National Apprenticeship WeekÌýis a week-long celebration that encourages workforce leaders to demonstrate their commitment to apprenticeship and educate those around them. NAW also gives apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to promote their programs, facilities and apprentices in their respective communities.Ìý

On Nov. 5, the Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationÌýissued guidanceÌýon how to comply with crane operator certification requirements until OSHA’s newÌýfinal ruleÌýon operator certification and qualification becomes effective. OSHA also made available aÌýpre-publication versionÌýof the final rule on its website.

Apply for theÌýÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓNational Diversity Excellence AwardsÌýby Sunday, Nov. 25. Winners will be recognized during ABC's National Excellence in Construction®ÌýAwards, acknowledged at the 2019 Diversity & Inclusion Summit and more.ÌýAdditionally, members who create an inclusive culture by improving the work experience for the disabled are encouraged to submit comments on the Excellence in Disability Inclusion Award by Dec. 4, 2018.

The U.S. construction industry added 30,000 net new jobs in October, according to an analysis by ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓof data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.ÌýThe industry has added 330,000 net new construction jobs over the past 12 months, a 4.7 percent increase.

Dwana Grace and Stacia Brightmon, apprentices from ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓmember S&B Engineers and Constructors, attended anÌýeventÌýat the White House on Oct. 31 to highlight the Pledge to America’s Workers, which continues to gather commitments from the business community to expand workforce development.Ìý

National nonresidential construction spending fell 0.3 percent in September but remains historically elevated, according to an ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓanalysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Total nonresidential spending stood at $767.1 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate in September, an increase of 8.9 percent on a year-ago basis.

On Oct. 30, the National Labor Relations BoardÌýannouncedÌýan extension of the comment period on itsÌýproposed ruleÌýthat would set a new standard for determining joint-employer liability under the National Labor Relations Act.ÌýThe deadline for submitting comments has been extended from Nov. 13 to Dec. 13, 2018.

ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓandÌýConstruction ExecutiveÌýjoined more than 2,300 attendees at Viewpoint’sÌýCollaborate 2018 User Conference, held Oct. 16-18 in Portland, Oregon, where the construction management software company provided three days of in-depth educational sessions and unveiled new software innovations to help construction companies transform their operations, lower risk, gain efficiencies and improve productivity.Ìý

Estimated September construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 30 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by ABC.ÌýThe September 2018 not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate fell 0.6 percent from a year ago to 4.1 percent.

On Oct. 29, ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓannounced that Timothy Mongeau has been appointed as director of workforce development. With more than 15 years of experience designing and implementing construction education programs, Mongeau will spearhead ABC’s workforce development strategies and initiatives at the state and local level. Mongeau will also be tasked with creating new opportunities to increase the pipeline of skilled construction professionals and support workforce public policy efforts.