Last week several sources released reports about the increase in housing market numbers. Housing is one of the first signs that the construction market overall is coming back, and with that the expectation is that commercial, industrial and other sectors will also grow.

According to the US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, October 2012 saw 894,000 construction starts. This is 41.9% higher than October of last year.

Read more on the new housing market construction numbers:

• “Housing Starts Rose in October,” New York Times
• “Another Oustanding Month for U.S. Housing Starts in October,” Reed Construction Data
• “Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Rose 3% in Year to September,” Bloomberg Businessweek

Will this boost the economy?  A big part of the answer to this question is the quality of jobs that return with this boost in economic activity. Are these low-skill, short-term, and temporary jobs, or are they long-term careers? The construction industry is cyclical, with extreme booms and busts. To make sure the next downcycle does not look like the last, it’s important to learn from the mistakes of the past economic downturn and build the industry back stronger.

See Huffington Post Live Interview with Uyen Le, Partnerships Director of the California Construction Academy.

Graphic by the California Construction Academy

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With Thanksgiving on Thursday, here are some reasons to be thankful at work. It may sometimes be easy to take these workplace rights for granted, but they are the result of years of work by community and labor leaders.

Let’s give thanks for the right to:

1. The weekend!
   Overtime pay and the 40-hour work week, from the National Labor Relations Act (1938).
2. Minimum wage
   National Labor Relations Act (1938).
3. A work-free childhood
   National Labor Relations Act (1938).
4. Rest and meal breaks
   National Labor Relations Act (1938).
5. Maternity leave
   Family and Medical Leave Act (1993).
6. A safe workplace
   Occupational Health and Safety Act (1970).
7. Stand up for these rights without being fired
   National Labor Relations Act (1938).

There’s definitely much more to do to ensure that all people have access to high quality jobs. Let the fight continue!

Graphic courtesy of the California Construction Academy and the UCLA Labor Center. Photo courtesy of Dawn Jones, Oregon Tradeswomen.

Every Tuesday the Construction Academy posts a graphic, chart or other resource to demystify the construction industry. To receive updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

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Every Tuesday the Construction Academy posts a graphic, chart or other resource to demystify the construction industry.  To receive updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Prop 39 Means More Green Construction

Last week, California voters decided overwhelmingly (60.3%) to pass Proposition 39. This proposition closes a California tax loophole that gave a break to corporations that have their operations in multiple states. In doing so, it raises $1 billion a year, half of which will go to renovate buildings and make them save more energy. Read more about Prop 39.

The California Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that this can create nearly 40,000 jobs throughout the state. This means more construction jobs and growth for California’s clean energy economy.

How did your county vote?

Check out the interactive map of election results! Maps for other propositions are also up.

Map by: California Secretary of State

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Every Tuesday the Construction Academy posts a graphic, chart or other resource to demystify the construction industry.  To receive updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

What’s driving California’s clean energy economy?

This year was the first election in over 20 years that neither of the presidential candidates mentioned climate change in the debate. So what is happening in California’s clean energy and energy efficiency economy anyway?

This new report from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) gives some numbers and great charts about current trends in energy efficiency. The chart above shows manufacturing and installation jobs leading the seven growth sectors of California’s clean and efficient economy. These are important sectors for construction jobs.

Check out Invest to Grow, the new report by Environmental Defense Fund.

Chart by: Environmental Defense Fund.

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Every Tuesday the Construction Academy posts a graphic, chart or other resource to demystify the construction industry.  To receive updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

How much unemployment is in your district?

With elections just three weeks away, it’s important to know– how many people are employed in your district? What kinds of jobs do they have? What education level do they have? The Reinvestment Fund just released its MyDistrict Data tool, which allows you to instantly view workforce and employment data in your congressional district.

Look up your district on the MyDistrict Data tool.

Tool by: The Reinvestment Fund

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Every Tuesday the Construction Academy posts a graphic, chart or other resource to demystify some aspect of construction.  To receive updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

How Does Your State Rank in Energy Efficiency?

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy just posted its updated energy efficiency scorecard. According to their research, states continue to move strongly in 2012 to advance energy efficiency initiatives regardless of which political party is in control of state legislatures and governors’ offices.

The scorecard shows that the top 10 energy efficiency states are Massachusetts (in its second year atop the rankings), California, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Washington, Maryland, and Minnesota.

The 10 states most in need of improvement (starting with last) are Mississippi, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, and Nebraska.

Check out the energy efficiency ranking scorecard.

Graphic by: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

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Every Tuesday the Construction Academy posts a graphic, chart or other resource to demystify some aspect of construction.  To receive updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Top 16 Construction Site Hazards

Construction has the highest fatality rate of any other occupation in the United States. This graphic clearly shows some of the top hazards.  These hazards include unsafe working at height, unsafe electrical connections, and issues with machinery such as forklifts and cranes.

This graphic comes from a Gulf News, which is based Abu Dhabi, but the information applicable to many construction sites. The California Department of Public Health also provides fact sheets and resources for common construction accidents. Thanks to our partners at the UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health (LOSH) program for the resources.

Download/View graphic.

Graphic by: Gulf News, Source: Department of Municipal Affairs, Abu Dhabi

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Every Tuesday the Construction Academy posts a graphic, chart or other resource to demystify some aspect of construction.  To receive updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Your Path to a Construction Career

So you want to enter construction, but are not sure how?  This graphic, by the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) Construction Careers project, breaks down the pathway to getting into an apprenticeship program.

Apprenticeships are rigorous training programs that combine in-class and on-the-job training for workers in a specific trade. Apprenticeships help train new workers, retrain current workers, and allow the industry to adapt to emerging technologies. Learn more about apprenticeships.

Download/View 8.5″x11″ version of graphic.

Graphic by: Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE)

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