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☆ A New Jersey homebuilder who pays his workers over $100,000 wants young people to know construction can be a lucrative career that doesn't require college — and businesses are desperate to hire
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Bodei's family has been in the construction business for generations, so he'd seen how lucrative it could be to build and renovate upscale single-family homes in affluent suburbs. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Fewer construction workers means less — and slower — residential construction, which in turn leads to higher home prices. Mayra Beltran/Getty ImagesA labor shortage years in the makingThe US has faced a severe shortage of construction workers of all sorts for years. When the financial crisis crushed the housing market in 2008, the construction industry took a massive hit.

Persons: —, Michael Bodei, Bodei, he'd, it's, Sam Laureto, Mayra Beltran, haven't, Ken Simonson, Simonson Organizations: Service, Bodei, Business, Oaks, US, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated, Contractors of America Locations: Morristown , New Jersey, Houston , Texas, South Florida

☆ A national shortage of construction workers is driving high home prices. The industry is struggling to fill the gap.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Eliza Relman | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Fewer construction workers means less — and slower — residential construction, which in turn leads to higher home prices, according to a 2023 report from researchers at the University of Utah and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Builders and infrastructure projects are in desperate need of all kinds of construction workers, but especially skilled tradespeople. Simonson said that allowing more immigrants into the country to fill construction jobs is crucial. Making the industry more appealing to womenBoushey pointed out that the share of women in the overall construction industry has climbed. The construction industry is also at a disadvantage because most workers can't do manual labor until they retire.

Persons: —, Ken Simonson, Kit Dickinson, Dickinson, Ben Brubeck, Maja Rosenquist, Mortenson, we've, Simonson, Brubeck, Rosenquist, Joe Biden, Franklin D, Roosevelt, Heather Boushey, Biden, Boushey, she's Organizations: Service, Associated Builders and Contractors, Business, Associated, Contractors of America, University of Utah, University of Wisconsin - Madison, ADP, —, Builders, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs, Economic Advisers Locations: president's, America

☆ The highest-paying in-demand jobs that don't require a degree, according to new research
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. skilled labor market is facing "record-high pressure," according to new research from McKinsey & Co., as more workers age out and fewer young people train to fill their jobs as construction workers, plumbers, welders and more. The most in-demand jobs companies are hiring for right now — that don't require a degree — are in construction, manufacturing and plumbing, according to data from Payscale and ZipRecruiter exclusively shared with CNBC Make It:1. Journeyman plumberMedian salary: $61,500It's important to note that there are different levels of certification for some trade jobs including plumbers and electricians. All of these jobs saw at least a 16% increase in openings on ZipRecruiter between October 2023 and March 2024. The median pay for fleet managers without degrees is $64,600 while journeyman electricians make $62,600 on average, according to Payscale.

Persons: ZipRecruiter, Ruth Thomas, Thomas Organizations: McKinsey & Co, Labor, CNBC Locations: U.S, Payscale

☆ This couple's DIY 'Skoolie' bus conversion took 4 years and cost $20,000. See inside their 'mid-century' dream home.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Anna Morgan and Joshua Beaman bought a 30-foot school bus for $4,000. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAnna Morgan and Joshua Beaman have worked together for about eight years doing finish carpentry. Look inside "The Haus Moves" and see how Beaman and Morgan completed their dream project.

Persons: Anna Morgan, Joshua Beaman, —, tradespeople, Morgan Organizations: Service, Craigslist

☆ A millennial who moved from Canada to Florida said the weather and housing are great — but the politics and healthcare could push them out
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementThey decided to buy a home in the Fort Lauderdale area, and by that August, they'd said goodbye to Toronto. Warm weather, more affordable housing , and the lack of a state income tax are among the perks drawing movers to Florida. AdvertisementFlorida has warm weather, cheaper housing, and is good for businessFreudman said the weather is the biggest edge Florida has over Canada. The typical Toronto home costs about $816,000 compared to $784,000 in Fort Lauderdale, and it's even cheaper in Wilton Manors, the Fort Lauderdale "suburb" where the couple technically resides. He said other pros of the Fort Lauderdale area include the fresh seafood, the safe community, and the accessibility to Miami.

Persons: —, Joel Freudman, Freudman, they'd, Eva don't, he's, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Sunshine State, Business, Sunshine, Economic, Fort Locations: Florida, Toronto, Fort Lauderdale, Canada, South Florida, Wilton Manors, Miami

☆ Why is medieval art so weird? This new book offers a guide to the era
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —So you want to live like you’re from the Middle Ages? Swarthout is the researcher behind the popular art history-inspired social media account Weird Medieval Guys, which has attracted nearly 700,000 followers on X, formerly Twitter, since she began posting with the handle @WeirdMedieval in April 2022. Swarthout is not a historian, but a recently graduated statistician who took art history during undergrad. Württemberg State Library Stuttgart/Courtesy Penguin Random HouseThere’s a reason why Medieval art is particularly, well, weird. Watch: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)The classic satire of Arthurian legend mined the Middle Ages for comedic gold decades before Medieval memes were a thing.

Persons: it’s, Olivia M, commonfolk, Guy, —, ” Swarthout, Swarthout, ”, Jonah, tradespeople, Andreas, Monty Python, Jack Hartnell Organizations: CNN, Dark Times, University of Pennsylvania, Twitter, Stuttgart, Xbox Locations: Camelot

☆ Fiji PM: China likely to collaborate on key port, shipyard project
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Lincoln Feast/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told parliament on Wednesday the Pacific Islands nation was likely to collaborate with China on a key port modernisation and shipyard project, after discussing it in a meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping. Fiji previously sought Australia's involvement to build a modern ship-building facility at Lautoka, officials and a consultant to Rabuka on the project told Reuters. Rabuka told Fiji's parliament on Wednesday his government was focused on upgrading infrastructure, "particularly the modernisation of port facilities and shipyards". An Australian-based ship design company said Rabuka had earlier sought the involvement of Australia, Fiji's largest aid donor, in the shipyard project. China has been pushing for greater security and trade ties with Pacific Islands countries.

Persons: Sitiveni Rabuka, Xi Jinping, Rabuka, Xi, Stuart Ballantyne, Ballantyne, Vajira Piyasena, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Lincoln, Rights, Fiji Prime, Wednesday, Reuters, APEC, Wednesday Fiji, Fiji Ports, Fiji Ships, Heavy Industry, Pacific, Thomson Locations: Fiji, Suva, China, Lautoka, Australia, San Francisco, Australian, tradespeople, Pacific, Solomon Islands, United States, Papua New Guinea

☆ A UNESCO World Heritage site with thousands of people living inside it
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Shalbha Sarda | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

It's life as usual in Jaisalmer Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that thousands of people call home. Jaisalmer Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Rajasthan, India. But today, the fort attracts other types of outsiders – hundreds of thousands of travelers who come to the location, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013, along with five other forts in Rajasthan. But unlike the others, Jaisalmer Fort boasts a royal palace as well as public temples, shops, hotels, cafes and homes. Struggles of a 'living fort'But Jaisalmer Fort's status as a "living fort" isn't without consequence, said heritage specialist Kavita Jain.

Persons: Chaitanya Raj Singh, Sanjay Vasu, Didier Marti, Vasu, King Rawal Jaisal, Kavita Jain, Asheesh Srivastava, Shri Girdhar Smarak, Srivastava Organizations: UNESCO, Heritage, Indian National Trust for Art, Cultural Heritage Locations: Jaisalmer Fort, Rajasthan, India, Jaisalmer, Pakistan

☆ US weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, suggesting another month of strong job growth as the labor market remains tight. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 198,000 for the week ended Oct. 14, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Though the labor market is gradually cooling, conditions remain tight, with claims hovering in the lower end of their range of 194,000 to 265,000 for this year. The claims report covered the week during which the government surveyed business establishments for the nonfarm payrolls component of October's employment report. The so-called continuing claims increased 29,000 to a still-low 1.734 million during the week ending Oct. 7, the claims report showed.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Labor Department, Reuters, United Auto Workers, UAW, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, U.S, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S

☆ US weekly jobless claims hit nine-month low
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Though the labor market is gradually cooling, conditions remain tight, with claims at the very low end of their range of 194,000 to 265,000 for this year. The Fed's Beige Book report on Wednesday said "labor market tightness continued to ease across the nation" in early October and implied cooling wage pressure. The labor market is driving consumer spending and the overall economy, ultimately keeping inflation elevated. The claims report covered the week during which the government surveyed business establishments for the nonfarm payrolls component of October's employment report. The so-called continuing claims increased 29,000 to a still-low 1.734 million during the week ending Oct. 7, the claims report showed.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Christopher Rupkey, Unadjusted, Jerome Powell's, Jay Hawkins, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Labor Department, Federal Reserve, Financial, Treasury, Reuters, United Auto Workers, UAW, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, U.S, Economic, of New, National Association of Realtors, realtors, BMO Capital Markets, Philadelphia Fed, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, WASHINGTON, New York, Texas , New York , New Jersey, Georgia, California, Tennessee, Michigan, of New York, Toronto, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware

☆ Instead of calling the cops, a business owner offered a job to the teenager who tried to break into his store
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A business owner said on social media that someone tried to break into his premises. Instead of calling the police, Jeff Usher said he wanted to offer "a better way" to the culprit. "It's not that cool to use a jimmy bar on our doors," the Custom Cabinets Katherine owner said. Usher told the NT News his business employs two apprentices, four tradespeople and an office manager. "I'm not trying to save the world – I just reckon some of these kids need to be built up, not a kicking," Usher told the newspaper.

Persons: Jeff Usher, Katherine, Usher, I'm Organizations: Service, Facebook, ABC News Australia, Northern Territory, NT Locations: Wall, Silicon, Australian, Australia's Northern Territory, Northern, Darwin

☆ Australian state bans gas to new homes from 2024 in push to cut emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Exxon Mobil Corp FollowSYDNEY, July 28 (Reuters) - The Australian state of Victoria will ban natural gas connections to new homes from next year as part of a plan to cut emissions and lower energy bills, the state climate action minister said on Friday. Australia's second-most populous state is the country's largest consumer of natural gas with around 80% of homes connected but also has ambitious plans to reach net zero emissions by 2045, five years ahead of the federal government. Minister for Climate Action Lily D'Ambrosio said on Friday that new homes requiring planning permits must connect to all-electric networks. The changes will apply to all new public buildings yet to reach the design stage, including housing, schools, and hospitals. Australia last month finalised a package of rules for the domestic gas market including a cap on wholesale prices that was first introduced in December.

Persons: Australia's, Lily D'Ambrosio, ” D'Ambrosio, Lewis Jackson, Stephen Coates Organizations: Exxon Mobil Corp, SYDNEY, Thomson Locations: Australian, Victoria, Australia

☆ Photos: Townhouse for Sale on One of America's Oldest Streets
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Erin Mcdowell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A townhouse on Elfreth's Alley in Philadelphia recently went on the market for $499,900. The historic home, which is under contract, was built in 1728, before the country was even founded. Elfreth's Alley is a designated National Historic Landmark. A townhouse at 122 Elfreth's Alley — believed to be one of America's oldest continuously inhabited residential streets — is currently under contract, according to the property's listing. Look inside this historic townhouse that's a slice of American history.

Persons: — Organizations: Historic, Service Locations: Philadelphia, Wall, Silicon, —

☆ Photos: Townhouse for Sale on America's Oldest Residential Street
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Erin Mcdowell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A townhouse on America's oldest residential street recently went on the market for $499,900. The historic home, which is under contract, was built in 1728, before the country was even founded. A townhouse at 122 Elfreth's Alley — believed to be America's oldest continuously inhabited residential street — is currently under contract, according to the property's listing. The three-bedroom home was listed for $499,900 when it went on the market in May. Look inside this historic townhouse that's a slice of American history.

Persons: It's, — Organizations: Historic Landmark, Service Locations: Philadelphia

☆ Meet a millennial who makes up to 6 figures doing blue collar work after ditching law school during the Great Recession: 'We've always had that middle-class-life dream'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

During the Great Recession, Doug saw a similar situation and decided to forgo law school. For Doug, blue-collar work has meant consistently high pay and the ability to buy a house. "I was trying to save up money to go to law school," he said. You're going to college, and then you're going to get a job and an office somewhere doing the thing. Have you made the shift to blue-collar work, or are you thinking about it?

Persons: Doug, —, Doug —, he'd, Z, we've, We've, it's, you'll, I'm Organizations: Service, Toyota, Marine, Coast Guard Locations: Deloitte's

☆ I've missed my kids' birthdays and Christmas as a lifeboat volunteer. I can't bear thinking about someone going into the water without anyone to help.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Marc Shoffman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He has missed work, birthdays, and Christmas Day to save lives at sea. Being an RNLI volunteer can create issues at work and requires a sympathetic bossI was once loading a truck while working for the window-plastics supplier when the pager went off. My RNLI work is all voluntary, but we get an allowance for travel and food. I've missed some of my three daughters' birthdays and couldn't drink at my sister's wedding because I was on call. This is the first Christmas I won't be volunteering, as I am doing the night shift at Gatwick.

☆ How a millennial transformed his childhood home into a maximalist Georgian mansion that he rents out for nearly $200 an hour for photo and video shoots
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Zoe Rosenberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Emmanuel Hébert grew up in a small Montréal house that he has transformed into a Georgian mansion. He also rents it out for $184 an hour and uses the funds to further renovate the mansion. The living room of Manoir Blackswan in its full glory, dripping in antique chandeliers Hébert sells through his antiques business. Emmanuel HébertThe mansion is Hébert's home, where he's raising his 5-year-old son, Romeo, as well as a showroom for his antiques business. On Instagram, nearly 10,000 people follow Manoir Blackswan — what he calls the mansion — and 13,700 people follow his antiques business.

☆ The host of a hobbit-themed Airbnb made $70,000 in profit last year. She's not a 'LOTR' fan, but she's booked 2 years out.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Layne Van Vranken | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Christina Le Comte rents out a house inspired by "The Lord of the Rings" in her backyard in Canada. Christina Le Comte. In 2020 — her first year in business — Le Comte made more than $30,000 in profit. Le Comte estimates she spent a little over $11,000 doing improvements to the property, not including the cost of decorating. "It can be challenging because you're dealing with a living building and things come up every day," Le Comte said.

LONDON, July 18 (Reuters) - Sales of electric fans, hoses, air conditioning units and sprinklers are soaring as Britons swelter amid record temperatures, retailers said. 2 supermarket group which also owns the Argos general merchandise business, said sales of fans last week rose 1,876% versus the week before, while sales of air conditioning units were up 2,420% and sales of paddling pools were up 814%. On Monday, 10 out of the top 15 most-sold items in Amazon's (AMZN.O) UK home and kitchen section were fans. Department store group John Lewis said sales of fans and air conditioning units were up 709% year-on year. It said sales of smart technology that controls temperatures leapt 95%, while sales of hoses had increased by 56% and sales of water cans by 21%.

Because of the pandemic, we chose not to fly out before moving and bought our home sight unseen. We also paid for a detailed home inspection report, and hired an electrician to do some follow-up investigation after the inspection revealed problems with our home's wiring. A realtor who had experience with out-of-town buyersIt was more difficult than I expected to find the right realtor for our cross-country move. Her brokerage firm charges a fairly typical 2.5-3% commission (paid, in our case, by the seller) plus a $495 fee paid by us. The electrician's report cost us $150, and it helped us negotiate a significant amount from the seller towards the cost of rewiring the house.

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