June 2020 Trends
Survey Suggests Civil Engineers Take Moderate Hit from COVID-19
Compared with employees in other professions, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) members have fewer concerns regarding the short- and long-term viability of their companies in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a recent survey commissioned by the society and other organizations (bit.ly/2ABIjCS). And fewer civil engineering firms have had to let go of employees than other types of companies in the survey.
AGC Tracks Slippage In Construction Demand
A new survey by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), along with data from construction technology firm Procore, indicates that demand for construction is “deteriorating” across the country—albeit unevenly—with the loss of 975,000 construction jobs from March to April 2020; constituting nearly 13 percent of the industry’s employment, by far its worst one-month decline ever.
View survey details at bit.ly/2zYStO2.
COVID-19 Erases Five Years of Solar Job Growth
New analysis shows that the U.S. solar industry will employ 114,000 fewer workers by June 2020, compared with previous forecasts that projected the industry would employ 302,000 Americans over the same time period. With an expected workforce of 188,000 people, this job loss will take the industry back to 2014 levels as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
The analysis from the Solar Energy Industries Association represents a 38 percent drop in solar jobs compared to previous estimates for June. The drop coincides with a 37 percent decrease in expected Q2 solar installations from pre-COVID forecasts, as the United States is on track to install only 3GW of new capacity in Q2 2020.
Find more information at bit.ly/2XtOT7l.
TOP Stories
The following are the top stories from the last few months (in terms of traffic) on the Informed Infrastructure website. This also reflects key coverage areas that are regularly refreshed online and via our weekly e-newsletter. Simply search key words on Informed Infrastructure online to find the full story.
Buildings
• AISI Publishes Two New Cold-Formed Steel Framing Test Standards
• World’s Largest Cricket Stadium Opens in Ahmedabad
• Polyglass Enhances ADESO Self-Adhered Membranes
• Video: The Disruptive Future of Building Materials
Transportation
• NSBA Recognizes 19 Outstanding Bridges
• Stantec Selected to Study Transit-Oriented Development in Cleveland
• Video: AASHTO President McKenna Makes Highway Safety a Top Priority
• HDR Selected as Technical Advisor for Ontario Line Subway
Water
• Vactor Manufacturing Launches Powerful iMPACT
• When You Have a Smartphone But No Water
• Video: Sea Of Opportunity Trailer
• Studying Water’s Flow Will Help Preserve Access to Life-Sustaining Resource
Tools and Technology
• World Construction Leader Komatsu Partners with Cesium on ‘Smart Construction’ Initiative
• AGTEK Development Company Introduces New Underground Software for Takeoff, Production Control
• Leica Geosystems Updates the Leica iCON Site Solution for Better Construction Positioning