DBIA’s mission is to provide the best resources available to help inform and empower our industry. In these uncertain times, that mission is even more important. As our communities fight the Coronavirus, we are working to find the best information available to help design-build teams navigate the unknown. This daily newsletter will provide the latest COVID-19 news for the AEC community.
Design-builders deliver in times of crisis and we will again.
If you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry from your organization, state or community please email us.
June 5th
National
U.S. Hiring Rebounds, Defying Forecasts for Surge in Joblessness-Bloomberg. America’s labor market defied forecasts for a Depression-style surge in unemployment by rebounding in May, signaling the economy is picking up faster than anticipated from the coronavirus-inflicted recession.
Washington could deliver a ‘small-scale’ infrastructure bill before November elections, analyst says-MarketWatch. While Democrats and Republicans are pushing different infrastructure bills this week, Washington could end up delivering a modest bipartisan measure by late September, according to one analyst.
States
California
A coronavirus mystery: How many people in L.A. actually have COVID-19?-Los Angeles Times. One of the most pressing questions public health officials are trying to answer about the coronavirus is how many people actually have been infected by it. Have a relatively significant portion of Californians been infected with the virus but survived without much problem?
Illinois
It looks bleak for new development in Chicago-The Real Deal. The total value of nonresidential construction starts in the Chicago area dropped to $269 million in April, a 58 percent year-over-year fall. Residential construction also fell 20 percent, to $419 million.
New York
New NYC Program Brings COVID Testing to You; Mayor Details More Plans for Monday’s Reopening-NBC New York. On Monday, New York City will enter Phase I of reopening. During this announcement, Mayor Bill de Blasio also laid out additional rules for construction sites ahead of the reopening and announced a new mobile COVID testing program to expand outreach in hard-hit neighborhoods.
Wisconsin
Construction during COVID-Biz Times. Construction has fared better than other industries during the pandemic. Even so, there’s plenty of evidence showing the coronavirus has harmed the industry. A recent survey found more than 60% of construction firms reported having a project shut down in March or April.
Industry
Class of 2020 Hiring Trends Signal a Changing Future-Engineering News-Record. Shelter-in-place rules, project shutdowns and social distance mandates spurred by COVID-19 have changed things for this year’s engineering and construction graduate hires and interns embarking on construction sector careers—with job commitments and work parameters changing for recruits and employers.
3 Lessons to Share as the Construction Industry Returns to Work-The Legal Intelligencer. The construction industry certainly is not immune, with many projects nationwide shut down amid government-mandated closures and shelter-in-place orders. However, as states begin the process of reopening, construction is among the sectors allowed to get back to work.
Contact our editors if you have COVID-19 news impacting the AEC industry to share.