Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/655200
Construction Employment in January Hits Highest Level Since 2008 Construction firms added 18,000 workers in January, as the industry's un- employment rate declined to a 17-year low of 8.5%, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Construction employment totaled 6.6 million in January, the most since De- cember 2008, and up by 264,000 jobs compared to a year ago—a 4.2% in- crease. Residential construction in- creased by 20,100 in January and by 149,500—or 6.2% compared to a year ago. Nonresidential construction em- ployment declined by 2300 jobs for the month but was up 115,000 jobs com- pared to last January—a 2.9% increase. The number of unemployed job- seekers in January who last worked in construction totaled 729,000. The unemployment rate for such workers was 8.5%. Both the number and the rate were the lowest January figures since the series was introduced in 2000. Census Bureau data showed con- struction spending experienced only slight growth between November and December 2015, and has been limited to residential building. Nonresidential con- struction spending by both the private and public sectors has been flat or declining since July 2015. Among nonresidential construction employment categories, only the non- residential building segment added jobs in January, expanding by 5300. But those gains were offset by a decline of 2400 jobs in the nonresidential specialty trade contractors segment. Associated General Contractors offi- cials said they were encouraged by the fact the industry continues to expand at a brisk annual clip. They noted the 4.2% increase in construction employment in the past 12 months was more than dou- ble the 1.9% growth in total non-farm payroll employment. Drilling Employees Help Save Off-Duty Officer L ocal news reports approximately 10 employees from Partridge Well Drilling Co. Inc. were able to move a wounded officer and his son to safety after hearing nearby gunshots in Jack- sonville, Florida. Merritt Partridge, vice president, says he and his employees rushed out of their building and were some of the first to help the undercover detective on March 9. The off-duty detective was shot at least three times, including in the upper body and in the head, during a traffic stop. Partridge says the detective was close to railroad tracks, so they moved him and his car. They also talked to the detective's 14-year-old son who was in the car. The 19-year-old shooter initially escaped before officers responding to the detective's call for backup shot and wounded him outside his home. "We were just there at the right time and we did what we could to help, so we were really glad to be there for him," Partridge said to WJAX-TV. Partridge, who serves on the National Ground Water Association Board of Directors, is this year's president of the Florida Ground Water Association. ater Level M W otal ing t or measur fo ds o national standar ble t t or mm; y 1/100 ft t (1500 m) o 5000 ft . obe d a submersible ed k , laser mar y durable ers et el M v e er L t a W ts en table epea R Meters obe ideal f P7 pr • tified tracea cer y er v ings e k ar M • o ape lengths t Ta • oof pr -pr e essur pr VDF flat tape and a submersible P emely tr e ex eatur fe W odel 101 P7 M eme easur M eliable & R R d ing or snak fo lexible F • eigh eel w stainless st r er P10 P 3/4" diamet • obes and las w pr o r nar v e er L t a W odel 102 M els in v e er L t a W ell pumps w wn- past do hts ed ment , with seg obe r . ed cable k ser mar e eatur fe ers et el M v es t Spac igh T ell depth w obe ideal f P7 pr • otal ing t or measur fo odel 101 eel as the M r ned desig ell- onics and w tr eliable elec Same r • tions ic estr and r ater Monitoring Instrumentation Wa High Quality Groundwater and Surface om .c .solinst w w w 3 Instrumentation om .c ts@solinst instrumen ax: +1 (905) 873-1992; (800) 51 F o odd R T ., 35 d t anada L olinst C S g Q y 2 0 2 - 1 6 6 ) 0 0 8 ( ; 5 5 2 2 - 3 7 8 ) 5 0 9 ( 1 + : l e T 16-9081 wn, ON L7G 4R8 o get eor , G oad g f WWJ April 2016 11 Twitter @WaterWellJournl Merritt Partridge