The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized rate of 2.3 percent during the first quarter of 2018, while fixed investment increased at an annualized rate of 4.6 percent, according to an ABC analysis of advanced estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

On April 25, in testimony before a U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee, ABC Keystone Chapter President and CEO David Sload, a 39-year veteran of construction workforce development, highlighted the role apprenticeship programs play in equipping workers with the skills necessary to compete in the modern economy.

Incorporating technology to improve productivity and addressing a shortage of workers are among the top challenges facing the construction industry, according to chief executives from ABC and other leading firms at this year’s BuiltWorlds Summit in Chicago. The exclusive gathering brought together architecture, engineering, technology and construction leaders and strategists to engage in open discussion about the current and future state of the built industry in April.  

To celebrate the National Safety Stand-down, May 7-11, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is providing several resources on preventing workplace hazards, including a webinar on fall prevention in the construction industry.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has extended the deadline for filing the 2017 EEO-1 Survey from March 31 to June 1, 2018. According to the EEOC FAQs, for the 2017 EEO-1 reporting cycle, the EEO-1 will collect data on the race, ethnicity and sex of workers by job category from private employers with 100 or more employees and federal contractors with 50 or more employees and $50,000 in contract(s).

Citing a survey of ABC member and chapter labor attorneys that found widespread dissatisfaction with the 2014 “ambush” election final rule, ABC submitted comments urging the National Labor Relations Board to rescind the rule in whole or in significant part and return to the election procedures that were in effect and working well prior to the new rule’s adoption.

ABC and the U.S. Veterans Business Alliance recently signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on expanding the participation of veteran and disabled veteran businesses in the merit shop construction industry. The agreement was signed on March 20 during ABC Convention 2018 in Long Beach, Calif.

On April 12, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division released three opinion letters that address compliance issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act and other similar laws.

On April 12, ABC members attended a ceremony with President Trump in the White House Rose Garden celebrating the positive effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on businesses. As a result of the bill, 55 percent of ABC contractor members say they plan to hire more employees, and 52 percent plan to invest in workforce development, according to a recent poll. In addition, 90 percent of member companies say employees have seen an increase in their paychecks.

Commercial and industrial construction contractors entered 2018 with abundant confidence regarding sales and staffing levels for the next six months, according to the latest Construction Confidence Index released by ABC. All three components surveyed—sales, profit margins and staffing levels—remained well above 50 in the diffusion index, signaling ongoing progress.