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Wages are rising at a steady clip for construction workers

Sep 7, 2018
And still builders are facing a shortage of skilled and unskilled workers.
A construction laborer works on the site of a new residential building in the Hudson Yards development in 2016 in New York City.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Chinese firms remain optimistic about U.S. trade

Aug 22, 2018
Despite current tensions, many businesses expect disruption to be short-lived.
An electric concept car by two Chinese companies displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show Asia in June 2018. The U.S. accuses China’s government of aggressively working to undermine America’s high-tech industries through unfair trade practices and industrial policies.
Jennifer Pak/Marketplace

Investors flock to previously flooded Houston neighborhoods with hopes of big returns

Aug 22, 2018
Some homeowners are eager to sell, but officials fear new renters will be put in harm's way.
In the Meyerland neighborhood in southwest Houston, Texas, house debris is still being cleared a year after Hurricane Harvey.
Andy Uhler/Marketplace

Spike in demand for building materials helped drive overall retail sales in May

Jun 14, 2018
New numbers out Thursday show that Americans spent a lot of their paychecks on retail last month. U.S. retail sales were strong in May, rising about eight-tenths of a percent from a month earlier.  That may sound small, but it’s the biggest one-month jump since last November. Among the merchants that got a lot of […]

Philadelphia building tax could fund affordable housing

Jun 12, 2018
Philadelphia City Council is expected to vote this week on what some members see as a potential solution to the city’s affordable housing problem — a 1 percent tax that could fund rental construction and help qualifying home buyers make down payments on houses. But the proposal is controversial. Click the audio player above to hear […]

Inventory shortage driving existing home sales market

May 24, 2018
There’s a shortage of existing homes for sale in some parts of the country and prices are going up steadily. Part of the problem is that people aren’t moving and there aren’t enough new homes being built.   Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Home Depot takes a shot at tackling the construction labor shortage

Apr 30, 2018
Home Depot is investing $50 million into residential construction apprenticeships, but that still won't address the labor shortage.
Students at Fort Stewart will be prepared for residential construction jobs after a 12-week apprenticeship with the Home Builders Institute, sponsored by the Home Depot Foundation.
Renata Sago/Marketplace

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Why bamboo and earth are better than steel and concrete after a Himalayan earthquake

Apr 25, 2018
Bamboo is very lightweight. It compares to bird's bone in density, but in strength it compares to steel.
Kathmandu's newly rebuilt National Archive.
Abari

Moderate job growth in March: aberration, or sign of the future?

Apr 6, 2018
The March jobs report shows there were 103,000 jobs added in the month, though many economists expected something closer to an additional 175,000. And that very well may be because March was a tough month weather-wise, slowing down things like construction in parts of the country. But could we also be seeing something else going […]

More women are entering the construction trade, but job sites and equipment haven't adapted yet

Mar 26, 2018
From harnesses to heavy-duty gloves to restrooms, construction sites are not prepared for the next generation of construction workers.
Mary Jo Emrick works with James Mescall during a welding class at Austin Community College. 
Courtesy of Montinique Monroe for KUT