The pandemic economy is affecting the construction industry in both positive and negative ways. The 2021 edition of the “Sterling Seacrest Pritchard Risk Sentiment Index of the Construction Industry,” asked nearly 90 construction industry leaders to name the top challenges currently facing their businesses.

On the positive side, construction leaders are seeing consistent profit margins and more business in their pipelines. But they negatively report material costs and delays, as well as staffing challenges, presenting huge hurdles for the industry.

Reprinted courtesy of Joey Maxwell, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.

ABC Northern California (ABC NorCal) is looking for experienced and knowledgeable construction workers to be employed as at-home instructors. It includes opportunities for part-time and full-time work.

"We are actively looking to hire those who are proud of their trade skills and are ready to train the next generation of construction workers building communities' infrastructure. ABC NorCal is committed to continue cementing the future of the construction industry with well-trained workers educated by people who would like to keep working in the industry and can do so from home," said ABC NorCal Facilities Director Daniel Albano. "This is a wonderful and practical way to earn complementary income for people who may be retired or have need to be home to care for familial responsibilities."

For a full list of requirements, benefits, and the application, please visit http://www.abcnorcal.org/about/careers/. Any questions can be emailed to trainingfacility@abcnorcal.org.

The COVID-19 Pandemic created a global disruption across trade, finance, health, education, businesses, and society in general like few others in the past 100 years. The pandemic’s fallout is being felt in the supply chain interruption experienced across all construction projects. This vulnerability, especially to an industry that has high dependence on China to fulfill its need for raw materials or finished products, has been exposed. China’s dominant role as the “world factory” means that any disruption to China puts global supply chains at risk. The impact to construction has manifested itself in rising prices of steel, other metals, PVC products, lumber, and a variety of other essential construction materials. The impact to the supply chain has shocked the construction industry and likely future measures will address the overdependence on foreign markets for construction supplies. News accounts are filled with COVID-19 mutations and virus strains that threaten further disruptions to the construction industry. Simply put, the pandemic is not over yet.

Construction sites are full of dangers—tall heights, sudden drops, distracting noises, heavy equipment and machinery. On a worksite, the safety of the workers is of utmost importance, and accidents can only be avoided if employers, general contractors, site owners and laborers remain vigilant to potential hazards, learn and follow protocols, conduct and reinforce training, and proactively maintain equipment.

Reprinted courtesy of Zachary Perecman, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.

Build Group Inc. will use Buildots’ technology on three projects in the US, including a 19-story M2 tower which is part of the wider 5M development in San Francisco. Buildots’ AI computer vision will collect, analyze, and leverage data to ensure these projects are delivered on time and under budget.

“The complex nature of managing thousands of details and dozens of trades on a construction site is the biggest challenge to finishing a project on time and within the budget,” said Chad Krause, Vice President of Operations, Build Group Inc.

Construction work is inherently dangerous, so creating a culture of safety throughout a construction organization is critical. Safety should not be something that is addressed only when accidents happen or leading up to OSHA inspections. It is a crucial component of a successful workplace and everyone involved in a construction job should treat it that way.

When construction company owners, leadership and partners treat safety as an essential part of each day’s work, risk decreases and productivity increases. Creating a culture of safety, then, means that every team member is responsible for a safe jobsite. Whether an employee has boots on the ground or is managing from an office, safety must be top-of-mind.

Reprinted courtesy of Kevin Cargill, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.

In the construction industry, maintaining a project’s schedule and safety of operations are some of the main concerns for project leaders. During severe weather season, typically spring and summer for the United States, heavy winds and rain, lightning, high temperatures, and flooding can be disastrous for scheduling and safety. There can be especially harsh impacts during the Atlantic hurricane season. Here are some tips and best practices from leaders in the industry for maintaining safe, timely operations regardless of the weather.

Reprinted courtesy of Courtland Keith, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.

Concern about being infected by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is seen as one factor in the struggle to hire new employees that many industries are experiencing, including construction.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce report on the Commercial Construction Index, released in June 2021, states, “In industries as diverse as agriculture and construction, healthcare and hospitality, manufacturing and computer software, 76% of the respondents reported that businesses in their industries find it difficult’ (52%) or ‘very difficult’ (24%) to hire workers right now.”1

Reprinted courtesy of Jeffrey Wainstein, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.

Are architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms prepared for an upswing? More than 80% of CEOs participating in a conference board roundtable see improved economic conditions in the coming months, the highest confidence level since 2004, according to Axios.

While some AEC markets declined during the pandemic, others experienced growth. For example, warehouse construction grew from approximately one-quarter of put-in-place commercial construction in 2015 to nearly half in 2020, representing approximately 18% growth year-over-year. For many AEC companies, 2021 will be a “bridge year,” of recovery in preparation for a possible upswing in 2022.

Reprinted courtesy of Pamela A. Scott, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.

It’s time to change the way the construction industry communicates about mental health to reduce the stigma and ensure that individuals get the help they need. Far too often, mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and substance abuse disorders have been cloaked in a veil of secrecy and shame. Yet these issues pose significant risks to health, well-being, safety and productivity.

According to insurance broker Holmes Murphy & Associates, the construction industry is especially vulnerable to mental health challenges because of factors ranging from financial and family pressures to workplace injuries, chronic pain and substance abuse.

Reprinted courtesy of Scott Wittkop, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.

Last year, spurred by a global movement to celebrate diversity and strive for social justice reforms, tens of thousands of companies—including scores of construction firms in the United States—took a look at their own business practices and made public commitments to improving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) among their workforces.

Diversity and inclusion at its most basic concept means truly accepting, supporting and including the full range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical abilities, religious or ethical values systems, national origins and political beliefs. It’s a practice that’s not just the right thing to do, it’s also good for business.

Reprinted courtesy of Lisa Robinson, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.