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Browse by Date - 201712

Construction Jobs Increase in 40 States Between November 2016 and November 2017; 39 States Added Jobs Between October and November

Forty states added construction jobs between November 2016 and November 2017, while 39 states added construction jobs between October and November, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials noted that firms in most states are adding jobs amid expectations that demand will continue to grow thanks to new tax cuts and regulatory reforms.

Final Tax Legislation Will Lower Rates for Construction Firms, Spur Economic Growth and Benefit Construction Employers for Years

“Today, Congress passed comprehensive tax reform legislation that will lower rates, spur economic growth and impact construction businesses for years to come. However, this process did not start as well as it ended for the construction industry. (See chart linked here for details on the final bill)

Construction Support Staff Wages Expected to Rise by 3.3% This Year

Construction support staff wages rose by 3.5% in 2016 and contractors are projecting those wages to increase an average of 3.3% in 2017, according to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc. Based on over 175 companies in the 14th edition of the Construction Support Staff Salary Survey, PAS reports that pay increases have been fairly consistent the past few years. Although, PAS points out that historically predictions are typically about low, so year-end 2017 could exceed 3.3% and look similar to 2016’s 3.5% increase.

Construction Employers Add 24,000 Jobs in November and 184,000 Over the Year; Hourly Earnings Rise 2.9 Percent as Sector Strives to Draw in New Workers

Construction employment increased by 24,000 jobs in November to the highest level since November 2008, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that tight margins are keeping firms from paying even more to attract hard-to-find workers, noting that efforts to cut tax rates should help lead to higher average hourly earnings for the sector.

Federal Best Practices for Environment Permitting Should Apply to State Agencies, AGC Says

AGC called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to apply federally approved “Recommended Best Practices for Environmental Reviews and Authorizations for Infrastructure Projects” in delegated states that EPA has authorized to implement and enforce a federal environmental permit program.

AGC Supports FHWA Environmental Streamlining Proposals

AGC commented this week on three separate Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regulatory proposals to expedite project delivery by streamlining the federal environmental review process. The FHWA proposals implement various AGC supported provisions in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), intended to make the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) procedures work better.

Senate Tax Reform Measure Has Improved Substantially But Lack of Infrastructure Investments, Temporary Nature of Many Tax Cuts Remain Problematic, Official Says

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement today in connection with the proposed Senate tax reform measure:

"The association has long advocated for comprehensive tax reform, especially considering that construction employers pay the highest effective rate of any industry at 30.3 percent.  The Senate tax reform bill has been substantially improved over the course of the past few days and we support its passage.