Construction

The construction industry continues to face worker shortages in some parts of the country, even as the economy heats up. Construction took some heavy losses during the recession, and that's especially true in New Jersey.

The construction industry says it's in danger of running short on workers to keep up with the demand for building projects, as employees age and more teens are pushed to go to college. To counter the effect, a top construction trade group kicked off an effort Tuesday to help bolster the employment ranks.

As the economy improves, some homebuilders are noticing a growing comeback in popularity of the McMansion.

When it comes to building code standards, New Jersey ranks number three on a list of the 18 most hurricane-prone coastal states along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast.

Nationally, small business optimism is the highest it has been since third quarter 2008, and that's the key finding in the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, which has improved 9 points since second quarter and 36 points since the fourth quarter of 2012.

U.S. developers broke ground on homes at a faster pace in July. But the rise was all due to apartment construction, which is typically volatile. By contrast, builders began work on fewer single-family homes -- the bulk of the market -- and sought fewer permits to build them.

Officials in New Jersey have closed five home improvement companies accused of shoddy or nonexistent work and their principal owner has been ordered to pay more than $300,000.

New Jersey's jobless rate has been dropping and its economic outlook has been improving, but will the good times be short-lived?

New Jersey housing construction has taken a strong leap forward in the early months of this year.

New Jersey's unemployment rate continues to drop, reaching it's lowest level in four years at 8.7 percent with private sector employers adding 4,100 jobs in April.