Members' Edge - July 5, 2017

AGC News

Construction Employment Increases by 11,000 in May To Eight-Year High, But Labor Shortages Likely Limited Number of New Jobs Added

Construction employment increased by 11,000 jobs in May to the highest level since October 2008, and average weekly hours set a series high for May as contractors struggled to find enough workers to meet demand for projects, according to an analysis of new government data by AGC of America. Association officials urged lawmakers and other public officials to address the growing shortage of available qualified workers by funding and reinvigorating career and technical education programs.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2017/06/02/construction-employment-increases-11000-may-eight-year-high-labor-shortages-likely to view the full article online.

As House Passes Career And Technical Education Bill, AGC Calls On Senate to Act

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act by a voice vote. The bipartisan vote shows the broad support for the bill, which reforms and reinvigorates the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to meet the current workforce needs through better program alignment, better reporting, increased work-based learning, promoting industry-recognized credentials and increased federal investment. The bill generally addresses AGC's recommendations, and AGC is calling on the U.S. Senate to swiftly consider the bill. Contact your Senators and urge them to support the bill.

Visit http://constructorsvote.com/my-government/my-officials/results to view the full article online.

Want FMI’s 2017 Construction Talent Development Report?

Take the Survey & Understand Your Construction Employment Market

Click here to take the 2017 Talent Development Survey by Tuesday, July 11, 2017

The results of the survey will first be revealed in October at AGC’s 2017 Construction HR & Training Professionals Conference in Phoenix, AZ, and all attendees will receive a free copy of the final report before it is made available to others. The report will be shared with all survey participants as well as the broader industry later this year.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=448859&issueID=56219 to view the full article online.

AGC Study Highlights Risk Of Work Zone Vehicle Crashes

Forty-four percent of highway contractors have experienced a work zone vehicle crash in the past year, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. More than 80 percent say the risk of such crashes has increased in the last decade.

Visit http://www.constructiondive.com/news/agc-majority-of-contractors-say-risk-of-vehicle-crashes-in-work-zones-is-o/443675/ to view the full article online.

AGC-Texas Building Branch Scores Big And Wins On Three Major Bills

Following months of hard work, the AGC-TBB team would like to thank and congratulate the authors and sponsors of three key pieces of legislation that have survived the Texas Legislature and now await the governor's approval.

They

include: State Breach of Contract – House Bill 2121; School Background Checks – House Bill 3270; and Contractor Liability for Defects – Senate Bill 1215.

AGC-TBB staff will coordinate letters from individual AGC chapters and member companies urging Gov. Greg Abbott to sign the bills. We will need to copy Lt. Gov. Patrick, Speaker Straus, and the bills' authors and
sponsors on those letters. AGC members attending the Texas Building Branch convention June 18-21 at the
C'oeur d'Alene Resort in Idaho will be briefed about the Legislative Session and the upcoming Special Session.

Visit http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1119709320910&ca=108ecfd0-b6a8-4c6b-b0d2-aad255802889 to view the full article online.

News you can Use

AGC Members Invited To Be Part Of San Jacinto College's Career Fair

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=448867&issueID=56219 to view the full article online.

ICE Is Coming For Undocumented Workers – How To Prevent Corporate Frostbite

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=448863&issueID=56219 to view the full article online.

OSHA & NIOSH Release Heat Safety Tool

OSHA has announced the release of the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool. The new app, available for Android and iPhone, is a collaborative effort between OSHA and NIOSH to update the OSHA Heat Safety Tool.

Anyone using the current OSHA Heat Safety Tool is encouraged to download the new OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool. The OSHA Heat Safety Tool will be available through September 30, 2017.

Click here for Apple link Click here for Android link

Visit https://www.osha.gov/heat/index.html to view the full article online.

Architecture Billings Grow at Slower Pace During April

Architecture firm billings increased for the third consecutive month in April. However, the Architecture Billings index (ABI) score of 50.9 for the month indicates that fewer firms reported billings growth this month than in March. Firms indicated that plenty of work remains in the pipeline, though, as inquiries into new projects and the value of new design contracts both increased again in April.

Visit https://www.aia.org/pages/89761-abi-april-2017-firm-billings-grow-at-slower- to view the full article online.

Here's Looking at You

AGC Houston Members Garner Safety Awards At State Convention

Pictured in first photo are AGC TBB Chairman Paul Waldrop, Waldrop Construction Co., Inc.; James and Abby Bryant, Anslow Bryant Construction, Ltd., and David Marshall, Marshall Construction Co., Inc., president of CompGroup AGC. Pictured in center photo are Paul Waldrop and David Marshall. Pictured in third photo are Paul Waldrop, Tony Mansoorian, W. S. Bellows Construction Corp.; and David Marshall.

Congratulations to the following AGC Houston member companies that received Safety Awards and Outstanding Construction Awards at the 2017 AGC Texas Building Branch Convention June 18-21 in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=448904&issueID=56219 to view the full article online.

AGC Members Earn Top Outstanding Construction Awards

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=449203&issueID=56219 to view the full article online.