Construction Unemployment at Lowest Level Since 2008: Falls to 9.8 Percent

The unemployment rate for construction workers fell below double digits in June for the first time since 2008 as every segment of the industry added employees, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the relatively positive jobs report for the sector highlights the need to address potential shortages of skilled and entry-level workers.

“Construction employment in June was the highest since August 2009,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “But employment is still down by one-quarter from the peak more than seven years ago. Many of those laid-off workers have left the industry—whether for employment elsewhere, more education or retirement—and construction companies face a looming worker shortage.”

The unemployment rate for workers who last worked in construction declined to 9.8 percent from 12.8 percent in June 2012, not seasonally adjusted, and the number of unemployed construction workers dropped by 214,000 to 825,000. The latest numbers were the best June figures for each series since 2008, Simonson noted.

Construction employment in June totaled 5,812,000, an increase of 190,000 or 3.4 percent over the past year. Aggregate weekly hours of all new and existing construction employees expanded by an even larger 4.7 percent, as companies put more workers on overtime.

“The number of unemployed workers with construction experience has fallen to low enough levels that firms in a growing number of locations and segments are having trouble finding people with the needed skills,” Simonson commented. “Contractors have filled the gap so far by adding to workers’ hours but this ‘solution’ may be reaching its limit.”

Residential and nonresidential contractors have added workers in nearly equal numbers, Simonson observed. Residential building and specialty trade contractors added 5,200 in June and 90,200 (4.4 percent) over 12 months. Nonresidential building, specialty trade and heavy and civil engineering construction firms grew by 8,400 workers in June and 99,800 (2.8 percent) from a year earlier. In a favorable sign for future construction growth, architectural and engineering services employment rose by 2.6 percent over the year.

Association officials said some of the future worker shortages that will come if the industry continues to add jobs over the coming months might still be averted. They urged education officials to rebuild skills-based, or vocational, educational programs designed to help prepare students for careers in construction and manufacturing. And they urged Congress and the administration to reject the arbitrary caps on construction workers that are currently included in the Senate’s immigration legislation.

“Now that demand for construction is finally picking up, it is vital to ensure that the industry can find enough qualified workers,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “There are actions that policy makers should take now before a worker shortage cuts short the industry’s recovery.”

Leave Your AC On or Turn It Off?

We’ve all wondered this at some point, usually after coming home to a stifling house on a long, hot, summer day: Do you save energy by shutting off your air conditioner when you’re gone for the day? Or is it better to just let it run at the same temperature setting all day long, so you don’t expend extra kilowatts starting it up and getting the premises to a comfortable temperature? Wasting energy not only costs you more money, it leads to more burning of coal and other fossil fuels that contribute to global climate change. We contacted Jennifer Thorne Amann, MES, buildings program director for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), to help us figure it out.

THIS: Leave the AC running, set at the same temperature all day.

The theory: If you leave the AC running with the temperature set at a comfortable setting, the stable temp means the air conditioner won’t have to work as hard.

THAT: Turn the AC off when you leave; turn it on when you get home.

The theory: If you let the house get hot when you’re away, the air conditioner will use more energy when it’s time to cool things down.

THIS OR THAT?

That. Turn it off when you leave. It may seem like a waste of energy to turn your air conditioner on and off, but doing so actually saves you a fair amount of money and helps your air conditioner work more efficiently, says Amann. While it may seem like your unit has to work hard to cool a space down from 80 to 75 degrees, “air-conditioning systems run most efficiently when they’re running at full speed,” rather than running for shorter periods at a less powerful speed to maintain a constant temperature all day, Amman says. They’re also better able to dehumidify your house, she adds, when they run full blast. If you have central air, or a window unit with a thermostat, you can save energy and keep things from getting unbearably torrid by setting the thermostat higher. ACEEE estimates that air conditioners use 3 to 5 percent less energy for every degree you raise the thermostat. To get the best energy savings, leave your thermostat set at 78 degrees or higher while you’re out.

Here are a few other ways to stay cool and get better AC energy savings this summer:

• Buy a programmable thermostat. Whether you turn your central air off or turn its thermostat up when you’re out of the house, a programmable thermostat can crank up the cool factor before you get home. That way your house will be comfortable when you walk in the door. Amann notes that you’ll need to buy a thermostat that suits both your cooling and your heating systems. Some models don’t work with heat pumps, which can pose a problem in the winter, so check with whoever installed or services your system. If you use a window unit, an appliance timer can serve a similar purpose; newer models may include a timer as well as a thermostat.

• Buy a ceiling fan. Fans don’t necessarily cool a room, but they move air across your skin, making you feel comfortable at a higher temperature. That allows you to set the thermostat higher and stay cool while using less energy (especially if you buy a fan that’s Energy Star rated). However, because it doesn’t reduce the temperature of a room, it’s a waste of energy to leave a ceiling fan on in the hopes that it will keep your house cooler while you’re gone.

• Plant some bushes. Large, shady bushes planted on the south and west sides of your house will reduce heat gain during the day.

• Create crosswinds. The easiest way to cool a house? Open a window—but not too much. The less you open it, the more of a draft you’ll create. You can create cross breezes in a one-story house (or a single room) by cracking one window’s bottom sash and another’s top sash. If you live in a two-story house, open a window on the first floor a crack and another window upstairs on the opposite side of the house. Experiment to see which windows work best and how much you should open them.

Heat Stress

3 Important Tips : Drink plenty of water to keep body fluid levels up. Get out of the heat occasionally. Be alert to early warnings of heat stress, both in yourself and in your co-workers.

Heat stress needs to be taken seriously

Working in a hot environment puts stress on the body's cooling system. When heat is combined with other stresses-like hard physical work, loss of fluids, or fatigue-it may lead to heat-related illness, disability, or even death!

The body is always generating heat and passing it to the environment. The harder you work, the more heat your body has to lose. Heat leaves your body in several ways:

• transfer from skin to air.
• evaporation by perspiration.
• exhaling hot air.
• touching a cool object.

Individuals over age-40 need to take extra care when the weather is hot, because our ability to sweat declines as we age. However, heat stress can also affect individuals who are young and fit.

Water is crucial to helping the body adjust to high temperatures. The rate of water intake must equal the increased rate of water loss by perspiration to keep body temperature normal. When it's hot, drink plenty of water!

Your body must work even harder to get rid of excess heat when conditions are both hot and humid. Unfortunately, perspiration can't evaporate as readily under muggy conditions. The process is easier if the surrounding air is moving. That's why we welcome a cool breeze, or turn on a fan when the air is "sticky".

Sickness and accident rates increase when heavy work is done at temperatures above 30 degrees.

Don't push yourself beyond your limits. It could be harmful to your health, and could put you at increased risk of having an accident.

Heat stress hazards

Following are three common conditions that can result from the body overheating.

Heat cramps: Heavy sweating drains the body of salt, which cannot be replaced by simply drinking water. Painful cramps occur in the arms, legs, or stomach while on the job, or later at home. Move to a cool area at once if cramping is experienced. Loosen clothing and drink cool, lightly-salted water or a commercial fluid replacement beverage. Seek medical aid if the cramps are severe, or don't go away.

Heat exhaustion: Inadequate water and salt intake causes the body's cooling system to break down. Symptoms include heavy sweating, cool, moist skin, body temperature over 38 degrees, weak pulse, and normal or low blood pressure. The victim is likely to be tired, weak, clumsy, upset, or confused. They will be very thirsty, and will pant or breath rapidly. Their vision may be blurred. Get medical help immediately! Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which can kill. Move the person to a cool, shaded area. Loosen or remove excess clothing. Provide cool, lightly-salted water. Fan and spray the victim with cool water.

Heat stroke can kill a person quickly! Once the body uses up all its water and salt, sweating ceases. Temperature can rise quickly. You can assume a person is suffering from heat stroke if their body temperature is over 41 degrees, and any of the following symptoms are present:

• weakness, confusion, distress, strange behavior.
• hot, dry, red skin.
• rapid pulse.
• headache or dizziness.
• In later stages heat stroke, a victim may pass out and have convulsions.

Call an ambulance immediately if heat stroke is suspected. The victim' s life may be on the line ! Until help arrives, move the victim to a cool area and remove excess clothing. Fan and spray them with cool water. Offer sips of water if the victim is conscious.

Heatwave guidelines

The following measures should help prevent the development of heat-related illnesses.

1.    Slowdown in hot weather. Your body's temperature regulating system faces a much greater workload when temperature and humidity are high.

2.    Heed early warnings of heat stress, such as headache, heavy perspiration, high pulse rate, and shallow breathing. Take a break immediately and get to a cooler location. Watch for heat stress signs among your co-workers.

3.    Dress for hot weather. Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat.

4.    Drink plenty of water. Don't let yourself "dry out".

5.    Increase your salt intake, preferably by adding salt to your food. (Consult your physician if you are on a salt-restricted diet.)

6.    Try to get used to warm weather gradually. Take it easy for those first two or three hot days. Your body will have a better chance to adjust if you take it slow.

7.    Get out of the heat occasionally. Physical stress increases with time in hot weather. Take breaks in a cool, shady location.

8.    Don't try to get a suntan while you are working! It's harder for your internal cooling system to work through sunburned skin. Wear a hat and long-sleeved shirt to prevent burning (which we know can increase the risk of skin cancer.)

Finally, let's take a moment to review some of the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of preventing heat-related illnesses.

DO: Drink plenty of water. Take breaks in a cool, shady area. Watch for symptoms of a heat stress, both in yourself and co-workers.

DON’T: Ignore symptoms of heat stress. Try to get a suntan while working. Try to "keep up" with the rest of the crew, even though you feel ill.

Who is Most Likely to be Killed by Lightening?

From 2006 through 2012, 238 people were struck and killed by lightning in the U.S. Were most of these deaths during leisure or work activities? Were more deaths while people were playing golf or soccer? The National Weather Service (NWS) has tallied statistics and has some advice, too.

Answer 1: Far more people were killed by leisure activities than at work, according to the NWS:

• 64% leisure activities
• 17% daily routine
• 13% work, and
• 6% of cases unknown.

Daily routine includes walking to or from a vehicle, waiting outdoors for transportation, walking to or from home, and yard work.

The breakdown by type of work:

• 34% farming/ranching
• 9% construction
• 9% lawn care
• 9% roofing
• 6% working on a barge
• 6% military, and
• 25% other.

Included in the other category were deaths related to loading trucks, surveying, door-to-door sales, logging, mail delivery, utility repair and work at an amusement park. Fatalities that occurred when traveling to or from work were categorized as daily routine.

Is golf a big factor?

Answer to our second question: More are killed by lightning while playing soccer than while golfing. Here’s a partial breakdown of leisure activities:

• 11% fishing (largest number of lightning deaths due to leisure activities)
• 6% camping
• 6% boating
• 5% soccer, and
• 3% golf.

The common belief that golfers are responsible for the greatest number of lightning deaths was shown to be a myth. Why is that the case?

The NWS “has made a concerted effort to raise lightning awareness in the golf community since we began the campaign in 2001,” said John Jensienius, a lightning safety specialist with the NWS. “We believe our outreach has made a huge difference since lightning-related deaths on golf courses have decreased by 75%.”

In other words: Safety training and education work.

Some advice for outdoor workers from the NWS when thunderstorms threaten:

• Stay off and away from anything tall or high, including roofs, scaffolding, utility poles and ladders.
• Stay off and away from large equipment such as bulldozers, cranes, backhoes, track loaders and tractors.
• Don’t touch materials or surfaces that can conduct electricity, including metal scaffolding, metal equipment, utility lines, water, water pipes and plumbing.
• Leave areas with explosives or munitions.

If workers hear thunder, they should get to a building or enclosed vehicle.

Advice if someone is struck: Lightning victims don’t carry an electrical charge, are safe to touch and need urgent medical attention. Cardiac arrest is the immediate cause of death. Some deaths can be prevented if the victim receives the proper first aid immediately. Call 9-1-1 and perform CPR if the person isn’t responsive. Use an automated external defibrillator if available.

The Era of Business Cards Is Dead

It's time to ask yourself: How many business cards have you collected that never again see the light of day?

Seriously. This is an important question.

I have seen people at networking events using their phones to type contact information right there on the spot. Fast-forward a few years, and maybe all of us Google Glass-wearing techies can just look at each other to swap contact info. Here's to the future.

I propose skipping the formal and mindless business card exchange if you really want to develop a professional relationship with a contact. Try these alternatives instead:

Stick to Your Inbox

There's nothing worse than having to scour your email for the contact information of someone you need to call quickly. I've remedied this task with help from WriteThat.Name. This tool acts as your personal email assistant to keep all of your contacts automatically updated.

WriteThat.Name scans the signatures of the people you're emailing, extracts their information, and merges it with contacts on your email and phone. The best part of this tool is that your contacts aren't just on your phone; they're also in the cloud for safekeeping.

If you want to keep things as simple as possible, ask new contacts to shoot you an email prior to saying goodbye. This method can be easily implemented with WriteThat.Name and is also a great way to ensure you never miss a chance to follow-up with someone you've met.

Get Smarter With Your Smartphone

If you prefer a software solution rather than a business card, Bump might be the app for you. Available for iPhone and Android, the best part of this app is its ability to transmit information from your phone to your computer. It might be a challenge if you're looking to Bump contact information from someone who doesn't have it downloaded--but 125 million Bump downloads so far indicates the odds are relatively good you'll find someone with the same app.

If you're not quite ready to go completely cardless, try LinkedIn's CardMunch app. It turns business cards into contacts. If you collect a business card at a networking event, simply snap a picture with your camera and let the app works its magic. The picture is immediately converted to a contact, and it also links directly to your new connection's LinkedIn profile information and connections you have in common.

I've only scratched the surface of business card alternatives. What do you use?

How to Master Your Internet Presence

In the not so distant past, being visible to someone searching for information on an Internet search results page required a fairly decent website and some basic knowledge about search engine optimization. While an agency website is still the cornerstone of your Internet presence, it is no longer nearly enough.

In today’s interconnected world, being visible to prospects that are searching for insurance information requires a much broader Internet presence than a single website.

Following is a list of some of the areas that every insurance agency needs to explore in order to expand their visibility and become “findable” on the Internet.

Agency website(s): As just mentioned, an agency website is a cornerstone of your strategy. It is your home-base that everything else you do should point to. Your existing website should be transformed into a customer service portal specifically designed for current clients. Your prospecting and marketing website(s) and/or landing pages are then designed for the specific type of business or line of coverage you are marketing.

Website content: Every agency needs to consistently update their website with fresh content. I know what some of you are thinking: How can I write a article? When will I have the time? I can assure you that creating new information to put on your site is much easier than you think.

Fresh updated content will help increase your findability on search engines. They like fresh content and they reward you with a higher possibility of showing up on a search engine results page.

Google+ Local: Insurance search terms remain the most expensive paid terms on Google. Most organizations simply can’t compete with the advertising budgets of the large insurance companies. But any size organization can compete when they maximize their local search presence. Every agency with a physical location needs to claim their Google+ local listing, Facebook Place and LinkedIn Company Page.

Facebook: Every agency needs to have a well-designed Facebook page for your agency. This is an important first step. Facebook advertising should also become a vital part of your marketing budget.

LinkedIn: Insurance salespeople know that the core of their success is based on being able to network effectively. LinkedIn provides a platform that allows you to network with other business owners, just as you do with Rotary or Chamber meetings. Every person in your agency should have a fully complete LinkedIn profile.

Twitter: I don’t care what people are having for lunch—but Twitter has become much more than a narcissistic listing of the details of your lives. For me, it has become another research tool. If someone I trust tweets information about an article they found helpful, I’m more likely to read that article. Search engines also index tweets in real time. Tweets will help increase your Internet presence.

YouTube: Video is big—really big. YouTube is a great site to help you build your video presence. You can create videos that explain coverage or provide information in an emergency.

Mobile: “There’s an app for that” is a phrase everyone is hearing more and more. Add to this the dramatic increase in tablet platforms like the Apple iPad and the Motorola Xoom. Mobile is big and will just get bigger. Your agency needs a customized agency mobile app.

Text: The average teenager sends over 4,000 text messages a month. Text is how a growing number of your prospects and clients communicate—not just with friends but with everyone. What are you doing to make text a communication option for your clients?

Ratings and reviews: Consumers have a voice today unlike any time in the past. But, this option makes most agency owners very nervous. “What if someone gives us a bad review?” is a question I hear often. A negative review is your opportunity to know about a problem, take steps to try to correct the problem, and then let others know how you handled the issue. A negative review is your opportunity to shine. If you receive a lot of negative reviews, then you have other problems that management must address.

Feeling overwhelmed?

We recommend that you spend 30 minutes each day working on mastering your Internet presence. Make a list of what is the most important for your agency and simply begin the process. It is more important for you to start than to worry about making everything perfect. You will make mistakes. Some items won’t work well for you. That’s OK. Learn and keep moving forward.

Keep in mind that mastering your Internet presence is not a project that you complete; it’s a process that you need to build into your marketing, sales, and customer service strategy.

Written by: Steve Anderson

How to gather useful feedback from your clients

Do you know what your customers think about your products and services?

Successful business owners know that no matter how busy they get, it's critical to take time to get customer feedback - to know exactly the type of service and experience their clients are getting. It's why shows like Undercover Boss exist today. In the event that you don't make it onto the show but are still looking for some valuable feedback, there are some easy ways to incorporate customer feedback into your business culture.

We heart feedback

First off, let me congratulate you on making the wise choice to pursue feedback. Understanding your customers' opinions will not only help you improve quality, it can give you insights into what new products or services you might offer in the future. Knowing what you're doing right also helps guide you about where to focus your energies, and it may even give you fodder for marketing. Plus, customers love to know that they have a voice and are being heard. (Who doesn't want to have their opinion matter?)

Back in the day, feedback used to mean having a suggestion box or maybe a form on your website (if you were tech savvy). Today, there are many low-cost approaches out there to help you take the pulse of your customers. Here are 4 easy ways to make customer feedback a core part of your business. 

Conduct an online survey

Most companies get occasional fan mail - and those pesky critical e-mails from time to time. But before you jump through a bunch of hoops to correct whatever the squeaky wheel might be complaining about, it might be a good idea to survey more of your audience. It's a great way to determine what's a burning issue and what's merely an isolated incident. If you have email addresses for your customers, conducting an online survey can be a great way to get a variety of feedback from a large audience in a fairly short amount of time. A few tips regarding your survey: keep it short (5-10 questions) and only ask information that you really need/want responses for. If you're looking for a great online survey tool, we recommend SurveyMonkey, whose low-cost and web-based survey solutions are a natural fit for small businesses on a budget. 

Once you've developed your survey, your next step is to get your customers to take it. We recommend offering an incentive for survey participation. (Bribery may be the best policy here!) You could enter them into a drawing for a free product or service - or offer a discount on their next purchase.

Ask for feedback via Facebook or Twitter

If you're just looking for some quick feedback, it could be as simple as posting a question or poll on your Facebook wall or via Twitter. This is a great way to get fast insights into new products, new branding or even new store locations or lines of business. If you have new marketing colors for your logo that you just can't decide between, post both (clearly marked A and B) and ask your friends or Twitter followers which they think represents your company the best. 

Conduct a focus group

Focus groups are representatives of customers whose job is to provide you with information on their needs and preferences. This is a great way to ask follow-up questions and really dig deep into your customers' minds. Gather together some of your best (or a random assortment of recent) clients. Put them in a room and ask the tough questions. Really listen to what they say. You might be surprised by what comes out of their mouths! Additionally, it might help you realize that you have 2-3 types of customers: those who want convenience vs those who value personal attention. Whatever the case may be, you can use that information to help you target more of these valued customers in the future - as well as really take to heart the honest feedback they offer. 

Use a feedback form

Another approach to getting customer feedback on an ongoing basis is a hosted feedback form. The point of a feedback box is to get small feedback from users on an ongoing basis. Most likely, if customers have a minor issue or suggestion, they won't reach out for support. (As opposed to how they come screaming if the problem is big enough.) If you have a feedback box, it offers a place for people to easily tell the company when something isn't working quite right. It's conveniently placed on your web page so it's easy to find, but it's also out of the way if they don't need it. Feel free to experiment with different locations to see which one encourages the most feedback from your customers. Once again, make it simple and easy to use, or you'll probably miss out on the feedback it was designed to catch. 

Once you've conducted all your research, make sure you pay attention to the feedback. It doesn't necessarily mean that you'll opt to act on every single suggestion, but it's at least worth consideration. If you're collecting feedback from your customers consistently, you're building your business in the right direction. Experiment with various methods above and find the right combination that works for your business.