Increasing workforce shortages and declines in
infrastructure spending clouded an otherwise upbeat economic picture for the
nearly 2,800 attendees at the Associated General Contractors of America
convention in Las Vegas earlier this month.
AGC economist Ken Simonson told attendees he sees workforce shortages
increasing, up to 49% below critical levels in some regions. He forecasts 4% to
8% growth for non-residential construction, citing year-over-year double-digit
increases in every major sector other than public construction, which dipped
2.5%.
Boosting infrastructure and public-works spending will be
part of the agenda for incoming AGC President Alan Landes, president and CEO of
rail and heavy-highway firm Herzog Contracting Corp., St. Joseph, Mo. "We
have a devolution going on in this country right now," Landes said in an
interview with ENR. "The states know that no more federal dollars are
coming their way, so they have to go to private markets to fund projects."
To improve congressional awareness about infrastructure
needs, AGC announced the launch of "Hardhats for Highways." The
coalition campaign will encourage employees of transportation contractors to
contact congressional representatives directly about the number of local jobs
that depend on federal transportation funding.
AGC also launched a new private health-insurance exchange to
help member firms cut premium costs. The exchange works with Willis North
America to offer a broader range of care options than are available to
individual firms, AGC CEO Steve Sandherr said.
AGC's annual community service project opened a new facility
for Las Vegas-based Horses 4 Heroes at Tule Springs Ranch, north of the city.
Volunteer contractors from local AGC chapters completed $80,000 in improvements
to the corrals and stables and gave $20,000 in cash to the group, which offers
riding and animal-care programs for veterans, first responders and their
families.
Source: ENR.com
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