A new educational program to train people in the practice of ultra-efficient or lean construction is being offered by the Associated General Contractors of America. Lean management practices are designed to improve efficiency and productivity.

Construction spending bounced back from an 11-year low in March, increasing by 1.4 percent to a total seasonally adjusted annual rate of $769 billion, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new Census Bureau data.

Compounding the pressure facing U.S. construction firms, the Associated General Contractors of America has noted that prices for materials rose in December, despite flat bid prices for the same period.

According to an analysis of October Producer Price Index figures released by the Associated General Contractors of America, prices for materials used in construction jumped by 0.6 percent in October and 4.8 percent over the past 12 months, while the price index for finished buildings remained flat.

ARLINGTON, VA -- Construction employment declined in 236 out of 337 metropolitan areas between September 2009 and September 2010, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

ARLINGTON, VA -- Construction employment declined in 31 states between August and September, while fewer people are working in construction compared to last year in 40 states, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.

ARLINGTON, VA -- The construction industry lost 21,000 jobs in September, placing the industry close to a 14-year employment low.

Illinois adds most jobs in August, while Minnesota loses most jobs monthly and New Mexico has largest monthly percent decline.Construction jobs were added in half the states in August, while the number of states with year-over-year job gains rose to 10 from just six in July, the Associated General Contractors reported in an analysis of state employment data released today by the Labor Department.

ARLINGTON, VA -- The construction industry added 19,000 jobs in August, yet the sector’s 17% unemployment rate was the highest August rate ever, according to a new analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of federal employment data.

ARLINGTON VA -- Construction employment decreased by 11,000 between June and July 2010 while the industry's unemployment rate fell to 17.3 percent, according to a new analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of federal employment data.