threatens to destabilize the fragile financial market yet again and push buyer confidence even lower. By itself, one weak month of job... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 18, 2008
Number of construction students up 6%
The number of construction and built environment students accepted onto undergraduate courses in 2007 has risen by nearly 6% on the previous year, Construction Skills has revealed.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 16, 2008
British Columbia construction companies find skilled workers in Mexico
B.C. construction companies stunned prospective employees with quick offers of work in Canada at a job fair held by the B.C. Construction Association (BCCA) in Mexico.... Read More
Twelve construction occupations join temporary foreign worker pilot project
The Expedited Labour Market Opinion (ELMO) program, a one-year pilot project, has added 12 new construction trades to the list of high-demand occupations eligible for fast-tracking through the immigration process.... Read More
TBJ and CEFGA Launch CEFGAJOBS.com to Combat Labor Shortage
CEFGAJOBS.com to serve as a model for employing students and addressing the labor shortage in the construction industry Atlanta, GA – The shortage of skilled labor in construction has been a topic of conversation for years now. With baby boomers starting to retire, and a shortage of young workers entering the industry, construction firms may soon find themselves in a serious employee crisis. The Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA) and TopBuildingJobs.com have teamed up to tackle this impending dilemma. Their hope is that CEFGAJOBS.com will help solve the... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 14, 2008
Why Do I Need to Know About Globalization? I Work for a Small U.S. Firm
One might respond that megaprojects or globalization are of no interest because he or she is a domestic practicing engineer in a small firm – say fewer than 35 employees. However, look around you – many of the emerging technologies and innovative ideas are generated by engineers from all around the world. Being small and local does not make you immune from being a responsible engineer maintaining competency and knowledge of the most effective and efficient ways to solve a problem. Value can be gained from learning what others... Read More
Is it Time For Engineering Education Reform?
At one time, engineers were esteemed by the public as both visionaries and leaders in a noble profession essential to the welfare of humankind. Today, though, engineers are viewed by many simply as mere advisors and technicians. The public’s perception of the engineer is on a downward spiral, along with the enrollment of young people into our engineering schools. Engineers are facing critical challenges and questions by the public in light of the recent bridge collapses in Minnesota and Vietnam and lingering issues with natural disasters such as Katrina... Read More
AEC Industry in Crisis--We Need an ACE in the Hole
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From Incentives to Penalties: How Far Should Employers Go to Reduce Workplace Obesity?
This month, more than half of Americans probably made health-related New Year's resolutions, but few are likely to stick to them. Employees at CFI Westgate Resorts in Orlando, Fla., might consider themselves lucky: They have an incentive to get healthy. If they join in the company-wide weight-loss contest and reach their goals, they could win cash prizes or a luxury vacation. Westgate isn't the only employer trying to push employees, especially obese ones, into healthy lifestyles. But using incentives, and in some cases penalties, to change employee behavior raises... Read More
IEC Asks Members and Chapters to Comment on Updates to National Apprenticeship Act
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued a Notice of Public Rulemaking (NPRM) to update the regulations that implement the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937.... Read More
Employees Returning from Military Service
New Labor Ruling applicable to employees returning from military service:Employers must credit National Guard and reservists active duty time towards their eligibility for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Contractors should know that the Department of Labor (“DOL”) recently issued a memorandum that clarifies its position on the rights of returning uniformed service members to family and medical leave, which is governed by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (“USERRA”). USERRA entitles returning service members to all the benefits of employment that they “would have”... Read More
Spanish for Construction Trade
With a growing population of Spanish-speaking employees in the construction industry the importance of effectively communicating with these employees also grows. For those looking for help in this area without having to completely learn a new language, there is a new book that is aimed at those in construction. “Spanish for the Construction Trade,” authored by William C. Harvey and published by Barron’s Educational Series, this 313 page reference book provides essential words and phrases in chapters on specific construction situations. Additional information contained in the book includes pronunciation,... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 13, 2008
Steel-toes and tool belts for women
After leaving a corporate job at IBM, Tomboy Trades' founder Marissa McTasney enrolled in a skilled-trades course for women, with the aim of starting her own construction company. She spotted a gap in the market on her first day of school. When she and her classmates went out to buy work boots, she was surprised to find they only came in tan and black: men’s shoes in female sizes.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 06, 2008
Americans Working Longer Hours, Especially in Small Businesses
Do you seem to be working longer hours and still not getting everything done? Are you paying employees overtime simply because you can't fill job slots? If so, you have plenty in common with owners and employees of small businesses across the U.S.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 03, 2008
To Have A Good Workforce, You Need To Have Good Leadership Skills
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Construction Industry Needs 185,000 People Per Year Over Next Decade
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Everywoman to launch subsidised courses
A London-based training firm dedicated to boosting the number of women in the construction industry has announced plans for a heavily-subsidised range of training programmes.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 26, 2007
Prevailing Wages on Government Contracts
Certain federal laws require contractors and subcontractors to pay some employees wages in excess of minimum wage. Most notably, the Davis-Bacon Act (“DBA”) and the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (“SCA”) impose wage requirements related to nearly all construction and service contracts with the U.S. or District of Columbia governments.The DBA requires contractors to pay laborers and mechanics prevailing wages as determined and published by the Department of Labor (“DOL”). The Act applies to contracts with the U.S. government and District of Columbia for the construction, alteration, or repair of... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 25, 2007
Role of trade unions still misunderstood by general public
According to the latest opinion poll on the subject, the role of trade unions in the civil society is as much misunderstood as ever by the great unwashed.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 19, 2007
Recruiting Today For Tomorrow's Work Force
On any list of industries, construction is undoubtedly near the top when it comes to the opportunities for developing satisfying and rewarding careers. Recruiting, training and retraining of workers should not be difficult — but the reality is that work force recruitment is one of the greatest challenges facing the construction industry today.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 18, 2007
Hot Jobs with potential - Architect
... Read More
Training Northwest Construction Workers
Addressing the growing concern about keeping up with the growing demand for construction workers in the Northwest involves more than simply recruiting warm bodies to fill the ranks. New people entering the field are useless to contractors until they gain the skills needed to do the work, and that's where apprenticeships come in.... Read More
Training Retains Employees
As the construction industry attempts to hire and keep qualified employees, more and more employers and organizations are providing training to keep employees up to date with the industry and the technologies. People who want to enter construction and employees are searching for training as one method to get into the field and advance their positions.... Read More
For California Veterans
Two press releases and some website visits produced the following information to help California military veterans find careers in construction ... Helmets to Hardhats Comes to California! Helmets to Hardhats (www.helmetstohardhats.org), a new program of the Building and Construction Trades Department (www.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 16, 2007
Hot Jobs with potential - Construction Estimator
... Read More
Why remodelers need to be scared of Generation X
This past weekend, I got together with a bunch of friends. The group was all young couples in their 30s, most with kids, some not, all college educ...... Read More
Five Construction Training And Re-Training Tools
Construction is one of the most open employment fields in the United States. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the construction industry is going to need 1 million new workers by 2012 to build and repair the nation's infrastructure, build new structures, and replace retiring baby boomers.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 13, 2007
Are We Creating Hardworking Idiots?
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New York City Sees Influx of Women in Construction
According to an article from the New York Times, the city has seen its efforts to include more women in construction succeed. In the past two years, the percentage of women construction workers has jumped from 2.2 percent to about 3 percent. In 2005, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg initiated efforts to recruit and include more minorities, veterans, high-school dropouts and women in building jobs. The efforts have been a success. There are more examples of women succeeding in the construction industry. In 2000, Nontraditional Employment for Women, a group that... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 12, 2007
A Perfect Hiring Storm: Scarce talent and Bad Press
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HEADLINES ADDED: December 11, 2007
Females building trust: Women in construction prove selves
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These techy times
I recently visited with a contractor who mentioned something to me that I hear from just about every concrete contractor I talk to — one of his challenges is finding employees. He attributes a lot of that to school systems and their lack of providing alternatives to college. He goes on to say, “Construction is always looked at as a dirty job, but today with robotics, computers and modern equipment, jobs require less physical labor and more technical skills and an employee’s use of their intelligence.” I grew up... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 09, 2007
Hot Jobs with potential - Construction Foreman
... Read More
Home Builders, Remodelers, and Immigration Issues
A little more than a year ago, we ran a couple of stories in the August issue of Professional Builder about the immigration issue and how it affects home builders. (See here and here and... (more)... Read More
Day laborers in Chicago
Be honest now. How many undocumented immigrants are on your payroll right this second? Last season? The last couple of years? If you’re like many contractors you hire people who can do the work and don’t pay much attention to their documentation…or you look the other way even if you know. And if you’re short manpower on a crew — for a day, a week, or even more — how have you handled that in the past? Many contractors turn to the pool of day laborers available in most... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 06, 2007
Hot Jobs with potential - Construction Expediter
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 05, 2007
EEOC Spells Out Good & Bad on Employee Screening
Employment tests are effective tools, but employers using them must take care not to violate federal anti-discrimination laws.... Read More
Task force set up to address skills shortage
A task force was launched this week to find apprenticeship places for 10,000 students on construction courses who cannot find a contractor to take them on.... Read More
December 5, 2007- CSI Construction Minute
Growing numbers of women are entering into building trades – NYC trade unions pledge their support. CSI NewsBrief :: Construction News Delivered to Your Inbox File Download (1:14 min / 1 MB)... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 04, 2007
Hot Jobs with potential - Construction Business Development Manager
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 03, 2007
Women In Construction
Sterling Expands Into Commercial Construction Christine Sterling, owner of Benzella Management Group, Inc., of Detroit, has approximately six years of experience in the construction industry. "I started as a laborer. I started out with a $1 house from the city of Detroit. I had a three-year contract to repair the house and when I finished repairing the house and completed the contract, I paid $...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 27, 2007
Why Are Associations Fighting State Licensing?
Why is there so much opposition from organizations like BICSI, CEA, CEDIA, NSCA, and others in regards to state licensing for Electronic System Technicians (i.e. Low Voltage Installers)? ... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 26, 2007
Hot Jobs with potential - Construction Project Manager
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 25, 2007
Hot Jobs with potential - Construction Safety Director
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Interesting Info on Starting Salaries in South Florida
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Military vs. MBA
"We find that military people really understand managing multiple priorities, and overall customer satisfaction. They have a real go-get-it attitude. They are self-starters who won't leave until the job is done right."... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 21, 2007
References of Our Annual Boot Camp
Matt, I wanted to write to express my appreciation for the Business Management Boot Camp seminar you put on through the Southeastern Pennsylvania Associated Builders and Contractors from 4-23-07 through 4-27-07 My personal experience in our industry has been one of coming up through the ranks of a carpentry company, from Apprentice, to Carpenter, to Superintendent and now into management. This is not an uncommon path for many managers in the construction business; however the shift in paradigms from the field to a management position was a struggle for... Read More
Carillion boss calls for more apprentices
A Carillion director is urging other contractors to follow his company's lead and train more apprentices. Robin Herzberg, managing director of Carillion...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 20, 2007
The Organizations That Continue To Win The “War For Talent” Will Be Based On Many Factors…
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Construction Faces Labor Shortage
Michigan, like the rest of the United States, will be facing a labor shortage in the construction industry with the retirement of baby boomers. The average age for an apprentice in the skilled trades is 27. That's already an eyebrow raiser, Brindley Byrd, C.A.P.S., C.G.R., executive director of the Capital Area Construction Council (CACC), said.... Read More
Keeping the Old, Recruiting the New
California's construction industry is in the same predicament as the rest of the nation. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (www.aem.org), the average age of a construction worker is 52. In decades past, replacements would line up eagerly, ready to follow the path their fathers took, entering the field after high school or a stint in the military.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 16, 2007
Hot Jobs with potential - Construction Project Engineer
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 15, 2007
Contractor Update - Illegal Workers Could Cost You
... Read More
Klein Tools Announces $250,000 Tool Scholarship
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 14, 2007
Hot Jobs with potential - Construction Scheduler
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HEADLINES ADDED: November 12, 2007
Hot Jobs with potential - Construction Superintendent
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The 10 Worst Jobs in America
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HEADLINES ADDED: November 08, 2007
All-Star HR: 100 Resources to Attract, Retain and Leverage Talented Women
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Podcast - Understanding the Generations in Today's Workforce
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Civil engineering fails to attract women
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Here where the new jobs (and job growth) will be
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HEADLINES ADDED: November 06, 2007
The Demand for Talent: Looking To Generation Y
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The Demand for Talent: Looking To Generation Y
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Smart Business
The January 1990 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical magazine had a cover story titled “The Manpower Crisis,” written by me. It featured interviews with apprenticeship recruiters and other industry experts addressing a skilled labor shortage that had already started to rear its head. Demographic and social trends indicated the problem would only worsen in years to come.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 02, 2007
Are you fishing in the right pond?
Should you settle for second rate guys with fair technical skills or worse yet, poor customer skills? Or, is it time to go fishing in a different pond?... Read More
Tom McCart 'Consultant of the Year' Award Begins in 2008
Service Roundtable, Contracting Business make announcement... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 01, 2007
Economic Strike or Unfair Labor Practice Strike?
An economic strike may be converted to an unfair labor practice strike if the employer commits unfair labor practices that prolong the strike. Examples of conduct that have been found to cause strike conversion are: - Telling strikers that they...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 31, 2007
Rights Of Employees Respecting Picket Lines
One of organized labor's "sacred cows" is the honoring of picket lines. One will rarely see a politician who desires labor's support cross a picket line. Similarly, unions will often discipline members who cross picket lines - its own or...... Read More
Evolution of the NLRA
The history and evolution of the NLRA can be very instructive in understanding how its provisions are interpreted, and particularly how they relate to construction labor law. The following is a brief outline of how the Act came to be...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 30, 2007
Construction Challenge
Maintaining the infrastructure is an economic challenge. More than that, it's a construction challenge. There are simply not enough workers entering the field to support current and future needs of the construction industry. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers earlier this year announced a new program — the Construction Challenge — that uses a fun, hands-on approach to introd...... Read More
Is The Skilled Labor Shortage An Advantage or a Curse In The Recruitment Market?
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HEADLINES ADDED: October 29, 2007
Legal Q&A: Let's show some positive action
Ensure actions you committed to in race equality schemes are measureable and effective.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 26, 2007
Where Did The AFL-CIO Come From?
In 1886 Samuel Gompers brought together a group of skilled craft and trade unions and formed the American Federation of Labor (AFL) to attempt to improve wages and working conditions, shorten working hours, abolish child labor, and provide for collective...... Read More
Davis-Bacon Suspended and Reinstated in Katrina-affected Areas.
The Davis-Bacon Act establishes minimum wage obligations for workers engaged in federally financed construction. See my November 7. 2004 posting for more details. On September 8, 2005, President Bush suspended the Davis-Bacon Act in Hurricane Katrina-damaged areas of Alabama, Florida,...... Read More
Employee Issues - Importance of an Employee Manual
Quick spot check about employees. Are they doing the job you hired them to do? Are jobs getting done on time or ahead of schedule? Do they show up for work on time? Do they keep the morning and afternoon breaks to 10 minutes max? Do they spend time talking to the customers that should be spent working? How much time is being logged on their mobile phones? Do they always carry the right tools to get the job done? Do they keep necessary materials on their vehicles to... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 25, 2007
Diversifying The Workplace
Times have changed since the days when racism and prejudice made construction jobs hard to get and miserable to hold for people of color. Nowadays, what matters on most job sites is not what workers look like, but how well they do their jobs. Still, a visitor to a typical construction project is likely to see a workforce that is noticeably less diverse than the neighboring community.... Read More
ROI of Humans
Companies still struggle to measure the value of employees.... Read More
Developing African-American Business Ownership
The African-American Trucking Association of Construction Contractors in Detroit is training African-Americans to become successful business owners in the construction trucking business. The association also provides smaller trucking firms the opportunity to pool their resources with other trucking firms in order to bid on larger projects and have buying power when purchasing equipment.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 24, 2007
Online support tool for construction companies employing migrant workers
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HEADLINES ADDED: October 23, 2007
How to Find Great Part-Time Employees
Using local resources can help you tap the part-time labor market, and good interviewing and listening skills will help you land and keep the top talent.... Read More
Recruiting for Riches
An Insider’s Guide to Building a Winning Sales Team... Read More
Why We Can--And Should--Teach Leadership
05 OCT 2007 from Forbes | Read the full story» Whether one is born a leader or not, I have no doubt that leadership can be taught. And, most importantly, it can be learned. The transformation of EMBA programs now focusing on real-life leadership scenarios has taken the degree from a launching pad for success to a simulation of real-world challenges, preparing executives for the day-to-day operation of a business.... Read More
How to Identify Future Workplace Leaders
Up until fairly recently, most people subscribed to the idea that good leaders exhibited specific traits, such as charisma and gravitas, that inspired loyalty and hard work. It turns out that isn't true.... Read More
The baby-boomer leadership vacuum
Most HR professionals believe Western businesses are failing to bring on the next generation of leaders, creating a vacuum at the top just when emerging economies are snapping at their heels.... Read More
New Web Site Aims to Address Skilled Welder Shortage
A new site, HireWelders.com, has been launched with the purpose of giving a boost to the welding industry. According to American Welding Society (AWS) statistics, there will be a projected shortfall of skilled welders in the U.S. of more than 200,000 by the year 2010.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 22, 2007
Unlawful Discrimination In Hiring Halls
Operation of a hiring hall must conform to the requirements of state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, and so forth. A worker who feels that he or she has been...... Read More
Construction Education Center
A new resource for apprentice training, safety training and other construction professional development courses has been launched by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Connecticut Inc. (CT ABC). The Construction Education Center Inc. is a nonprofit training center that provides training and education for apprentices and field employees.... Read More
IBEW Employs Creative Recruitment Strategies
We've all heard Willie Nelson sing, Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys. What if the lyrics to this song referenced contractors instead of cowboys? How about electricians, plumbers or painters? Although there may not be a song on the airwaves discouraging children to get into the skilled trades, the message is no less prevalent.... Read More
HACIA Opening Doors Of Opportunity
The Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) is a 28-year-old, Chicago-based organization whose mission is to create equal access for minority firms in the construction industry, while also promoting the growth, quality of work, professionalism, and integrity of these businesses. We promote equality and inclusiveness within the industry on behalf of our members, says HACIA ...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 19, 2007
Why the Job Market Is Sagging in the Middle
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HEADLINES ADDED: October 18, 2007
October 18, 2007- CSI Construction Minute
Demand outweighing supply of nation’s engineers. CSI NewsBrief :: Construction News Delivered to Your Inbox File Download (1:12 min / 1 MB)... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 15, 2007
How to Find, Select and Hire Part Time Workers
Part-time workers can be lifesavers when things get crazy.... Read More
Immigrant 101 in Construction
Immigrants have always been a part of the fabric of construction. When we started to gather around city centers and built infrastructure such as roads, buildings, subways, and the like, construction contractors starting looking for people to work in a dirty and dangerous environment. Second generation Americans looked to work in other places. However, immigrants were interested as construction pay was better and the hours more civil than the farm industry where picking, plowing, and bending over during the daylight hours was the norm. This scenario has continued to... Read More
Legally Speaking: Paying an Employee Who Does Not Have a Social Security Number
Many employers of newly hired young and/or foreign workers are faced with the dilemma of paying them before the workers are able to obtain a Social Security number (SSN). Despite the widespread misunderstanding that it is illegal for an employer to pay an employee who does not have an SSN, there is nothing in the law prohibiting it.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 08, 2007
Skilled workforce shortage: Hard realities
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HEADLINES ADDED: October 05, 2007
Stereotypes big part of attracting 'associates' to industry
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HEADLINES ADDED: October 03, 2007
Skilled labor is WHAT?
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Finding Workers in Hawaii - It's Not as Easy as You Think
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HEADLINES ADDED: October 01, 2007
Population Trends and How They Play Into the Skilled Labor Shortage
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Laborers Are Unskilled, Right?
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