Newsline

The Construction Industry Needs to Hire an Additional 550,000 Workers in 2020

Construction Spending

Source: Census Bureau Value of Construction Put in Place Survey Annual Historical Data and “Annual Total Table”

ABC Comments on DOL's IRAP Rule

On March 11, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule , officially titled Apprenticeship Programs, Labor Standards for Registration, Amendment of Regulations, which establishes a process for creating high-quality, industry-recognized apprenticeship programs by organizations that apply to become DOL recognized Standards Recognition Entities. The rule prohibits SREs from recognizing IRAPs in the construction sector. DOL’s press release on the proposal is available here.

Join an Elite Class of Accredited Contractors With ABC’s Accredited Quality Contractor Credential

Applications for ABC's Accredited Quality Contractor Program are being accepted now through Oct. 30.

Subcommittee Begins Conversation to Reauthorize the 1937 National Apprenticeship Act

On March 4, the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment held a hearing entitled “Reauthorizing the National Apprenticeship Act: Strengthening and Growing Apprenticeships for the 21^st Century.” The National Apprenticeship Act, also known as the Fitzgerald Act, has not been reauthorized since its enactment in 1937 and the Subcommittee released a discussion draft bill to reauthorize the act ahead of Wednesday’s hearing.  

ABC Weighs In on House Subcommittee Hearing on Infrastructure Investment

On Feb. 26, ABC sent a letter calling on Congress to consider how its infrastructure investment agenda could impact merit shop contractors and the small business community during a hearing titled Moving America’s Infrastructure Forward. Convened by U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business’ Contracting and Infrastructure Subcommittee, the hearing was timed to coordinate with the recent release of Democrats’ $760 billion infrastructure investment framework, the Moving Forward Framework.  

The PRO Act Passes in the U.S. House of Representatives

On Feb. 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the disingenuously named Protecting the Right to Organize Act by a vote of 224 to 194.  Five Republicans voted for the bill and seven Democrats opposed it, along with Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.). ABC urged members of Congress to oppose the PRO Act, considering the vote a “KEY VOTE” for the ABC Legislative Scorecard on the 116^th Congress.

Apply for the 2020 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Award by April 30

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service is accepting employer applications for the 2020 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Award, which recognizes employers for their efforts to recruit, employ and retain our nation’s veterans. In 2019, the program recognized 427 employers for their dedicated efforts to hire American veterans, including ABC member United Rentals. The deadline to apply is April 30.

The Merit Shop Construction Workforce Grew in 2019, According to BLS

Construction industry employment grew by 192,000 wage and salary workers to 8.35 million in 2019, according to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Greg Sizemore Discusses Substance Abuse, Suicide and Its Impact on Construction

Greg Sizemore, ABC’s vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development and vice chair of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, spoke on a panel at the Construction Leadership Network Conference last week in Houston to discuss substance abuse and the rise of suicide in the construction industry.

Twenty-Two Members Earn AQC Credential This Month

The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to quality, safety, craft and management education, talent management and diversity, and community relations.  This past month, 22 ABC members became Accredited Quality Contractors.