Teaching engineering in K-12 grades would not only boost interest in the profession and in technical careers in general, but would also improve all students’ problem-solving, systems-thinking and teamwork skills, says the National Academy of Engineering in a Sept. 8 report. Even so, very few U.S. schools now include the discipline or have enough trained faculty to teach it. Says NAE: “Engineering might be called the missing letter in STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] education.” Slide Show Students in Wisconsin engineering instruction high school class design and build a racing car prototype. Sun Prairie, Wis., high school engineering class;
Construction wages and benefits have taken a sharp downturn this year as companies have seen job opportunities dry up nationwide. After nearly a decade of steady increases, compensation has flattened on average as many employers have frozen or decreased wages. Analysts hold a mixed view on the trend, noting the situation isn’t alarming today, but could worsen in the future. While the recession has eased cost-of-living pressures on wages, the health-care debate is raising concerns that employers may face considerable financial hurdles further out. Photo: Tudor Van Hamptom / ENR Union, nonunion labor costs are going flat but professional and
At its annual convention Sept. 16 in Pittsburgh, the AFL-CIO has passed a resolution that urges the carpenters' union to re-affiliate with the organized labor umbrella organization and also sets in motion a process to allow member building trades unions to compete with it in recruiting unaffiliated workers. The carpenters' left the AFL-CIO fold in 2005. Resolution 70, passed unanimously, urges the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, with more than 500,000 members, to end its "go it alone policy," which the document termed "inconsistent with the principles of solidarity" and a "detriment" to union construction. The resolution also urges
The stimulus is putting construction workers on the jobsite in significant numbers, according to a White House study. The flow of federal economic-stimulus funds has produced or saved about 1 million jobs, including an estimated 133,000 in the construction industry, the White House Council of Economic Advisers says in a report on the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The figures are estimates, CEA notes, and are not an actual count of jobs reported by state agencies or companies that have received the stimulus funds. Related Links: Stimulus Project Report: Job Rollout is Uneven Construction Jobs Trickle Back
Construction’s unemployment rate fell in August to its lowest level in eight months, but the rate remains much worse than it was a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Sept. 4. Economists say the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appears to be saving some jobs, at least in the highway sector, but they also say the industry is still hurting. + Image SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although construction’s 16.5% August jobless rate was better than July’s 18.2%, it remained more than double the August 2008 mark of 8.2%. Rates are not seasonally adjusted. Construction’s jobless
Construction's unemployment rate declined in August to 16.5%-- the industry's lowest jobless rate in eight months--the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Construction's August rate was an improvement over the 18.2% reported for July, but it was more than double the August 2008 rate of 8.2%. Related Links: Read the full BLS release The industry rates are not adjusted for seasonal variations. BLS's latest monthly employment report, released Sept. 4, also showed construction continued to lose jobs, dropping 65,000 in August, seasonally adjusted. That's an improvement over the 76,000 jobs shed in July, but is far from anything approaching an increase
Having employees climb three of New England’s highest mountains in 24 hours may not be how most construction industry firms hone team-building and leadership skills, but a London-based industry software provider is sponsoring just such an event next month. Organizers hope the “three peaks challenge” on Sept. 19-20 will replicate the success of a similar program in the U.K., that, since 2002, has raised a total of $3 million for global charities, not to mention the profile of its sponsor, Construction Industry Solutions Ltd. (COINS). Photo: COINS U.K. construction team celebrates after grueling 24-hour challenge. Photo: COINS Industry firms scale
Construction’s stubbornly high unemployment rate bounced upward in July to 18.2%, from 17.4% in June, says the U.S. Labor Dept.’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry’s jobless rate was more than 10 percentage points higher than July 2008’s level. In its latest monthly employment report, released on Aug. 7, BLS says construction lost another 76,000 jobs in July, adjusted for seasonal variations, compared with average losses of 73,000 during the past three months. The industry has shed more than 1.3 million jobs since the recession began. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Construction’s unemployment rate has jumped to 18.2%. BLS’s report
Construction's stubbornly high unemployment rate bounced upward in July to 18.2%, from 17.4% in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The industry's jobless rate last month also was well above the 8.0% level posted in July 2008. Related Links: Bureau of Labor Statistics Release In its latest monthly employment report, released Aug. 7, BLS said construction lost another 76,000 jobs in July, adjusted for seasonal variations, compared with average losses of 73,000 over the past three months. The industry has shed more than 1.3 million jobs since the recession began. BLS's report also showed a continued large gap between
A widespread adoption of lean techniques, integrated teaming and virtual design and construction could be the keys to improving productivity in the construction industry, according to a new report released by the National Research Council. The report, “Advancing the Competitiveness and Efficiency of the U.S. Construction Industry,” focuses on reducing waste in time, cost, materials, energy, skills and labor and offers recommendations on how to promote industry-wide adoption over the next 20 years. + Image Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of labor statistics Construction and non-farm labor productivity index “This is the most important topic in the industry right
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