Here’s the good news: over the past year, 297,000 jobs have been added to the construction industry in America alone. That marks a 10-year high! The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) reports that the industry continues to add workers and increase wages at greater rates than the economy at large. Average industry earnings have reached $29.95 per hour, which is 10.3 percent higher than the average for all nonfarm private-sector jobs, and the unemployment rate (3.4 percent) is at an all-time low.

Job outlook for the industry beams positive. The demand for construction continues to rise, even as eighty percent of contractors report difficulties in finding skilled workers to fill open positions. But wages and job demand aren’t the only observable growths within the construction industry. Various uses of technology are also on the rise.

According to the National Hurricane Center, official hurricane season runs through the Atlantic Basin from June 1 – Nov. 30, with peak season occurring between mid-August and late October. Around the world, people brace themselves for the impact of tropical cyclones and other unpredictable natural disasters. Though some coastal towns are built to endure adverse weather, a storm’s raging rampage can be unavoidable, whirling through any community within its path of destruction.

Don’t look away yet - there’s still a blitz on the field!

Klein Tools learned more about this year’s six regional winners while visiting Mansfield, Texas, and we want you to have the inside scoop. From how they got started in the trades, to how they remain dedicated to safety throughout their communities, these MVP’s each have a story worth telling, and reading.

If you haven’t already cast your vote for Klein Tools’ 2018 Electrician of the Year, check out the following instant replay to get to know the regional winners a little closer.

High-tech installations continue to grow in popularity in both residential, commercial and industrial environments, offering new opportunities and challenges for the trades. In fact, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, projects the employment rate for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers alone to grow up to 15 percent by 2026. This is largely in part due to the increase in demand for energy-efficient climate control systems. To help meet this growing demand of complex jobs, Klein’s team has worked to manufacture the tools needed to efficiently get the job done, resulting in tools designed specifically with HVAC professionals in mind.