ORGANIZATIONS – JUNE 2020

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and Portland Cement Association have named Joe Roche as chief financial officer, reporting to NRMCA President Mike Philipps and PCA CEO Mike Ireland. Roche arrives with 30-plus years’ management experience supporting non-profit and trade organizations, and immediately transitions from the National 4-H Council in Chevy Chase, Md. He will lead ongoing evaluation, development and implementation of NRMCA and PCA financial processes and systems, and oversee the groups’ Finance Shared Services agreement. Based primarily at the Alexandria, Va., association offices, Roche will work with external finance partners to implement process improvements, maximize system capabilities, and focus on staff development.

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ORGANIZATIONS – MAY 2019

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To recognize the recently proclaimed Concrete Industry Day, American Concrete Pavement Association-Colorado/Wyoming Chapter, American Concrete Pipe Association and Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association members hosted legislators and staff late last month for a BBQ picnic lunch on the Colorado State Capitol grounds in Denver. In addition to government outreach, the associations teamed to raise awareness of the industry’s key link to economic growth and sustainable development practices in the state.

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CONTRACTORS: RULE HARMS COMPETITION, SMALL BUSINESS

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AGC: Mid-year construction figures fare well against January-June 2015

Sources: Associated General Contractors of America, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

Construction spending decreased in June for the third month in a row, but most segments posted solid increases in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, according to an AGC analysis.

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Construction interests compound court challenges to OSHA silica rule

Associated Builders & Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America American Road & Transportation Builders Association and four peer groups plan to join eight state affiliates petitioning the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for review of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s final rule on crystalline silica exposure. Released in late March, it sets a threshold of 50-micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift, compared to a longstanding 250-microgram level for the construction industry.

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Contractors ramp up headcounts anticipating private, public market growth

Seventy-one percent of construction firms plan to expand their payrolls in 2016 as contractors expect increased activity in a range of public and private market segments, according to results of an Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction & Real Estate survey. Conducted as part of AGC’s “The Challenges Facing a Growing Industry: The 2016 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook,” the survey indicates contractors foresee a positive year despite tight labor conditions, regulatory burdens, and information technology security challenges.

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Construction spending levels enter fourth quarter at seven-year high

Source: Associated General Contractors of America, Washington, D.C.

Construction spending in September reached a level last seen in March 2008 and climbed at the fastest rate since early 2006, according to an AGC analysis, which also found that nonresidential project outlays declined by 0.1 percent between August and September as growing workforce shortages likely impacted the volume of work contractors were able to perform for the month.

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Concrete trades near tops in AGC survey tracking widespread labor shortages

Sources: Associated General Contractors of America, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

Nearly 90 percent of 1,350-plus respondents to an industry-wide AGC survey—conducted in July and August—report trouble finding qualified craft workers to fill key spots as demand for construction continues to rebound in many markets. Seventy-nine percent of responding firms nationwide cite difficulty filling one or more of 21 hourly craft professional positions, particularly carpenters (73 percent of firms that employ carpenters report difficulty), followed by sheet metal installers (65 percent) and concrete workers (63 percent).

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Trades Talent Dearth Tempers Strong Construction Employment Figures

An Associated General Contractors of America analysis of federal government data finds a mixed bag of positive indicators and growth constraints: Construction employment held steady in June at the highest level in six years, while the number of unemployed workers with industry experience fell to the lowest total since 2001, and contractors in many parts of the country are having a hard time finding enough qualified workers.

 
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A favorable mid-year outlook

As we compiled our annual Buyers’ Guide Issue, complete with new listings and references in admixture, fleet, plant equipment and other categories, one market indicator after another painted construction activity favoring investment in concrete production and delivery. Industry economists and market observers view the first half of 2015 positively, and confirm a moderate to upbeat outlook for at least the next three years.

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