NRCA outperforms nonprofit averages on social media
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Recent data from social media management platform Sprout Social shows NRCA consistently outperformed other nonprofits, as well as overall industries, on its social media platforms in 2022.
When compared with other nonprofits, NRCA’s total impressions in 2022 reached 2.3 million, which is 4.5% higher than the industry average of 2.2 million. NRCA also delivered more social media content with 3,800 posts in 2022, which is 192% higher than the industry average of 1,300 posts.
NRCA gained 3,000 social media followers in 2022—58% higher than the industry average of 1,900 followers. And NRCA’s followers were engaged; the association had 69,400 engagements on social media in 2022.
NRCA also fared well when compared with the average from all industries in Sprout Social’s report, boasting 217% more content and 50% more new followers.
You can follow NRCA on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Top concerns for contractors in 2023
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The Associated General Contractors of America’s 2023 Construction Outlook National Survey shows supply chain issues, material costs, labor shortages and a recession are among contractors’ top concerns for 2023, according to constructiondive.com.
Supply chain uncertainty in the industry has led to negative effects that ultimately result in higher costs and lower profits. Contractors also are less confident about private sector work as inflation and the potential for a recession continue to be issues.
“Even when we’ve had recessions or slow growth expectations for the economy, contractors are by nature optimists,” says Ken Simonson, chief economist for Associated General Contractors of America. “But it is notable that in nearly all of these categories, particularly on the private side, contractors have lower net positive readings or deeper negative readings than they did in previous years.”
Contractors’ biggest concern for this year is the supply chain issue, which causes project delays, logistical problems and rising material prices. To respond to this issue in 2022, 70% of survey respondents said they accelerated purchases after winning contracts; about half turned to alternative suppliers or used alternative materials or products; and 22% stockpiled items before winning contracts.
Labor shortages are expected to persist. Sixty-nine percent of contractors said they expect to hire in 2023 and only 11% expect to reduce their staffs. In 2022, 72% of contractors increased base pay rates more than in 2021 and about one-third boosted bonuses and benefits to attract workers.
Still, 80% of contractors report they currently are having difficulty finding workers, and most respondents expect those challenges to continue. Also, 83% of contractors are concerned the labor shortage and resulting inexperienced skilled labor pool will affect the safety and health of their workers.
The survey shows contractors are more optimistic about infrastructure and other public work even though only 5% of respondents are working on new projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Six percent have won bids but have not started work; 5% have bid on projects but have not won awards yet; and 21% said they plan to bid on projects but nothing suitable has been offered yet.
Holcim to acquire Duro-Last®
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Holcim, Zug, Switzerland, has signed an agreement to acquire roof systems manufacturer Duro-Last Inc., Saginaw, Mich., in a $1.29 billion transaction. Duro-Last specializes in commercial roof systems and has annual sales of about $540 million.
“Over the past 45 years, our family business has continually reinvested in Duro-Last to create the solid, financially strong and well-recognized company we are today,” says Tom Saeli, CEO of Duro-Last. “We are delighted to be joining the Holcim family, and we look to the future to accelerate our success. Holcim recognizes the opportunities at Duro-Last, and we are confident it will support us in our future growth plans.”
The deal follows other recent acquisitions by Holcim in North America and is its biggest since it bought Malarkey Roofing Products in December 2021. As a result of the acquisition, sales at Holcim’s roofing systems division will exceed $4 billion by the end of 2025.
“Duro-Last is a perfect strategic fit for our roofing business,” says Jan Jenisch, CEO of Holcim. “Its proprietary technologies and premium brands complement our offering in the North American market. Its energy-efficient systems and excellence in recycling will further advance our leadership in sustainability. I am excited to further strengthen the Duro-Last brand and welcome all 840 employees to the Holcim family.”
OSHA to hold annual safety stand-down May 1-5
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s 10th annual National Safety Stand-Down will be May 1-5 to raise awareness among employers and workers about the hazards of falls in the construction industry.
OSHA, NRCA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Occupational Research Agenda and CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training, among other groups, will lead the effort to encourage employers to pause during their workdays for topic discussions, demonstrations, and training regarding how to recognize hazards and prevent falls.
OSHA encourages people to use #StandDown4Safety to promote the event on social media, share feedback after their events and obtain a personalized certificate of participation. Additional information is available at osha.gov/stop-falls-stand-down.
NRCA will again hold three fall-protection webinars during the week in support of the National Safety Stand-Down.
Construction industry fatalities fell slightly in 2021
On Dec. 16, 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report for 2021, which showed the construction industry had 1,015 fatal injuries for the year—down 1.8% from 1,034 fatal injuries in 2020, according to enr.com. Another metric shows construction workplace deaths declined to 986 in 2021 from 1,008 in 2020—a 2.2% decrease.
Additionally, the industry’s 2021 fatal injury rate fell to 9.1 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers from 10 in 2020. The fatal injury rate is viewed as a key safety indicator because it adjusts for yearly changes in the overall number of workers and amount of construction work.
In an email to Engineering News-Record, Brian Turmail, Associated General Contractors of America vice president of public affairs and strategic initiatives, wrote: “There is a temptation to see a decline in the fatality numbers as something to celebrate. It isn’t. There is nothing acceptable about more than 1,000 people losing their lives in our industry.”
Overall, BLS reported the total number of fatal occupational injuries in the U.S. was up 8.9%, rising from 4,764 in 2020 to 5,190 in 2021. The national work fatality rate rose to 3.6 per 1,000 full-time employees in 2021 from 3.4 in 2020.
Massachusetts tops ranking for LEED green building
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Massachusetts topped the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual ranking of states for LEED green building in 2022 after ranking No. 3 on the list in 2021, according to usgbc.org.
States were ranked based on the number of LEED-certified square feet per capita in the state. In 2022, Massachusetts certified 96 LEED projects for a total of 3.7 square feet of LEED-certified building per person. The top 10 states certified 1,255 projects and nearly 353 million gross square feet under LEED.
The states following Massachusetts in the Top 10 included Illinois, New York, California, Maryland, Georgia, Colorado, Virginia, Texas and Oregon. USGBC notes Washington, D.C., would have the highest ranking with 46.06 green square feet per capita and 116 green building projects, but it is not included because it is not a state.
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