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Monthly Archives: September 2018

Construction Employment Rises in 45 States and D.C. from August 2017 to August 2018 while 33 States Add Construction Jobs for the Month

September 21, 2018

Forty-five states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between August 2017 and August 2018, while 33 states added construction jobs between July and August, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials welcomed the job gains but noted that the numbers would have been higher if contractors could only find more qualified workers to hire.

NLRB to Revisit 8(f) to 9(a) Conversion Standard

September 14, 2018

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or the Board) has announced that it is planning to revisit the standard for determining whether and when contract language can convert an 8(f) collective bargaining relationship to a 9(a) relationship in the construction industry, and it is inviting interested parties to submit amicus briefs.  AGC of America is considering plans to submit a brief.  The deadline for submission is Oct. 26, 2018.

Department of Labor Announces New Apprenticeship.gov

September 14, 2018

The U.S. Department of Labor announced a new digital platform, Apprenticeship.gov. This innovative web portal features an Apprenticeship Finder tool that offers career seekers a platform to search for apprenticeships by city, state, and occupation, as well as connects job seekers to high-skilled, high-paying careers.

OFCCP Launches New Resource Website

September 14, 2018

Following up on promises made in its “Town Hall Action Plan”, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently launched its new Contracting Officer Corner.  The website is intended to be a one-stop-shop of resources for both federal agency contracting officials and federal contractors.

Labor Department Creates New Compliance Office

September 14, 2018

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced  the creation of the Office of Compliance Initiatives (OCI), a cross-agency effort coordinated by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy. DOL said that OCI will “promote greater understanding of federal labor laws and regulations, allowing job creators to prevent violations and protect Americans' wages, workplace safety and health, retirement security, and other rights and benefits.” OCI also “will work with enforcement agencies to refine their metrics to ensure the efficacy of the [DOL's] compliance assistance activities.”

80% of Contractors Report Difficulty Finding Qualified Craft Workers to Hire

September 14, 2018

Eighty percent of construction firms report they are having a hard time filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce, according to the results of an industry-wide survey released today by Autodesk and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials said shortages pose a significant risk to future economic growth.

President Signs Executive Order Expanding Access to Retirement Plans

September 14, 2018

On August 31, 2018, President Trump signed an executive order designed to make it easier for smaller businesses to band together and offer retirement plans to employees. The order directs the Departments of Labor (DOL) and Treasury to propose regulations that allow unrelated businesses to offer what the order calls association retirement plans (ARPs) by relaxing the requirement that small business have a common interest to form what’s commonly known as a multiple employer plan, or MEP. The idea is similar to association health plans (AHPs), which received a regulatory boost when, in June, the Department of Labor finalized a rule to make it easier for small businesses to join groups or associations to offer insured health coverage in the large group market at potentially more favorable pricing with less restrictive requirements.

OFCCP Updates Guidance on Compensation Practices and Announces New AAP Verification Initiative

September 14, 2018

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced new directives, including new procedures for reviewing contractor compensation practices and a program to verify that contractors are in compliance with federal affirmative action program (AAP) requirements. These new directives are part of the Department’s efforts to maximize the effectiveness of compliance assistance outreach.

Construction Input Costs Rise 6.2 Percent Through August, Adding to Pressure From Labor Shortages and Outpacing Contractors' Bid Prices

September 12, 2018

Prices for goods and services used in construction climbed 6.2 percent over the past year, intensifying a cost squeeze on contractors coping with widespread labor shortages, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new Labor Department data.

Construction Employment Rises by 23,000 Jobs in August and 297,000 for the Year Even as Labor Shortages Prevent Firms from Hiring More Workers

September 7, 2018

Construction employment increased by 23,000 jobs in August and by 297,000 jobs over the past year, reaching a 10-year high, while the industry’s unemployment rate stood at an all-time low, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Even as firms continued to expand, a new report finds that most firms are struggling to find enough workers to keep up with demand.

Temporary Exclusion from Federal Contractor Paid Leave Rule for CBAs Doesn't Apply to Most Union Construction Contractors

September 6, 2018

Union contractors may not rely on contributions to typical vacation or welfare plans as a basis for claiming the temporary exclusion to the federal contractor paid sick leave rule, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has informed AGC.  WHD provided the information to AGC in response to questions posed by AGC on behalf of questioning members.  It supports AGC’s prior urgings that all union contractors working on federal projects should act promptly to come into compliance with the rule’s mandates.

Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors Raised to $10.60 for 2019

September 5, 2018

The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is announcing a minimum wage increase of $0.25 to $10.60 per hour to be paid to workers performing work on direct federal contracts and subcontracts covered by Executive Order 13658. Federally assisted contracts are not affected. The rate goes into effect on January 1, 2019.

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