Finding Workers Ready to Work
Construction employment increased by 20,000 jobs in December and by 151,000, or 2% in all of 2019, according to an analysis of new government data by the AGC (Associated General Contractors of America). Overall, the December 2019 labor statistics showed a moderate improvement, 140,000 non-farm jobs. AGC officials noted that its recent survey found three out of four contractors expect to keep adding workers in 2020, but even more respondents found it difficult to fill positions in 2019, and a majority anticipate it will be as hard or harder to do so in 2020. Officials called on the federal government to increase funding for career and technical education and expand employment-based immigration for workers whose skills are in short supply.
Senior Housing Dilemma
The inequality in housing among seniors is becoming a major concern. As American households become older—between 2012-2017, the number of households headed by someone 65 or older jumped from 27 million to 31 million and will continue to grow—the number of older adults facing housing cost burdens reached an all-time high of 10 million, income disparities are widening, and white-minority gaps in homeownership have expanded. Favorable conditions are expected throughout 2020, but supply is not meeting demand, according to NAR. Overall, the association forecasts 2.0% GDP (gross domestic product) growth, a 3.7% unemployment rate and a 3.8% average mortgage rate in 2020. Home prices are projected to rise by 3.6% in 2020 after a 5% gain in 2019.
How Smart Are We?
Smart is a word in transition. Once almost exclusively applied to human (and some animal) intelligence, today everything and anything is called “smart.” With the growing field of AI (artificial or augmented intelligence) predicting self-learning inanimate objects, smart might be a minimum term with genius close behind. Favorable conditions are expected throughout 2020, but supply is not meeting demand, according to NAR. Overall, the association forecasts 2.0% GDP (gross domestic product) growth, a 3.7% unemployment rate and a 3.8% average mortgage rate in 2020. Home prices are projected to rise by 3.6% in 2020 after a 5% gain in 2019.
Plastic Pipe Predictions
PVC (poly vinyl chloride) pipe has many uses in new construction and renovation. So many that the market looks promising with opportunities in residential, industrial, and commercial construction. CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 5.8% from 2019 to 2024. The major drivers for this market are growth in residential and non-residential construction and replacement of aging pipelines. Favorable conditions are expected throughout 2020, but supply is not meeting demand, according to NAR. Overall, the association forecasts 2.0% GDP (gross domestic product) growth, a 3.7% unemployment rate and a 3.8% average mortgage rate in 2020. Home prices are projected to rise by 3.6% in 2020 after a 5% gain in 2019.
Housing Market in Flux
According to the NAR (National Assn. of Realtors) the (PHSI Pending Home Sales Index), based on contract signings, rose 1.2% in November 2019. Year-over-year contract signings jumped 7.4%. However, existing-home sales fell in November, taking a small step back after October’s gains. Home inventory was lower than needed, which has been in decline since June 2019. Favorable conditions are expected throughout 2020, but supply is not meeting demand, according to NAR. Overall, the association forecasts 2.0% GDP (gross domestic product) growth, a 3.7% unemployment rate and a 3.8% average mortgage rate in 2020. Home prices are projected to rise by 3.6% in 2020 after a 5% gain in 2019.
Model Energy Code
Building codes are inconsistent across the country. What is allowed in one city may be mandated in another and not covered at all in a third. Proposed national building codes rarely make it out of Congress, but some organizations are leading the way to getting cities and states to adopt codes to smooth out the wide variety of rules now in existence. Number six in sales among chicken-oriented shops and number 30 overall in the fast food sales list, Church's Chicken has been busy adding new items to their menu and new stores to its locations. For example, franchisee Goalz Restaurant Group has a new Church’s Chicken restaurant in Lancaster, SC. After a year of construction, the newly built restaurant will feature the brand’s newest interior design plan.
3D Printing in Concrete
Robotics have a mixed history in construction. Some work, especially in prefabricated building offsite, while others have not been successful, particularly when used onsite. Mobility and the need for stability make onsite work, weather, and location dependent, more so than more traditional methods. However, that may be changing as more equipment companies are exploring the use of robotic technology and applying it to construction. Number six in sales among chicken-oriented shops and number 30 overall in the fast food sales list, Church's Chicken has been busy adding new items to their menu and new stores to its locations.
Americans Eating More Chicken
Chicken has overtaken the hamburger as the fast food of choice in many parts of the country. No need to mourn for McDonalds just yet, but chicken-specific chains are growing faster than ever. Well-known national (and international) brands such as KFC and Chick-fil-a fight for top spot; social media explodes with the news of a new chicken sandwich from Popeyes; wings have become a word with one immediate thought: chicken wings a la Buffalo. Number six in sales among chicken-oriented shops and number 30 overall in the fast food sales list, Church's Chicken has been busy adding new items to their menu and new stores to its locations. For example, franchisee Goalz Restaurant Group has a new Church’s Chicken restaurant in Lancaster, SC. After a year of construction, the newly built restaurant will feature the brand’s newest interior design plan. The 2,100-sq.ft. location features new design and décor elements, including Church’s latest interior seating options, new exterior design and color palettes, and contemporary lighting inside and out.
Construction’s Future: Technology and More Technology
All the buzzwords are there, like a science fiction novel, but this isn’t fiction; it’s the future of construction. In fact, it’s The Future of Construction, Global 2030, a report from Frost & Sullivan. According to its analysts, the construction industry is in the middle of a move toward new business models that are technology-driven and data-driven, provide better collaboration between stakeholders, and result in higher productivity. The aging workforce and digitization will require greater investments in workforce management and digital solutions.
AI Inroads in Construction Management
Whether you use artificial or augmented with intelligence, AI (artificial intelligence) is catching on in the industry. Recent announcements include its use in field and office alike. For example, Black & Veatch is implementing Zinier’s intelligent field service automation platform, ISAC, (Intelligent Service Automation and Control) to deepen realtime visibility into the field, to anticipate service disruptions through AI-driven recommendations, and to improve operational efficiencies by automating manual front-office, backoffice, and field-office tasks. ISAC will help ensure faster, more seamless communication among Black & Veatch’s extensive field services workforce.