Construction

Construction employment increased in 269 of 358 metro areas between September 2021 and September 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. But association officials noted that those job gains could stall as the industry faces a growing list of challenges, including labor shortages, rising materials…

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer  “Play ball” is two words you should remember going into 2023. I enjoy networking with contractors, developers, and others in the construction industry. I recently attended the American Turkic Real Estate and Construction Summit in Houston and here’s the bottom line for the 2023 economy in Texas and in the…

The price of materials and services used in nonresidential construction jumped 12.6 percent in September from a year earlier despite a dip of 0.2 percent last month, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released recently. Association officials note that the construction industry was suffering the most from…

Jobs come, and jobs go. There isn’t much of a call for harpooners on whaling ships anymore. Of course, ten years ago, most people couldn’t imagine anyone working as a cryptocurrency investigator. It’s not just innovation, though. Economic forces can squeeze people right out of certain fields. With a recession looming or already here, MerchantMaverick.com…

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer  A few months ago, I was a featured workshop speaker providing insights and tips for navigating the construction industry.  Most folks that have heard me speak before or have read any of my articles know that I am a storyteller sharing real-life stories from experiences from projects and often makes…

The price of materials and services used in nonresidential construction declined by 1.1 percent from July to August as a steep drop in fuel prices masked increases in the cost of other construction inputs, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released recently. Association officials cautioned that limited…

The top recruitment strategies for construction recruiting include but are not limited to building a great company brand that candidates are attracted to, sourcing great talent in new ways, interviewing appropriately, and continuing to train your new hires. Construction companies’ recruitment strategies have never been more critical. In fact, Brent Darnell International, a company that…

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer   It is always a great feeling to sign a new contract.  Be it for a commercial or public project, the sound of hearing the words, “You have been awarded XYZ job” is sweet music.  This was apparent when I was recently picking up a package at the post office. A…

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer   It is always a great feeling to sign a new contract.  Be it for a commercial or public project, the sound of hearing the words, “You have been awarded XYZ job” is sweet music.  This was apparent when I was recently picking up a package at the post office. A…

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, released the following statement in response to the release of new federal rules that will soon require procurement officials to impose project labor agreements for federal construction projects valued at $35 million or more: “Today’s proposed rules requiring procurement officials to…

Construction employment in July continued to trail pre-pandemic levels in 15 states as contractors struggled to find qualified workers to fill openings, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials called on government officials to allow employers to sponsor more foreign-born workers and…

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer    It still happens where building permits are missed, and when this happens the ultimate construction safety sin has occurred.  Some Contractors forget.  Others skirt around jurisdiction requirements.  Some Contractors do the right thing and believe they pulled the correct permits and are surprised to learn otherwise when City Inspectors show…

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer   “What does attending the recent Subcontractors’ USA Top 25 Subcontractors Awards Luncheon have to do with building permitting?” Aside from the fact that there was a super networking environment, tasty food, and a great jazz musician adding to the ambiance, there were anchor institutions like Dallas Independent School District (DISD…

The price of materials and services used in nonresidential construction jumped 1.1 percent last month, outpacing the rise in contractors’ bid prices, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released recently. Association officials warned that rising materials prices were having an adverse impact on a growing number of…

Construction employment in June continued to trail pre-pandemic levels in more than one-third of the states despite record job openings, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America recently. Association officials called on government officials to allow employers to sponsor more foreign-born workers and support more…

Forty-three states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs during the past twelve months, but momentum slowed in May with only 22 states adding jobs, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials said the monthly employment gains lagged in May as…

Contractors’ bid prices for constructing new nonresidential buildings finally caught up with soaring costs for the materials and services they buy in May, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials cautioned that contractors will have a hard time keeping pace with additional price spikes…

Let’s say that you have a big customer that you have been waiting to work with for a long time.  You finally sold this customer and landed your first project.  You meet with your customer to go over their plans, timeline, budget constraints, etc. and you see that all the documents appear to be acceptable…