According to recent reports, rapid growth is seen in the virtual construction market. The construction industry continues to adopt various new technologies. Many of those technologies involve virtual design and visualization. These include Building Information Modeling (BIM) to Construction Management Software.

One way to describe the growing use of virtual environments to engineer and visualize the construction of buildings before they are constructed is virtual design and construction (VDC). Virtual environments can readily be accessed by mobile devices, desktop computers and virtual reality and augmented hardware programs.

VDC is beneficial because it is estimated that 30% of all construction industry expenses are because of reworking faulty or incorrect builds. By incorporating VDC, one can reduce these faulty or incorrect builds and determine which approach is the best way to go when building in the physical world.

The most popular VDC tool is BIM because it allows various individuals, including architects, engineers and construction crews to see a virtual model of a structure or building before work commences or while work is underway. That way, any needed changes can be done before work continues or advances.

According to reports, the BIM market is worth $8.1 billion as of 2023 with North America leading the market – holding more than 30% of the current market. The market is continued to grow in the future as more construction companies are seeing the benefits of VDC and BIM and how it can help them with projects of all sizes.

We are in the midst of Winter 2020 and we are probably wondering what the economic outlook is for the U.S. throughout the year that lies ahead. According to Investopedia, the year ahead will continue with a hot trend, but it will not be blazing. This is because many companies received 2017 tax breaks, but those have now worn off and the U.S. – China trade war is on the path to being resolved.

Experts believe that the global economy will show signs of improvement, and although the growth of China has slowed it is still growing at a rate of more than 6 percent, which shows that the Chinese government is still working to keep up a steady pace. The economies of those neighboring China are expected to grow thanks to the slowing trade war and lower interest rates.

What Are The Chances Of Recession?

Financial experts don’t think a recession is likely in 2020 because all the leading economic indicators still have some power on standby. While industrial production and manufacturing have slowed, the resolution of the trade war with China will help boost corporate confidence. The U.S. consumer sees a healthy job market, lowered gas prices, and low inflation, and with economic expansions thriving, there is still a strong financial foundation for the year ahead.

Outside the U.S., though, there are some areas that are not as financially stable. For example, Germany is nearing a recession and if that does happen, it can affect the Eurozone and cause it to be pulled down. On the other hand, the U.S. jobs market is expected to stay strong, but it may not be quite as strong as it was in the last few years. Healthcare and services remain on solid ground and will keep the economy standing strong.

With worse than expected employment figures out in recent weeks, you may be wondering if heavy equipment careers are still viable long term options. Long term of course is always a great unknown. However, history teaches us much when it comes to trends for long term careers. In the short term, the demand for heavy equipment operators is still steady. So what does history teach us?

Historically, construction has led economies back to recovery. Whether it has been roads, infrastructure or home building, these activities have helped to spark the economy. Construction has several effects on an economy. The first effect is felt through the pay packets of construction workers. The more in work, the more money that flows into the economy and this lifts demand. The second effect is what could be described as the snowball effect. As demand for products rise, more trucks, more production workers and more retail workers are required – this of course leads to more income in the nation and more demand again. The final effect is seen through the demand for raw materials and equipment – this also has a snowballing effect.

So what does this have to do with heavy equipment careers? We have already seen how the government reacts to an economic crisis – they throw as much money as possible into stimulating the economy and where do they throw this money? Construction. We are in the midst of one of the biggest national infrastructure building programs in decades. This has lead to an increase in demand for heavy equipment operators in the short term.

Long term? That is a harder question. However, there is one more fact that needs to be considered. The baby boomers are reaching retirement age and this is going to leave a huge hole in many industries – the construction industry included. The birth rate has dropped remarkably in the years from 1960-2000. This means there will be almost twice as many people retiring from work as those going into employment. A heavy equipment career offers no promises, but then, no career does. However, the situation in our society at present leads one to think that all employment sectors will face labor shortages in the future.

For younger people entering the work force, heavy equipment training will provide them with lifelong skills. While ever we need roads, homes, schools, hospitals or any other building, heavy equipment operators will be needed.

Many people use a lending facility to pay for their crane operator training. This has worked very well over the years. In fact, crane operators are one of the highest paid heavy equipment operators so repaying the loan has not been a problem. Low interest rates have made borrowing a little easier on the pocket although lenders have become a little tougher when it comes to lending criteria. This could all change.

The latest figures are showing that we are well and truly out of a recession and that the economy is starting to grow. A growing economy inevitably leads to one thing – increased interest rates. This is particularly the case if inflation also starts to grow. I am sure there are many out there that remember the high interest rates of the 80’s following a severe recession.

What does this mean for those looking to become crane operators? If you are going to fund your crane operator training using a credit source, do it now before rates start to climb. Past experience has shown the Federal Reserve starts slowly then moves quickly. Before you know it official interest rates will be up around the six or seven percent mark. This can equate to double that in lending markets, triple when it comes to loans with high risk.

Crane operators are still amongst the highest paid when it comes to heavy equipment operations. If you are considering a career as a crane operator then now is the time to act. Demand for operators will increase over the next 12 months, however, waiting six or nine months could see you paying considerably more for your crane operator training at a time when demand may have already peaked. Can you really afford to wait?

Sounds like a great news story doesn’t it. Yet that title is actually true, heavy equipment will be needed to drag our economy out of the current recession. How do I know it’s true? The most powerful person on the country said so and he is putting your tax dollars in to make the point.

Back in December 2008, President Obama made an announcement that should have every heavy equipment operator checking their licenses, qualifications and any other work requirements including safety clothing.

President Obama promised to put together the largest public works construction program ever seen to revive the economy. His program includes infrastructure projects that repair roads and bridges, renovations in schools, sewer systems, mass transit, electric grids, dams and other utilities.

His plan will create millions of jobs by investing the single largest amount in national infrastructure projects since the creation of the interstate highway system more than 50 years ago. That is a lot of money and a large chunk of that will need to go into the employment of heavy equipment operators. A lot of these projects will require highly experiences operators – that could be great news for younger operators coming into the employment market.

Experienced heavy equipment operators will be attracted to the higher wages on offer for many of these projects. Under normal circumstances, when there is a huge attraction to particular areas for skilled workers, there is a vacuum left on a local level. This is were freshly trained recruits can step in to fill the vacuum and gain valuable skills locally.

If you are interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator then now may be the time to start your training. President Obama made it clear that this project was to be one of the first to be implemented by the new government.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can have you trained and on the road to a new career in a matter of weeks. A career as heavy equipment operator awaits you – will you be ready to help dig our economy out of this recession?

The next 12 months may see an increase in the number of vacancies for skill heavy equipment operators as public spending on infrastructure increases. We live in a fickle world where government promise big spending on capital projects to boost an economy, but it takes up to twelve months for these projects to come to fruition. This is not a political comment, rather a statement of fact.

If you take into account the possible improvement in the economy over the next 12 months globally and the public infrastructure spending coming to a head, the demand for heavy equipment operators from both the public and private sector will be quite large. We will be back to a situation where potential customers have to wait three or months for an operator to be free to get their land cleared.

Now is the time to prepare yourself for a career as a heavy equipment operator if that type of work appeals to you. Get the training done now. Get as much experience as possible on a variety of different types of equipment so that when the demand for operators spikes, you are in a position to take the jobs best suited to your situation.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can provide you with training required to get started in the workplace. We may also be able to help you find employment to gain the experience necessary to move on in your career. Check out our online video to see if heavy equipment operations is the right career for you.

A lot of people are justifiably worried about how the state of the economy will affect heavy equipment careers. The sub-prime mortgage fiasco has hit the banks quite hard and it logically follows that less people will be building new houses. Does that not then mean that there will be less opportunities for those in heavy equipment careers? It is an interesting question that deserves examination.

Heavy Equipment Careers Involve More than Just Housing

While the housing industry might be feeling a bit of a pinch, it is important to remember that heavy equipment careers can be about so much more than just housing. Heavy equipment operators work in other types of construction than just housing construction; they also work in industries such diverse industries as mining, agriculture and forestry. For many in the construction business, commercial work and government contracts are making up for the downturn in residential housing.

It never makes sense to delay your training based on the economy. The economy has been down before and it will pick up again. The jobs that are in immediate danger are unskilled labor positions. Certification gives you that safety net that you need and makes it much easier to find work if your company finds itself in financial difficulty.

If you would like to learn more about heavy equipment careers; or have a question or comment, please do not hesitate to contact us at Associated Training Services.