Journals

  • CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT RISES BY 16,000 IN MARCH AND 246,000 FOR THE YEAR AS WEEKLY HOURS HIT NEW HIGH AND UNEMPLOYMENT A NEW LOW FOR MARCH

    Hiring Rebounds from Losses in February, Suggesting Demand for Construction Remains Strong; Association Calls for Career Training Funding and Immigration Reform to Continue Growth Construction employment increased by 16,000 jobs in March and by 246,000 jobs, or 3.4 percent, over the past year, according to an analysis of new government data today by the Associated…

  • House Bill 4342 Moves Ahead

    Following an April 16 hearing, House Bill 4342 was approved by the House Public Education Committee the next day. HB 4342 now advances with the committee’s full support. HB 4342 would add a licensed architect to the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) Board of Directors. TxSSC is the official, university-supported research center at Texas State whose mission is to…

  • Top contractors partner with AI firm to prevent jobsite accidents before they happen

    Following up on a study in which Smartvid.io’s artificial intelligence engine “Vinnie” learned from contractor Suffolk’s data to predict roughly one in five safety incidents with 81% accuracy, nine major construction firms are partnering with the software company to further develop predictive analytics and therefore prevent incidents and reduce risk across the industry, according to a Smartvid announcement from…

  • Five Practical Tips to Punt Frustrations and Obtain Your Building Permit

    While on an elevator the other day at one of the jurisdictions in Texas, I noticed a Contractor looking flustered attempting to review some documents.  I said, “hang in there” as he replied that he was bouncing around from floor-to-floor and was determined to make progress in obtaining his permit as he was behind schedule…

  • Debt Collection, Part 2: Collecting the Debt

    Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans. You carried out the due diligence and performed all of the required background checks, application steps, and safety protocols before extending credit. Now that individual has balked on payments, so it’s time to step up your game. In Part 1, Reducing Your Risk, we…

  • 5 Reasons Why Construction Companies Need a CRM Today

    Technology is rapidly changing the game in the construction industry, and the firms who are paying attention and embracing the change will be the ones who win. KPMG’s annual report, “Building a technology advantage — Global Construction Survey” reports that 55 percent feel the industry is ripe for change with 74 percent of respondents saying…

  • Mayor Turner Creates Smart Cities Council to Speed Tech Adoption

    Mayor Sylvester Turner established a Smart City Advisory Council this week comprised of city and regional partners. The council was announced at a smart city planning workshop hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership. The advisory council is charged with engaging community stakeholders, governments, academia and industry to develop a roadmap that will speed the adoption…

  • CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT INCREASES IN 44 STATES FROM JANUARY 2018 TO JANUARY 2019; 33 STATES ADD JOBS IN LATEST MONTH AS ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR INVESTMENT IN TRAINING

    Forty-four states added construction jobs between January 2018 and January 2019, while 33 states added construction jobs between December and January, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials cautioned that the employment gains may not last without an increase in the number of…

  • Let’s Keep it Complicated

    Equity. Diversity. Inclusion. I heard these powerful, complicated words reduced to the acronym “EDI” for the first time last week at a meeting — and while this signal of ubiquitous discussion encourages me, I felt the abbreviation packages them up a little too neatly. What does it mean for an organization to value diversity? How…

  • Texas high-speed train named top global infrastructure project

    The Texas high-speed train has been named among the top global infrastructure projects by CG/LA, a national infrastructure advocacy group, in its 2019 Strategic 100 Global Infrastructure Report. Designed to identify projects with the most potential opportunity in the upcoming year, the CG/LA reports select projects with widespread benefits and strategic importance in 30 targeted…

  • The Texas A&M University System Office of HUB and Procurement Programs

    The Texas A&M University System is committed to providing equal access and opportunity that encourages the development and participation of minority, woman and service disabled veteran businesses in the State of Texas. The leadership of the A&M System, its universities, agencies and health science center are dedicated to providing equal opportunity. Each System member is…