According to recent economic indicators and the predictions of three industry economists, the construction industry can be optimistic about its future. In particular, ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu expects nonresidential construction to achieve 7 percent nominal growth in 2014, despite ongoing challenges in the public construction segment.

The Highway Trust Fund was set to run out of available money at the end of August but with a last-minute extension, contractors working on infrastructure projects can expect funding to continue—at least until May 2015.

More than 6,100 career and technical education (CTE) students competed in 99 different craft, technical and leadership fields during the June 2014 SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, Mo. SkillsUSA is the national-level competition for high school and college/postsecondary students enrolled in CTE programs.

Last month the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy released a report analyzing the economic significance of small businesses in the United States. The report revealed that construction is among the industry sectors in the U.S. economy most dominated by small businesses with 84% of those who work in the industry working for a small business, defined as a business employing fewer than 500 people.

The Department of Labor’s proposal to implement Executive Order 13658 establishing a minimum wage for federal contractors raised concerns which were outlined in comments ABC submitted July 28. Under the proposal, beginning Jan. 1, 2015, the hourly minimum wage paid by contractors to workers performing on covered federal contracts would be $10.10 per hour. In the comments, ABC states the proposal should be withdrawn or substantially modified.

Social media is a tricky, complex form of communication; One that takes a lot more time and effort to be effective than people realize. When a company can’t understand why their social media efforts aren’t working, there might be a variety of reasons why. Here are four ineffective tactics that many companies will find themselves violating and should stop doing to try to increase their success online.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released draft forms on July 24 that employers will use to report on health coverage they offer to their employees, also known as information reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), effective for the 2015 calendar year. Employers with 50 or more full-time employees and full-time equivalent employees are encouraged to learn more about the draft reporting forms by viewing an analysis prepared by Littler Mendelson, P.C.

In order to successfully define and implement workforce development initiatives to best serve ABC members, contractors are invited to take part in a new survey related to training. Three randomly selected participants will be awarded $500 American Express gift cards once the survey is closed.

The Intent to Compete forms for the 2015 National Craft Championships are now available online for ABC members and chapters who think their apprentices and craft trainees have what it takes to win the national title of ABC’s  craft champions. The competition will take place March 3-6 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Intent to Compete forms are due by Dec. 1, 2014.The 2015 competition will feature the following crafts:

July 14, an updated document on Enforcement Guidance on Pregnancy Discrimination and Related Issues was released by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Littler Mendelson, P.C., has issued an analysis, which includes some important compliance steps employers should take.