Construction employment declined in 127 metro areas, was stagnant in 51 and increased in 180 between June 2014 and June 2015, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the declines come as the House and Senate struggle to enact legislation to extend federal transportation investments beyond the July 31st expiration of the current program.

On Tuesday, Ohio Governor John Kasich announced his intention to officially enter the Republican presidential primary. He becomes the 16th Republican candidate who will qualify for the ballot. The field is expected to swell to its maximum size when former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore joins the contest next month.

On Monday, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) formally announced his presidential candidacy, becoming the 15th Republican to officially enter the national campaign. Perhaps signaling the type of campaign he intends to run, Gov. Walker sought to create a clear contrast between himself and the rest of the GOP field. Walker’s theme of being “conservative, bold, and decisive” was highlighted in his announcement video that stressed his gubernatorial record, the fights with Big Labor, and winning three statewide Wisconsin elections in four years.

Jointly sponsored by AGC and the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), the AGC/CFMA Construction Financial Management Conference, held Nov. 4-6, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nev., was developed in response to a need for programs and workshops designed specifically for financial professionals in the construction industry.

Jointly sponsored by AGC and the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), the AGC/CFMA Construction Financial Management Conference, held Nov. 4-6, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nev., was developed in response to a need for programs and workshops designed specifically for financial professionals in the construction industry.

The 2015 AGC Utility Infrastructure Conference will bring together contractors, owners and key industry constituents involved in every aspect of utility and infrastructure construction for a day and a half-long program on the latest legislative and regulatory issues affecting the industry, technology and operation trends shaping the market, and updates on AGC's efforts to fund infrastructure investment.

On July 8, 2015, during the Summer AGC Safety and Health Conference, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) director of construction services announced a temporary enforcement policy for the confined spaces in construction standard. This policy does not delay the effective date, but will postpone full enforcement of the standard for 60 days from the effective date of August 3, 2015 to October 2, 2015.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which regulates damage prevention for certain hazardous materials, has released its long-awaited rule governing when and how PHMSA could step in to federally enforce inadequate state damage prevention programs.

On June 30, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) announcing proposed changes to the overtime regulations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The proposal is the result of a 2014 directive from President Obama requiring the Secretary of Labor to modernize and streamline the existing overtime regulations. The NPRM was officially published in the Federal Register on July 6.

Illinois state Sen. Darin LaHood (R) cruised to an easy special election primary victory on Tuesday in the vacant Peoria-anchored congressional district. Rep. Aaron Schock’s (R) March resignation created the vacancy, which is the only unrepresented seat in the entire U.S. House.