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Fall tends to be a busy time of year, especially for those in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. As the end of the year approaches, projects need to be completed and goals must be met. As you begin to buckle down to meet your yearly objectives,
let us know
if there is anything we can do to help you or your team achieve success in 2017.
Best wishes from everyone at RealStreet!
Katy Cook, CSP
Marketing Coordinator
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What's New at RealStreet?
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As a FEMA Public Assistance Technical Assistance Contractor (PA-TAC), RealStreet has provided Disaster Recovery Technical Specialists to FEMA since 2004. We continue today to provide the best, highest qualified technical specialists to support the various recovery efforts.
As one of the lead companies supporting the Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma recovery efforts, we and those affected have a great need for skilled architects, engineers and construction professionals to assist in this critical mission.
F
eel free to pass this email along to anyone you know who might be a good fit for this vital mission. Thank you!
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CELEBRATIONS!
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RealStreet wishes you a very
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
- Crystal R. - 10/08
- Lina G. - 10/22
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RealStreet will be closed on October 9th and will reopen the following day.
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Interesting Industry Information
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How Does the Job Market Look?
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The U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a "M
onthly Jobs Report"
soon after the beginning of each month. Each report describes the previous month's employment situation, based on data such as the number of jobs that were added to the economy and the unemployment rate. The US economy added 156,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.4%. For more information, check out the BLS' interactive graphs,
one of which is provided to the right.
The ADP Research Institute provides an alternative look at our country's employment situation. The
report, which is always released two days prior to the publication of the BLS Employment Situation, showed an increase of 237,000 within the private non-farm sector. According to
Market Realist, this report includes private non-farm payroll while the BLS Report includes both private and government sectors.
Future Indicators:
According to the
American Institute of Architects (AIA) the August Architecture Billings Index (ABI) shows an increase in demand for design services for the seventh straight month. According to the AIA, the ABI is the leading economic indicator of construction activity, as it "reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and nonresidential construction spending."
According to the AIA,
- August ABI Score: 53.7 (51.9 - July)
- August New Projects Inquiry Index: 62.5 (59.5 - July)
- August New Design Contracts Index: 56.4 (54.2 - July)
Construction Starts:
Many are disappointed that job growth has fallen short for the second straight month.
The labor participation rate is holding relatively steady, but wages are not increasing as expected. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve isn't overlooking the employment situation to initiate its balance-sheet reduction
plan.
As stated by
Barclays chief U.S. economist Michael Gapen in a recent CNBC publication, the impact of the recent natural disasters, Hurricanes Harvey & Irma, was not factored in at the time of the August reports. He believes the September reports will incorporate this information and estimates an initial reduction in roughly 75,000
jobs from Harvey alone.
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| Impact of Recent Hurricane Disasters |
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The US is facing a number of challenges in the wake of the 2017 hurricanes. Not only did many Americans lose their homes, but also their jobs in the destruction.
According to The Department of Labor in a recent CBS MoneyWatch publication, the weekly applications for jobless aid jumped 62,000 to a seasonally adjusted 298,000, reaching the highest level in two years.
The figure to the right, from Citi Research and featured in a Business Insider article, illustrates the spike in jobless claims that often results from a natural disaster. At just under $300 billion and climbing, recovery estimates for hurricanes Harvey and Irma far surpass those of previous hurricanes. The massive recovery efforts will require a great deal of skilled employees.
Based on Construction Cost Index (CCI) research featured in a recent Forbes article, the talent shortage was a concern to over 90% of contractors prior to Harvey and Irma.
Demand for quality workers in the gulf region will further s
train talent shortages across the country.
Additional areas economists predict will be significantly impacted include g
asoline prices, ca
r sales and the h
ousing market.
Are you or anyone you know looking for a challenging new architecture, engineering or construction job opportunity? Forward this email and encourage them to apply today!
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Nearly 44% of the US population was impacted by the massive data breach of Equifax's systems that occurred from mid-May through July of this year! To make matters worse, Equifax didn't announce the details on the cyber security incident until mid-September, leaving the approximately 143 million impacted individuals in the dark. Now, two weeks later, do you know if you are a victim and what you need to do to protect yourself moving forward?
What type of information was taken during the breach?
The investigation is ongoing at this time (September 2017) but the company website is making regular updates to provide consumers with up-to-date information. According to an Equifax press release "the incident potentially impacts personal information relating to 143 million U.S. consumers." Primary concerns include PII such as: names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver's license numbers and credit card information, etc.
What should you do?
As stated in a recent
Forbes article about the attack, odds are your information has been compromised. In addition to providing an informative yet concise background on the incident, the document also provides steps to determine your exposure and provide tips to minimize future damage.
- Step 1: visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com on a secure computer and internet connection to find out if your information was exposed.
- Step 2: Enroll in free credit monitoring (even if the Equifax site does not say you were affected) before November 21, 2017!
- Step 3: Sign up for more free credit monitoring services - one is not enough!
- Step 4: Check your current and past credit scores to establish a baseline.
- Step 5: Monitor your credit reports and respond to any inaccuracies immediately.
- Step 6: Consider placing a freeze on your credit (high risk individuals should consider this option, as it makes it much more difficult for someone to take out credit in your name).
- Step 7: Place an extended fraud alert on your file. A fraud alert is not quite as airtight as a credit freeze, but it can be a more affordable way to reduce the risk.
- Step 8: Set up a fraud alert to warn potential creditors to get additional identification from you.
- Step 9: Continue to monitor your accounts.
- Step 10: Make a plan to file taxes next year. Tip: file your taxes as early as possible!
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HOT JOBS!
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How many job seekers do you know? Would they be a good fit for one of these positions?
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RECENT PLACEMENTS
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RealStreet has recently filled the following positions!
- Construction Managers
- Direct Hire Bridge Inspection Team Leader
- Field Superintendent
- Finance Assistant
- Project Manager
- Sr. Program Manager
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Get Noticed by Companies
When Searching for a New Job! |
Looking for a new job can be a taxing process, often requiring a great deal of time and effort. To be successful, you need to do more than simply update your resume, you need to stand out from the competition. While this is often easier said than done, the outcome is well worth the effort.
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Are You Getting Prepared for Retirement?
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Ready to get started, but still need to register your John Hancock account?
Online: go to www.jhpensions.com and click on "Register"
- Enter your contract number, last name, social security number and date of birth
- Enter your email address, and create your username and password
- Choose challenge questions and answers
Track your progress towards retirement at any time!
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Driving Tips to Avoid Accidents and Other Issues that Arise with the Changing of the Seasons
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Depending on where you live, fall can be one of the most beautiful times of the year: golden brown, orange and red leaves cover the trees and provide a beautiful backdrop for a hike or a drive. As beautiful as autumn is, it is not without its hazards.
FALL DRIVING TIPS
Falling leaves and rain can combine to create slick road surfaces, sun glare and changing light conditions can make it difficult to see and increased deer activity can add up to some dangerous driving conditions if you are not careful. Below we'll give you some tips on what to look out for and how to lessen some of the risks brought about by the changes in the season.
Dropping temperatures and their effect on your commute
While it may seem as though you could make your morning commute automatically, it pays to be alert for changing conditions on your route. Falling nighttime temperatures can bring frost to windshields and roads, creating icy patches early morning and refreezing later in the day as temperatures drop again. This freezing/thawing effect also increases the number of potholes on the road, as water contracts and expands in cracks in the pavement, weakening it and eventually leading to a pothole. Because of this, drivers need to be aware of any changing road surface conditions on their route. Bridges and overpasses should be approached with caution, as should areas that receive little or no sunlight, as ice can quickly form and create a dangerous situation. Decelerating or gently braking when approaching bridges and overpasses is a good method to follow to prevent losing control. Also, make sure your windshield and windows are clear of frost before taking to the road. A little extra time in the morning can mean a much safer drive.
Beauty becomes a beast: the danger of wet leaves
The colorful fall leaves on the trees are beautiful - as long as they are on the trees. Wet and covering a curve on a road, not so pretty. Once the leaves start falling, especially due to rain, they can become a serious driving hazard. Wet leaves can be slippery, reduce traction and also cover road markings, making it difficult to determine shoulder and lane widths. When travelling on a road that is covered in wet leaves, increase the distance between your car and the car in front of you and allow additional stopping time. Allowing for more time for your trip is never a bad idea either, as you'll be less inclined to rush. As a side note, always try to avoid driving through a pile of leaves if possible, as children can sometimes hide in them, and never park on a pile of leaves, as heat from the exhaust can potentially start a fire.
Check your tire pressure
With frequent weather and temperature changes, tires can expand and contract, causing them to lose air pressure. Make sure tires are properly inflated and have plenty of tread. While you're at it, make sure your spare tire is properly inflated and has a good tread on it. You don't want to be left stranded by a spare tire that is under-inflated or a worn tread. It may not seem important at the moment, but when you are in a situation where it is needed, this checkup will seem invaluable.
Adjusting to lessening sunlight and shorter days
Fall sunrises and sunsets can often be quite beautiful, filled with brilliant sunshine. This bright sun can create a large amount of sun glare, however, making it difficult to see other vehicles or even the road ahead of you. As a precaution, make sure to use sunglasses to cut the glare and lessen this impact. The change of season also reduces the amount of daylight drivers will see. Due to the lessening daylight, drivers need to make sure their windshield wipers and washer fluid, heater, turn signals and lights work properly. Shorter daylight hours mean decreased visibility, making it more difficult to see pedestrians, cyclists and children playing in the late afternoon - drivers need to be alert, especially in the twilight hours. Turning on your lights for your ride home is a good idea, even if it is still light when you leave work. Doing so increases your visibility to other drivers and pedestrians.
Another fall hazard: deer
If you live in an area with a large deer population, you are more likely to encounter a situation where they will run onto the roadway, especially at dawn and dusk, since the fall is one of their more active times of the year. If you see a deer on the side of the road, slow down and approach with caution. Another tip: they often travel in groups, so if one runs out in front of your vehicle, chances are additional deer may follow shortly thereafter.
Autumn can be an outstanding time to take a trip by car to enjoy what the season has to offer and to create some great memories, such as picking pumpkins, attending a football game or simply a drive to enjoy the changing foliage. By following these safety tips and with a little preparation and caution, you'll be able to reduce the risks as you travel to and from your destinations.
The aforementioned content was courtesy of
Century 21
.
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Here's a little AEC Humor to brighten your day!
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Feedback Wanted!
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We Value Referrals!
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Would you mind taking a moment to
write a few sentences
about your experience working with RealStreet?
Thank you!
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Who in your network is looking for a new opportunity?
Check our
open positions
to see if any are a match to the job seekers that you know. At RealStreet we value great candidates and when it comes down to it, we know you're the Real Deal! We have a great referral program that compensates you for every qualified referral you provide us.
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