Gauging the Unemployment Crisis

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Author Message Anonymous   Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 02:47 pm:    Just heard that two Seattle firms, Mithun and Callison, each just let go 25 and 100 employees, respectively. What's the latest news on layoffs in your part of the country? Any part of the country doing better than others? Any spec writers on this forum close to getting the ax? Are we feeling like our spec writing jobs are still relatively safe? Anonymous   Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 03:12 pm:    Southern California firm with a large multifamily portfolio. Things are not great. Had 5 rounds of layoffs throughout the past 18 months. About 60 people let go, about 125 remaining. Increasing amount of work overseas, but it's just design work, not CD's or actual contruction. Anonymous   Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 03:27 pm:    Midwest: many firms laying off in multiple rounds, but mostly those firms doing residential, light commercial. Those doing healthcare and related fields are actually hiring. Spec writers in larger firms are secure, those in smaller firms maybe not. Anonymous   Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 03:40 pm:    We have a ten figure (yes) healthcare project drifting into "on hold" status with our 50+ person in-house team starting forced 3 week vacations next Monday. That is a vacation IF you had the vacation time. This will be blamed on the financial crisis, but the client has had severe problems in making some basic program decisions, and that left the project twisting slowly in a permanent DD phase. Anonymous   Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 04:11 pm:    Some projects for not-for-profit clients going on hold waiting for "a more favorable fund raising climate" and some projects holding out for better bids (clients "playing chicken with construction costs"). Retail commercial work at the low to middle is non-existent as is multi-family construction expecially with developers who are used to being more highly leveraged. I am assuming that manufacturing and distribution facilities are also being hard hit. Declining oil prices (picture a bungee-jumpin' barrel of oil) are creating problems for areas where the economy depend on exploration and production with some companies who were flush with cash just 6 months ago wondering where the bottom is. Bond-funded projects are going ahead because they usually carry deadlines for expenditure of funds. Hurricane-related reconstruction and repair may take up some slack along Gulf Coast. I would say that the Houston market has not been suffering as badly as other parts of the country, but I am seeing firms with around 100 employees lay off at least 10 at a time. There is no arguing that it is getting nasty out there. The basics for keeping your job still apply (be there, be on time, pay attention, do a good job), but keep your resume current just in case. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1000 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 09:18 am:    Several medium to large firms in the Boston area have had layoffs--I've heard figures ranging from 25 to 50 at a whack. But not all are having this problem, at least not yet. (I, on the other hand, could use another specifier here.) Given the lengthy pipeline for construction, I'm guessing that we'll see more of this. On the other hand, Obama's administration has promised a massive infrastructure stimulus program that is bound to give a boost to our industry. State-sponsored transit projects are cropping up around the country as well. These will help. (Yikes, this is my one-thousandth post to 4specs!) Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 840 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 09:54 am:    John, is the confetti falling yet? (no wonder you need another spec writer; you're busy posting here!) George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 458 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 09:57 am:    Colin should do a special award, like the music industry gives a Gold Record. 1,000 posts, and all good ones, John. Congratulations. Don Harris CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: don_harris Post Number: 216 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 04:17 pm:    Congratulations John, but you have a long way to catch up with "Anonymous". Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 841 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 04:23 pm:    Colin could give a Gold Post...but it might look too much like a golden shaft (snicker). Ron Lindow (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 04:58 pm:    Does any one have a Division 1 Section regarding Special Inspections per 2006 ICC that they are willing to share? Anonymous   Posted on Friday, December 12, 2008 - 08:20 am:    Large midwest firm with a large focus (60)%) on healthcare. Had been holding up well until the financial crisis hit. This has hit the health care industry hard with bonding, borrowing for construction, interest rates, etc. Bottom has dropped out. Projects put on "hold", some stopped in mid-construction, etc. Most firms in the area have been severely hurt with just a few exceptions. Let's hope that the most optimistic forecast for mid-2009 improvements and potentilal "public works" projects help us all out.