By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer There are too many times to count where our PermitUsNow team members have answered the company’s 1.844.PERMIT.4 line, and the voice on the other side says, “I am having problems getting a permit.”  We ask the caller basic questions like the scope of work, location, type of use, and their…

By Subcontractors USA News Provider Construction employment in June remained below the levels reached before the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020 in 39 states, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data released today. Association officials noted that many construction firms are struggling to cope with supply chain…

By Subcontractors USA News Provider Construction employment declined by 7,000 between May and June as the industry still employs 238,000 fewer people than before the pandemic, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said that job losses in the nonresidential construction sector offset modest…

By Subcontractors USA News Provider Unprecedented price increases for a wide range of goods and services used in construction pushed up contractors’ costs by a devastating 26.3 percent from June 2020 to June 2021, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released recently. Association officials cautioned that rising…

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer Picture this: you sip your favorite cup of coffee, log into a jurisdiction permitting e-portal to check the status of your plan reviews, then you take a double-look at the screen and shake your head wondering why you have received multiple pages of rejection comments from plan reviewers.  What the…

Representation of women in the construction industry has been a topic of discussion over the past several decades with more and more female construction workers opening up about being hired in traditionally male-dominated positions. Female construction workers currently make up around ten percent of all construction jobs, hovering around one million women in the industry…

By Subcontractors USA News Provider Construction employment in May remained below the April level in 40 states and the District of Columbia, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data released today. Association officials said skyrocketing materials prices and excessive delays in receiving key construction supplies were holding…

By Subcontractors USA News Provider The Home Depot Foundation recently announced a new strategic partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to provide introductory trades training experience and career education for young women. The Foundation and GSUSA will host the first-ever joint construction workshops for Cadette, Senior and Ambassador level Girl Scouts (8th –…

Helen Callier, Contributing Writer  Time is money, so let me get right to the point on the connection between high lumber prices and building permits.    It is no secret that since early 2020, lumber prices have increased to its highest point in history.  High lumber prices combined with some jurisdictions taking much longer than usual…

By Subcontractors USA News Provider The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to the announcement made today that the U.S. Department of Transportation will launch a new pilot project to allow states to impose local hire programs on highway construction programs: “We…