Labor
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Pennsylvania lawmakers designate Construction Opioid Awareness Week
State senators cast light on the building sector’s ongoing struggle against substance abuse via a campaign during the height of summer construction season.
By Matthew Thibault • July 24, 2025 -
Former Amazon exec, Biden official talk OSHA changes
Corporate safety attorney Heather MacDougall and the former deputy assistant secretary of OSHA offered details at this week’s ASSP 2025 Conference + Expo.
By Zachary Phillips • July 24, 2025 -
Why a women-owned firm developed PPE for women
ARX’s leaders say they leaned on their own experiences and researched how women wear and use gear to create better products.
By Zachary Phillips • July 17, 2025 -
Nearly 9% of younger workers use alcohol or drugs at work, study shows
Substance use occurs more often in blue-collar and service industry jobs, but comprehensive policies and supportive interventions can help, researchers said.
By Carolyn Crist • July 17, 2025 -
Deep Dive
How to protect employees from heat and other climate extremes
Basics like shade, water and rest can help, but companies should involve workers in the planning process, experts say.
By Ryan Golden • July 15, 2025 -
How immigration crackdowns, ICE raids will affect recruitment in 2025
A decline in the foreign-born workforce “will keep the potential pool of workers historically tight,” Wells Fargo economists found.
By Caroline Colvin • July 10, 2025 -
TikTokers promote the construction trades to young workers
Online influencers are reaching members of Gen Z via the popular social media site.
By Keith Loria • July 10, 2025 -
Mailbag: The EEOC sent us a letter about our DEI programs. What should we do next?
Experts question whether the agency possesses the authority to issue such letters. But ignoring an agency notice or request is typically not a good tactic, an attorney says.
By Ryan Golden • July 10, 2025 -
Construction advocate Mark Casso remembered as mentor, friend
The leader of the Construction Industry Round Table was humble, kind and a staunch champion for the building sector, his colleagues said.
By Zachary Phillips • July 9, 2025 -
6 ways employers can lower healthcare costs in 2025
"Employers have absorbed the majority of cost increases over the past four years, and they likely cannot continue to do so," one expert said.
By Michael Brady • July 2, 2025 -
Return to office doesn’t mean rewind to 2019, conference speaker says
COVID-19 transformed the workplace as much as desktop computers, HR Transformed’s CEO said. Her tip for managing a blended workforce? Be intentional.
By Ginger Christ • July 2, 2025 -
Hiring rate, job openings remain historically low
Though contractors are optimistic in the face of a subdued labor market, it’s not yet clear how President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have affected the data.
By Zachary Phillips • July 2, 2025 -
OSHA hearings hint at revised heat rule
Though many expected the Trump administration to kill the proposed regulation, the agency may simply tone it down to a more performance-based standard, experts say.
By Zachary Phillips • June 26, 2025 -
Contractors back New York’s Scaffold Law update
Liability insurance premiums in New York generally run about 30% higher than in other states due to the legislation, builders say.
By Sebastian Obando • June 26, 2025 -
Employers should regularly check E-Verify for authorization status changes, DHS warns
The Trump administration recently revoked work authorization status for more than half a million noncitizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
By Emilie Shumway • June 25, 2025 -
Startup JetZero to build $4.7B factory in North Carolina
The aircraft maker plans to create 14,500 jobs as it looks to produce more fuel-efficient, spacious planes.
By Kate Magill • June 18, 2025 -
PLA mandate to stay, with exemptions: OMB
The Trump administration said that it supports the use of project labor agreements on federal construction projects when they are “practicable and cost effective.”
By Zachary Phillips • June 13, 2025 -
OSHA’s proposed cuts won’t affect enforcement: DOL chief
A smaller budget will “modernize and streamline” the department, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a recent House committee hearing.
By Zachary Phillips • June 12, 2025 -
Opinion // Business Matters
Strive for more than work-life balance
A construction career can be deeply rewarding, not an experience to be dreaded, writes consultant Chad Prinkey.
By Chad Prinkey • June 12, 2025 -
Opinion
Why construction needs to lean into better mentorships
Teaching early-career professionals should go beyond technical know-how to give future leaders critical thinking and problem-solving skills, writes a senior project manager.
By Nelson Frech • June 6, 2025 -
Planning for Pride? Attorneys offer tips to navigate a ‘thornier’ year
Cultural observances may not necessarily be a target for federal enforcement actions, but some experts still urge caution.
By Kate Tornone • June 5, 2025 -
Job openings stagnate as labor churn flattens
Hires, layoffs and quits were historically low in April, while employers held onto valuable skilled labor amid economic uncertainty.
By Zachary Phillips • June 4, 2025 -
ICE raids on building sites stoke fear, uncertainty
Law enforcement officers arrested construction workers in San Antonio, New Orleans and Tallahassee, Florida, last week.
By Zachary Phillips • June 4, 2025 -
42% of Gen Z workers say they’re turning to blue-collar roles for security
Regardless of education level, workers said they’re choosing blue-collar work for better long-term prospects, higher pay and a lower risk of being replaced by AI.
By Carolyn Crist • May 29, 2025 -
Why veterans make good construction leaders
Former and current military members are well-suited for superintendent and safety manager roles, according to a recent webinar hosted by Skanska and the Society of American Military Engineers.
By Sebastian Obando • May 27, 2025