Tag: construction

Australian State Mandates Gender Quotas on Construction Sites

In an Australian-first Building Equality Policy (BEP), the Victorian government has announced that the country’s most male-dominated industry will need to employ a minimum number of women by 2024 or face penalties. Aimed at “disrupting gender stereotypes,” women now need to make up at least 38 percent of roles in government-contracted projects to help more women…


When Choosing a Lot for a House, Don’t Overlook Drainage Problems

Dear James: Our last house had drainage problems after storms. When we select a lot to build our new house, what steps should be taken to evaluate possible drainage issues?—Jessica R. Dear Jessica: When selecting a lot for a new house, most people think poor drainage can just make the yard muddy or harm landscaping….


Australian Construction Sector Sees Improved Activity in February

Australia’s construction industry saw some improvement in February after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 Omicron variant over December and January. The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association performance of construction index rose 7.5 points to 53.4 in February, indicating the sector is again growing with a score above 50 points. Ai Group chief policy advisor…


Biden to Sign Executive Order Requiring Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects up to $35 Million

President Joe Biden is set to sign an executive order on Friday aimed at bolstering project labor agreements (PLAs) used for federal construction projects costing more than $35 million. Biden will travel to a local ironworkers union in Maryland to sign the order which the White House says will “improve timeliness, lower costs and increase quality in federal…


US Construction Spending Misses Expectations in December

WASHINGTON—U.S. construction spending increased less than expected in December as a solid rise in private projects was partially offset by a sharp decline in outlays on public projects. The Commerce Department said on Tuesday that construction spending rose 0.2 percent after advancing 0.6 percent in November. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast construction spending gaining…


Hitachi to Sell About Half Its Stake in Construction Unit: NHK

TOKYO—Japan’s Hitachi Ltd. will sell about half its 51 percent stake in unit Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. to trading firm Itochu Corp. and investment fund Japan Industrial Partners, public broadcaster NHK reported on Thursday. Hitachi will sell the stake for about 200 billion yen ($1.7 billion), according to a Nikkei business daily report, which did…


South Korean Rescuers Locate Man at Collapsed Construction Site

SEOUL, South Korea—South Korean rescuers on Thursday located a man under a pile of debris and broken concrete at the construction site of a 39-floor building that partially collapsed three days earlier, leaving six workers missing, officials said. Crews were trying to clear the rubble to reach the man, but have yet to confirm whether…


British Construction Industry Growth Picks up Despite Supply Pressures

Growth in the UK’s construction sector picked up pace again last month despite supply disruption impacting firms, according to new figures. The closely followed IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) hit a reading of 54.6 for October, up from 52.6 in September. Any reading above 50 is seen as a sector in growth….


Construction Spending Unexpectedly Falls in September

WASHINGTON—U.S. construction spending unexpectedly fell in September amid declines in outlays on both private and public projects. The Commerce Department said on Monday that construction spending dropped 0.5 percent after edging up 0.1 percent in August. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast construction spending gaining 0.4 percent. Construction spending increased 7.8 percent on a year-on-year…


New Construction in China Declines for 6th Month, Largest Downward Trend Since 2015

China’s new construction starts declined for a sixth month in September, marking the longest downward trend since the March-August 2015 downturn. New construction starts in September fell 13.54 percent from the year prior, the third month of double-digit declines, according to Reuters calculations based on January-September data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. Property…