Need a vendor? Reach thousands of suppliers and service providers in one place: AGC's official purchasing directory, Constructor Marketplace. This site places you in contact with vendors from more than 50 categories -- everything from acoustical and drywall to windows -- quickly, so you can get the materials or the help you need to get the job done right. Use Constructor Marketplace's free Request for Proposal (RFP) Automator to request custom project bids from multiple Marketplace vendors with just a few clicks.

The Associated General Contractors of America unveiled a new study designed to improve the safety of construction workers as it announced that two-thirds of metro areas added construction jobs during the past 12 months. Association officials said the new safety study is designed to help construction firms prevent workplace fatalities and injuries.

Only 23 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between September and October while construction employment increased in 35 states between October 2015 and October 2016, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by AGC. Association officials said declining public-sector investments in infrastructure and other public projects were undermining construction employment growth in many parts of the country.

Construction employers added 23,000 jobs in September as employment in the sector hit the highest level since the end of 2008 amid strong demand for construction services, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that average hourly earnings for construction workers increased by 2.8 percent compared to 12 months ago as labor shortages continue to prove challenging for many firms.

Construction employment increased in 39 states between June 2015 and June 2016, although half the states shed construction jobs between May and June, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the flattening of monthly employment gains and losses indicates the urgency of beefing up programs to attract, train and retain construction workers.

Court officials announced late last week that the AGC of America backed lawsuit to block the Obama administration’s misguided new silica rule will be heard in the D.C. Circuit Court. AGC, via the Louisiana AGC, filed suit in the 5th Circuit earlier this month to block the measure arguing that the administration established a new standard that is beyond the technological limits of current dust removal equipment. However, a number of other groups filed similar motions in other court circuits, forcing judicial officials to select a venue via random lottery. While the D.C. Circuit is considered less favorable than the 5th Circuit, some of the circuit’s prior case law does appear favorable. As we mentioned in our earlier communications on this lawsuit, the legal challenge is a long, lengthy and far-from certain tactic. That is why AGC is continuing to push for legislation in Congress to force the administration to put in place workable silica measures that will be far more effective in improving workplace health and safety.

Forty-four states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between March 2015 and March 2016 while construction employment increased in 28 states between February and March, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the five states experiencing year-over-year construction employment declines are all energy producing states where construction demand has likely suffered from declining prices for coal, oil and other fuels.

Construction employment rose sharply in March by 37,000 for the month and 301,000 for the year, while construction spending in February logged a solid year-over-year increase despite a dip compared with January, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the new jobs and spending indicate that the industry is steadily expanding to meet growing demand.

Sitka’s Blue Lake Expansion Project was the most impressive construction project of 2015, the Associated General Contractors of America announced today. As a result, the project’s contractor, Barnard Construction Company was the Alliant Build America Grand Award winner and best Federal and Heavy Renovation project. This project was one of 23 winners to receive an award and one of nine to receive a Merit Award.

Construction firms added 18,000 workers in January, as the industry’s unemployment rate declined to a 17-year low of 8.5 percent, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the number of construction jobs added in January was down compared to the last three months of 2015 and could reflect either a slowdown in nonresidential construction activity or an inability of contractors to find qualified workers.