Percentage of firms having trouble finding craft workers

Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between July 2016 and July 2017, yet only half the states added construction jobs between June and July amid declining public-sector investments in infrastructure and other construction projects, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials said firms in parts of the country that build infrastructure projects are seeing less demand for their services amid overall declines in public-sector spending.

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reversed its June 2017 decision to delay by one year the final designation of counties that are not attaining the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). EPA will now make those determinations by the October 1, 2017, deadline. The reversal came after news that 15 states and the District of Columbia were filing suit against EPA to enforce the original deadline. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has been critical of lawsuits (and settlement agreements) resulting from missed statutory deadlines.

AGC Calls on Congress to Make Additional Reforms

Silica, WOTUS, Paid Sick Leave, Local Hiring and More

Also Recommends Change Order & Other Reforms

Marvin E. Kaplan was sworn in today as a member of the National Labor Relations Board for a term ending on Aug. 27, 2020. The U.S. Senate confirmed Kaplan along party lines on Aug. 2, bringing the Board one step closer to a Republican majority expected to be more employer-friendly than the Obama-appointed Board. The five-member board had been operating with a Democratic majority of two, a Republican minority of one, and two vacancies since Pres. Trump took office.

AGC of America submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor on August 10 in support of the Department’s proposed rule to rescind the controversial “persuader rule” issued during the Obama Administration.

Each October, construction industry professionals in HR, training and workforce development gear up for the industry’s premier learning and networking event, AGC’s Construction HR & Training Professionals Conference, and this year is no different. The 2017 event will be held Oct. 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. Here are the top 10 reasons to attend this year’s event.

Construction employment increased in 264 out of 358 metro areas between June 2016 and June 2017, declined in 57 and stagnated in 37, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that even though most metro areas added construction jobs, the employment gains were particularly pronounced in the western third of the country.