Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/489028
April 2015 | EquipmentWorld.com 16 reporter | by Equipment World staff C onstruction employment will likely grow by 29 percent between 2012 and 2022, according to a report by the CPWR Data Center. According to the center, that would put the number of construction workers in the U.S. at 11.5 million, just un- der the industry record set in 2007 before the recession took hold. Funded by NIOSH and using date from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the data center, which is a non-profi t research and training institution created by the trades unions, reports that although 2014 construction employment was still below the 2007 level, new hires outweighed job losses last year. Monthly hires outweighed job sepa- rations by approxi- mately 25,000 jobs per month in 2014. Construction em- ployment has reached its highest level in six years, with 9.8 million workers in 2014 com- pared to 8.9 million workers in 2012. His- panic workers made up approximately 60 percent of this growth, adding a half-million jobs over a two- year period. Although construction employ- ment overall has improved since the economic downturn, growth levels have varied across con- struction occupations. Power-line installers experienced the highest percent change in employment at 63 percent, while laborers, elec- tricians, truck drivers and welders also experienced growth. The projected positive change in construction, at 29 percent over the 10-year period, in- cludes a 48.2 percent increase in residential building, a 26.1 percent increase in non-residen- tial building and a 23.1 percent increase in highway, street and bridge construction. This com- pares favorably to the projected change in employment across all industries, which is expected to increase by 11.3 percent over the same period. On a regional level, 68 per- cent of states saw an increase in construction employment be- tween 2010 and 2013, with North Dakota experiencing the highest jump at 50 percent, and Alabama experiencing the steepest de- cline, falling 9 percent. Between 2012 and 2022, the most positive growth is projected for states in the western U.S., Florida and Geor- gia, with projected growths of more than 25 percent, and close to 50 percent in Nevada. More modest growth is ex- pected in the north- eastern U.S., with just 3 percent growth projected for Maine. – Amy Materson Construction expected to near pre- recession employment highs by 2022 Briefs Holcim-Lafarge merger back on track The short-lived hold on the Holcim-Lafarge merger has ended, with the cement companies jointly stating they have "reached an agreement on revised terms for the merger of equals between both companies." Holcim previ- ously delayed the merger due to a disagreement of terms on the deal. The companies now expect it to close in July 2015 after the Holcim board accepts terms during their next meeting in May.mThe companies agreed on an exchange ratio of nine Holcim shares for 10 Lafarge shares, and that a new CEO, to be proposed by Lafarge and accepted by Holcim, will be appointed after the deal closes. Reitzle and Lafont will be "non-executive" co-chair- men, and Beat Hess will be vice-chairman.