On Oct. 31, ABC submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency in support of the Affordable Clean Energy proposed rule, officially titled Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Electric Utility Generating Units; Revisions to Emission Guideline Implementing Regulations; Revisions to New Source Review Program. If finalized, the ACE rule would replace the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan with revised emissions guidelines, propose new regulations to direct both EPA and the states on the implementation of emission guidelines and revise the New Source Review program. 

National Apprenticeship Week is a week-long celebration that encourages workforce leaders to demonstrate their commitment to apprenticeship and educate those around them. NAW also gives apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to promote their programs, facilities and apprentices in their respective communities. 

On Nov. 5, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued guidance on how to comply with crane operator certification requirements until OSHA’s new final rule on operator certification and qualification becomes effective. OSHA also made available a pre-publication version of the final rule on its website.

Apply for the ABC National Diversity Excellence Awards by Sunday, Nov. 25. Winners will be recognized during ABC's National Excellence in Construction® Awards, acknowledged at the 2019 Diversity & Inclusion Summit and more. Additionally, members who create an inclusive culture by improving the work experience for the disabled are encouraged to submit comments on the Excellence in Disability Inclusion Award by Dec. 4, 2018.

The U.S. construction industry added 30,000 net new jobs in October, according to an analysis by ABC of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry has added 330,000 net new construction jobs over the past 12 months, a 4.7 percent increase.

Dwana Grace and Stacia Brightmon, apprentices from ABC member S&B Engineers and Constructors, attended an event at the White House on Oct. 31 to highlight the Pledge to America’s Workers, which continues to gather commitments from the business community to expand workforce development. 

National nonresidential construction spending fell 0.3 percent in September but remains historically elevated, according to an ABC analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Total nonresidential spending stood at $767.1 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate in September, an increase of 8.9 percent on a year-ago basis.

On Oct. 30, the National Labor Relations Board announced an extension of the comment period on its proposed rule that would set a new standard for determining joint-employer liability under the National Labor Relations Act. The deadline for submitting comments has been extended from Nov. 13 to Dec. 13, 2018.

ABC and Construction Executive joined more than 2,300 attendees at Viewpoint’s Collaborate 2018 User Conference, held Oct. 16-18 in Portland, Oregon, where the construction management software company provided three days of in-depth educational sessions and unveiled new software innovations to help construction companies transform their operations, lower risk, gain efficiencies and improve productivity. 

Estimated September construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 30 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by ABC. The September 2018 not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate fell 0.6 percent from a year ago to 4.1 percent.