New Jersey–based Quest Diagnostics two weeks ago released its latest
analysis of national drug screening data based on more than 10.6 million
drug test results. It found the percentage of employees in the general
U.S. workforce testing positive for marijuana following an on-the-job
accident increased to 7.3% in 2022, its highest level in 25 years and a
9% increase from 6.7% in 2021. “The new peak follows a steady increase
in post-accident marijuana positivity every year from 2012 [the year
Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize marijuana
for recreational use] to 2022. In that 10-year time frame, post-accident
marijuana positivity increased 204.2%. From 2002 to 2009, post-accident
marijuana workforce positivity declined.”
Since 2012, 19 additional states and the District of Columbia have
legalized the recreational use of marijuana and 38 states (plus D.C.)
have legalized medical use, although both uses remains illegal under
federal law. But employer concerns range far beyond weed. “In 2022, the
combined U.S. workforce urine drug positivity for all drugs persisted at
4.6% — the highest level in two decades,” Quest said. “Positivity for
marijuana in the general U.S. workforce increased 10.3% (4.3% positivity
in 2022 versus 3.9% positivity in 2021) and amphetamines positivity
increased 15.4% (1.5% positivity in 2022 versus 1.3% positivity in
2021). While the company’s amphetamines data does not differentiate
between prescribed medications and illicit drug use, the increase
correlates with other data suggesting that the use of amphetamines,
prescribed or illicit, has grown in recent years in the U.S.”
Over the past five years, the workforce positivity rate climbed in most
industry sectors, led by Accommodation and Food Services increasing
42.9% (4.9% in 2018 versus 7.0% in 2022), Retail Trade increasing 42.6%
(5.4% in 2018 versus 7.7% in 2022), and Finance and Insurance increasing
38.5% (2.6% in 2018 versus 3.6% in 2022).
Chart courtesy of UNCTAD secretariat based on data from the Joint
Coordination Centre as of March 5, 2023. Note: Cargo may be
processed and re-exported from the primary destination.
Two weeks ago, The Black Sea Grain Initiative,
signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, to resume vital food
and fertilizer exports from designated Ukrainian seaports,
was extended for 60 days. UN Secretary-General António
Guterres announced the news in New York following
confirmation by the Russian Federation to continue its
participation in the initiative for another 60 days. Under
the initiative, more than 30 million tons of grain and
foodstuffs have been exported, including 30,000 tons of
wheat that last month left Ukraine aboard a ship chartered
by the World Food Programme to feed hungry people in Sudan.
Over the last year, the agreements have helped stabilize
markets and reduce volatility, the UN said, noting that
global food prices have fallen by 20% from the all-time high
reached in March 2022. “These agreements matter for global
food security,” said Guterres. “Ukrainian and Russian
products feed the world.”
Denver-based hyperscale data center developer Vantage Data Centers in
May announced the development of this second data center campus (KUL2)
in Cyberjaya. Upon completion, the KUL2 campus will deliver 256 MW of IT
capacity on nearly 35 acres and will include 10 facilities across
256,000 sq. m. (2.75 million sq. ft.). The company noted its KUL
campuses are “strategically located to provide low-latency connectivity
to major cities in the region, including Singapore, Bangkok and
Jakarta,” and said the first facility is planned to open its doors in
the fourth quarter of 2025. Vantage is also expanding its KUL1 campus
next door. The announcement took place at the 26th anniversary
celebration of Cyberjaya, developed by Cyberview. “We are confident that
Vantage’s efforts will assume a crucial role in propelling Malaysia to
achieve its goal of becoming a digital nation and realizing a 22.6% GDP
growth from the digital economy by 2025,” said Datuk Wira Arham Abdul
Rahman, CEO of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
Vantage currently has seven campuses across the Asia Pacific region that
are either operational or under development; employs more than 200
employees across eight cities in the region; and anticipates adding 80
new roles by the end of the year. One week after this announcement, the
company opened an expanded Asia Pacific HQ in Singapore. Watch for more
coverage of data centers in the July issue of Site Selection.
Santa Clara-based Applied Materials in May announced a landmark
investment to build “the world’s largest and most advanced facility” for
collaborative semiconductor process technology and manufacturing
equipment R&D. The new Equipment and Process Innovation and
Commercialization (EPIC) Center is planned as the heart of a
high-velocity innovation platform designed to accelerate development and
commercialization of the foundational technologies needed by the global
semiconductor and computing industries. To be located at an Applied
campus in Silicon Valley, the facility will include more than 180,000
sq. ft. of cleanroom for collaborative innovation with chipmakers,
universities and ecosystem partners. To create the center, Applied
Materials expects to make gross, incremental capital investments of up
to $4 billion over the next seven years. “The new innovation center is
expected to be completed by early 2026 and become the nexus of more than
$25 billion in company R&D investments in the first 10 years of
operations,” Applied Materials stated. The center is expected to create
up to 2,000 new engineering jobs in Silicon Valley and potentially
another 11,000 jobs in other industries. “EPIC is designed to be capable
of engaging with a future U.S. National Semiconductor Technology
Center,” the company said. “The scale of Applied’s investment is
contingent upon receiving support from the U.S. government through
provisions of the CHIPS and Science Act.”
Toyota Kentucky President Susan Elkington celebrates with employees
yesterday after announcing the facility will assemble Toyota’s first
Battery Electric Vehicle in the U.S. The news was part of an overall
announcement by Toyota that includes an additional $2.1 billion
investment in its new battery plant now under construction in North
Carolina, as the company pushes harder toward carbon neutrality. That
brings total investment in Toyota North Carolina to $5.9 billion. Over
the last two years the company has invested more than $8 billion in its
U.S. manufacturing operations primarily to support its product
electrification efforts.
