AGC's Brynn Huneke and Brian Turmail discuss the rollout of its diversity and inclusion initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it relates to the current protests over racial injustice.
Project sites set ablaze in Minneapolis, D.C. and Ohio, as construction is shut down in downtown Chicago and in California; NYC sets first curfew in decades amid looting, even of boarded-up stores.
Project delays and cancellations rose, said the mid-April analysis of 416 industry employees, but more employers plan to rehire those cut or recruit, and have adjusted to new business approaches.
Thousands of state construction sites will close for an indefinite time. California also ordered residents home, but it's unclear if construction is included; NY's expanded offsite rule exempts industry firms.
With a cloud hanging over the show from concerns about the spread of COVID-19, CONEXPO-CON/AGG still managed to bring well over 100,000 attendees to Las Vegas. But the triennial equipment trade show itself was cut short due to virus concerns, ending a day early on March 13.
While China’s COVID-19 infection rates have declined and business begins to return to some level of normalcy there, outbreaks in Italy and elsewhere continue to stoke fears of global supply chain hiccups.
Cpnstruction disruptions now are seen, including component shipments to North America, delays on China Belt and Road megaproject, halted industry travel in Europe and respirator mask shortages.