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Running Head: CONSTRUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES 1 1

Increasing Construction Related Jobs in the United States

Matt Diamond, James Forrest and Brock Taylor

Morehead State University

College of Science and Technology

Dr. Ahmad Zargari

November 25, 2012

CONSTRUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES 2

Abstract

An economic downturn followed by a recession in the United States has left the

construction industry struggling; as a result many have been laid off. The construction market is

hindered by three factors: a poor housing market, a decrease in public spending and a decline in

government construction. Construction of new residential dwellings has remained relatively flat

as do other construction sectors. In 2010, there were about 585,000 building permits issued for

new residential construction, which is roughly the same as in 2009 (Sturtevant, 2012).

Unemployment in the U.S. has reached levels not seen in decades. In August 2011, the

unemployment rate for the construction industry was reported to be at 13.2 percent, much higher

than the economy-wide (base) unemployment rate of 9.1 percent (Costa & Hersh, 2011). The

U.S. national debt has risen to a staggering $16.3 trillion.

To jump start the economy, federal, state and local economies must start investing in

construction projects. The nation’s infrastructure is in dire straits, as years of neglect have left

the transportation networks and existing infrastructure underfunded and aging. The U.S. has also

fallen behind Europe and many developing nations where telecommunications infrastructure is

concerned. According to a 2011 survey conducted by the World Economic Forum, the

infrastructure of the United States is ranked 24th in the world ( World Economic Forum, 2011).

The following thesis is meant to provide an outline to improve the construction industry and put

people back to work.


Increasing Construction Related Jobs in the United States

The global and United States economies continue to struggle, as does the U.S.

construction market. The construction market is hindered by three factors: a poor housing

market, a decrease in public spending and a decline in government construction. The housing

market continues to be a big stumbling block to the recovery of the U.S. economy. The housing

market has always been a major contributor to the national economy. The ties to economic

stability and home ownership are deeply seeded in the American psyche.

In the past the residential housing sector has played a critical role in supporting the

economy during the early stages of a post-recession recovery. Reviving the housing sector is

essential for sustained economic growth. During the past 9 recessions, the housing sector has

been vital to overall economic recovery, accounting for about 16.5% of economic growth during

the first year of recovery (Sturtevant, 2012). Since 2006, the housing market has plummeted

nationally (Fig 1). However, there was an increase in home sales at the end of 2009 due to tax

crediting.

Figure 1: New Privately-Owned Housing Units Completed(Image retrieved from EconomicPopulist.org)


The supply of housing is at an all-time low, mortgage rates (though rising slightly) are

still at historically low levels and there is a substantial pent-up demand for housing. In 2010,

there were about 585,000 building permits issued for new residential construction, which is

roughly the same as in 2009 (Sturtevant, 2012) (Fig. 2). As the housing sector begins to recover

in 2012 there will be an unmet demand for larger single-family detached homes and townhouses

due to those who cannot afford existing housing. An August 2011 report by Lender Processing

Services, reviewed a sample of 40 million U.S. mortgages and found that the number of

delinquent home loans as of July 2011 are at 6.5 million (FMI Corporation, p. 8).

Figure 2: U.S. Annual Building Permits by Housing Type(Image retrieved from NVAR.com)

Making matters worse, the United States national debt has risen to a staggering $16.3

trillion, which averages out to be approximately $51,720 for each citizen (U.S Debt Clock.org,

2012). American spending is based on consumer confidence, a notion that is strongly linked to

not only the debt debacle in Washington, but also the constant news coverage. American

consumers are further shaken by the “real” unemployment rates that continue to linger around

14.6 percent. The Bureaus of Labor Statistics measures unemployment several different ways.

The U-6 measure or “real” unemployment rate (as it is often referred to as) is the total


unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, in addition to the total

employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons

marginally attached to the labor force (United States Department of Labor, 2012). These issues

directly affect public spending and include goods, services and big expenses, such as

construction projects.

One fact remains perfectly clear, households need jobs before consumption can rise and

businesses need to see a rise in consumption before hiring more employees, as this only makes

sense. The need for the creation of jobs in the U.S. encompasses many different industries,

including construction related opportunities. The issue of job creation is one of a very complex

and multifaceted nature. It cannot be solved with one simple answer. In August 2011, the

unemployment rate for the construction industry was reported to be at 13.2 percent, much higher

than the economy-wide (base) unemployment rate of 9.1 percent (Costa & Hersh, 2011) (Fig.3).

The construction industry is tied closely to long-term growth in the U.S. economy, population

changes and the employment rate. The construction industry impacts our overall economy,

transversely impacting the construction industry, the two are interwoven. Therefore, it is

imperative that improvements to the construction industry be made a priority.

Figure 3: Construction unemployment rates(Image retrieved from AmericanProgress.com)


The need to increase productivity is essential. Recent studies suggest that there is a 25-

50% waste in labor, management, movement and installation of materials (Modular Building

Institute, p. 2). In 2008, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) asked the

National Research Council (NRC) to develop a committee to provide advice on improving the

U.S. construction industry (Modular Building Institute, p. 1). This plan identified and prioritized

technology necessary to increase productivity and efficiency. The committee found five

interconnected activities that could be implemented to achieve growth in a two to ten year time

frame. The first activity involved Building Information Modeling (BIM) where Computer-Aided

Design (CAD) software was used to develop an effective plan to manage supply chains,

sequence and improve work flow, increase data accuracy, reduce design and engineering

conflicts and to improve life cycle management.

Second, the job site can become more efficient by employing skilled workers, using

automated equipment and informational technology. The use of prefabricated materials aids this

process by lower costs, shortening the schedule, improving quality and reducing labor costs.

Another area of improvement is the need for the use of demonstrated installations that can be

accomplished through seminars, trainings and conferencing. Finally, construction companies

must determine appropriate levels of effective performance. Employers need to use industry

level measures that improve productivity and look for causes in decreases in productivity

(Modular Building Institute, 2010).

Improvements in the construction industry can only be made through a strategic approach

that involves collaboration between stakeholders and must follow an evidence based approach.

This poses a challenge due to the high turnover rates in employment (which are typical of this

industry), a lack of standards, and the numerous entities involved. The Bureau of Labor


Statistics (BLS) projects a net increase of 780,000 construction related jobs in the U.S. between

2006 and 2016 (National Academies Press, 2009). The driving force behind this projected

increase includes population growth, new building construction, renovations, and renewing

existing infrastructure.

By looking at what the clients want which includes improved service, quality, quicker

build times and the use of innovative technology, an increase in construction opportunities can

be made. There is a real need for the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM)

and/or Just-In-Time (JIT) lean manufacturing to be used in the construction industry. Other

countries such as, Australia, Canada, Japan and Europe, have already adopted some form of

these practices. Through the use of some sort of control process that prevents defects before

they happen, companies can save millions of dollars. By saving money on individual projects,

companies can afford to begin more building projects and hire more workers.

As of April 2012, there were 729,345 construction firms employing approximately 7.3

million individuals (Statistic Brain, 2012). Only 2 percent of these companies employ 100 or

more workers, while 80 percent of these companies have ten or fewer workers. With so many

different companies coupled with high turnover rates, it is difficult to add new technologies,

enforce best practices, and innovations across all of these different groups. However, advances

in available and emerging technologies could vastly improve construction efficiency allowing

companies to hire more skilled workers. Technological progress will necessarily widen

inequality among skill groups unless it is countered by an increase in the supply of human

capital.

In an individual context, human capital is the sum total of a person’s knowledge, skills,

and experience, viewed in terms of their value or cost to an organization. The steady


accumulation of human capital has thus been the main equalizer in the U.S. labor market. The

rise in inequality over the last three decades can be understood as the consequence of a slowing

rate of accumulation of human capital that has not kept pace with skill-biased technological

change (Acemoglu & Autor, 2012). In a technological dominated world, the rate of innovation is

staggering. Construction companies are forced to keep up with the ever changing world. To keep

pace the construction industry needs an influx of skilled workers to the labor pool.

Education will also play a major role in making advancements that are needed in the U.S.

construction industry to make it more competitive and appealing. The most significant change

will be in the amount of college those working in the construction industry receive. In 1977,

about 15% of those working in construction had “some college” that percentage increased to

17% by 1989 and as of 2004 it was 23% (Table 1). In recent years, construction education has

made its way into the university classroom, which has allowed students to earn advanced degrees

in construction management. Construction companies must also consider implementing some

form of continuing education training. Employees would be required to complete a set number of

hours a year to keep them familiarized with new and innovative techniques in the construction

field. By further investing in employee education, construction companies would aid in growing

job knowledge, thus making a major investment in human capital.

Table 1:

Years of Schooling of Construction Workers (percent distribution)

Years High School or less

Some College

Bachelor’s Degree or more

1977-1978 78.9 14.7 6.4

1989 74.9 17 8

2004 68.5 23.3 8.2

2004 civilian labor force 42.2 27.5 32.3

Note: Information retrieved from (The Bureau of Labor Statistics)


Technical schools have also contributed to the education of those seeking employment in

the construction industry. In an effort to provide students and craft professionals with industry

recognized credentials and assure national portability of skills, Michigan Trades offers all

students the chance to become part of a nationally recognized credentialing and certification

system (Michigan Trades, 2009). This National Registry provides transcripts, certificates, and

wallet cards to students who successfully complete the Contren Learning Series. These valuable

industry credentials benefit students as they seek employment and build their careers (Michigan

Trades, 2009).

If conditions are to improve in the construction industry, a move to restore free market

conditions must be met. Deregulation would encourage a sustained long term healthy

construction market. This would involve a decrease in the size of the federal government

through the scaling back of federal regulatory agencies and a lesser role of the federal judiciary

system. A shift in the power between regulatory control and tax revenue must occur to make

significant advancements. There is a need to streamline the building process so that this will

encourage an increase in building projects. The red tape involved in obtaining local permits

coupled with strict state and federal building requirements causes a slowed effect in construction.

Another way the government can assist in improving the construction industry is by lowering the

corporate tax rate.

The United States has the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. The average

effective corporate tax rate for businesses headquartered in the U.S. is roughly 27%, while the

average rate in other nations is approximately 20% (Dittmer, 2011). The effective average rate

for new investment in the U.S. is roughly 29.8%, which is 7.4% points above worldwide

competition. By all existing measures, the federal government inflicts a very high tax burden on


the corporate sector when compared to other nations. The U.S. effective corporate tax rate

consistently ranks highest among all industrialized nations.

High corporate taxes and high effective tax rates are detrimental to attracting investment,

and consequently detrimental to economic growth (Dittmer, 2011). Lowering the corporate tax

structure for business owners would encourage them to hire more workers. Creating permanent

tax incentives to hire new workers would also improve the growth of construction jobs in the

United States. Investing inside the U.S helps create jobs and put people back to work, thus

decreasing unemployment rates. It is important to realize that increasing taxes slows the

economy and negatively affect the Gross Domestic Product (GPD).

Given the current economic climate, some sectors of the construction industry are

stronger than others. With construction companies using 40 percent of all energy used each year,

there is a definite environmental impact to consider. The interest among companies to build

efficient and environmentally-friendly structures is on the rise. New construction projects

account for the use of nearly 30 percent of all raw materials produced, 25 percent of all water

used and 30 percent of the materials found in landfills (Modular Building Institute, p. 4). The 30

percent of waste found in landfills amounts to roughly 164,000 million tons of material waste

and debris.

In the near future, the U.S. is going to have to rethink the way in which construction is

approached. Improvements need to be made to lessen the environmental impact that current

materials and methods are creating. The construction industry must learn to take advantage of

advancements in technology to improve the durability and longevity of future buildings and

infrastructure. An emphasis on the use of natural resources and the state of our environment has

led to the “green” initiative. Investment in green energy initiatives is expected to grow from


$7.41 billion to $10.47 billion (FMI Corporation, p. 27). Green building accounts for one-third of

all non-residential design construction and is expected to increase in the coming years. It is

estimated that by 2013, 8 million workers will be working on some sort of green effort (Booz,

Allen, & Hamilton, 2012).

Immediate areas of growth in the construction industry in our current economic state are

rare but not non-existent. The power generation sector is considered to be strong, as technology

driven projects continue to surface. An increase in data centers and communication

infrastructures are predicted as the need for those services continues to rise. Another bright spot

is the health care industry, which predicts that by the year 2016 investment and spending will

increase substantially. It is predicated that spending on health care facilities and the veteran’s

hospital will rise from $1.81 billion to $3.06 billion (FMI Corporation, p. 27).

While spending is expected to increase on “green” construction projects, the current

condition of roads and bridges in the United States continues to deteriorate. The transportation

and infrastructure of the U.S. is in urgent need of repair; once touted as having a model

transportation system, the U.S. is now falling behind globally as evidenced by our ranking at

number 16 in the world. The United States’ transportation network and infrastructure is

underfunded and aging. The recent collapse of bridges and the poor condition of many roadways

is further proof that something needs to be done. Not only are roads and bridges not up to par,

but the country’s freight rail network and sea ports are also in need of improvement.

Jonathan Turnbull, a managing director at investment bank Lazard's infrastructure group

in New York reported that American miners can pay up to four times what Australians pay to get

coal to port and loaded on a ship (Lange, 2011). The United States has also fallen behind

Europe and many developing nations where telecommunications infrastructure is concerned. In


recent years the U.S has been surpassed by China and India in terms of cell phone penetration.

The U.S. has also ranks 27 out of 50 among all nations with the highest internet penetration rate

(Internet World Stats, 2012). Each year the U.S. spends approximately 2.4 percent of its GDP on

infrastructure, while Europe spends 5 percent and China spends 9 percent.

The United States spends roughly half what we did 50 years ago to stay competitive with

building infrastructure (Homeland Security News Wire, 2011). It is estimated that it would cost

1.6 trillion dollars over the next 5 years to meet the current infrastructure needs to bring the roads

up to the 21st Century (Reid, 2012). The American Society of Civil Engineers report card

showed that America’s infrastructure received a score of a D. It is clear that the U.S. has to

invest in improving the infrastructure and transportation systems. By investing in infrastructure

and transportation projects, it is projected that the U.S could put as many as 5 million

construction workers back on the job.

Two important considerations need to be made concerning the cost of construction

projects. First will the jobs being created be short-term or long-term? Second, will the

construction project produce a significant economic boost when compared with its cost? Many

experts have expressed apprehension where infrastructure investment is concerned. Some see

investment in infrastructure as a way to improve productivity and growth. Others argue that

investment in infrastructure is a short-term solution to job creation and is only used as a

countercyclical tool that supports economic recovery. Economist argue with policy makers that

infrastructure investment is necessary to stimulate labor demand and enhance productivity by

investing in neglected roads, bridges, water systems and ports. The construction industry is

divided up into 3 sectors; Construction of buildings, road highway and other infrastructures, and

specialty trades. Construction projects are a major part of the U.S. economy, employing over 8%


of all wage earners. The information provided in Table 2 shows the significance of the

construction industry to the U.S. employment rates.

Table 2:

Employment by Industry: Percent of Total Employed

Industry 2000 2006Education & Health Services 19.1 20.7

Retail Trade 11.5 11.6Manufacturing 14.4 11.3

Professional & Business Services 10 10.3Leisure & Hospitality 8.2 8.4

Construction 7.3% 8.1%Financial activities 6.8 7.3

Transportation & Utilities 5.4 5.2Other 4.5 4.9

Government workers 4.5 4.5Wholesale trade 3.1 3.2

Information 3.0 2.5Agriculture 1.8 1.5

Mining .3 .5Note: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the U.S. 2007, Table 606 for 2000 data. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Not only does the United States need to fix its current roadways, but it also needs to

examine ways to fix many traffic and transportation issues that persist. These issues are: traffic

delays, the decay of older structures, and a growing dependence on foreign oil. Commuters on

highways lose more than $100 billion every year in time spent and fuel burned due to ever-

increasing congestion on their way to and from work (Miller, Costa, & Cooper, 2012). Investing

in roads lowers the cost of doing business and makes US companies more competitive.

According to a 2011 survey conducted by the World Economic Forum Currently, the

infrastructure of the United States is ranked 24th in the world ( World Economic Forum, 2011)

(Fig. 4). Obviously, to stay competitive in the world market, the U.S. needs to advance the status

of our current infrastructure in the United States. Improving the infrastructure will create jobs

and increase productivity of small, medium and large businesses alike.


Figure 4: Quality of overall infrastructure – 2011(Image retrieved from WorldEconomicForum.com)

According to a 2009 report by the Metropolitan Research Center at the University of

Utah, repair work on roads and bridges generates approximately16 percent more jobs as

compared to jobs created by new construction (Costa & Hersh, 2011). There are numerous

academic, private-sector and non partisan government studies that show the positive effects of

infrastructure and transportation investments. Investment in public works projects, such as road

work, bridges, and government housing could bring much needed financial help not only to the

construction industry, but to the economy as a whole. Public sector construction is a significant

business. In 2009, federal, state, and local projects accounted for almost 1/3 of 1 trillion dollars

in U.S. construction spending (Deloitte, 2011).

The creation of new mega-highways and improved transportation systems would have the

effect of attracting more private investors to the country. The development of a public transit

system and high speed rail lines could also advance our transportation grid, ease congestion and

provide even more jobs. Improved infrastructure would reduce costs for businesses, making the


United States a much more appealing option, thus making U.S. companies more competitive in

the global economy.

The benefits of investments in infrastructure and transportation also extend to

manufacturing, because construction projects require sophisticated materials and machines. This

trend continues as it then strengthens middle-class incomes that fuel spending elsewhere in the

economy. The issue of how to fund these public projects is one with no clear and definite

answers. Roadways can be funded in various ways; including through the use of tolls, by raising

gas taxes and/or by raising tolls during peak hours by means of congestion pricing. Funding for

these expensive projects could solely come from an increase in taxes, a choice that Americans

cannot afford in the current economic environment. This leads to an expanse in the number of

options to fund these necessary building and infrastructure projects.

Exploring further options begins with the Federal government giving states the flexibility

to use other capital and revenue sources. Currently, all new tolls are banned on interstates, with

the exception of a federal pilot program that allows only three states to replace worn-out roads in

this manner. Congress could help by eliminating the cap on tolls and could also help states attract

private capital through the use of tax-favored structures. Today’s intense economic pressures will

require government agencies and construction industry stakeholders to find more efficient and

effective ways to deliver capital projects while controlling costs (Deloitte, 2011). There are

other structures that could be explored like master limited partnerships (MLPs) and real estate

investment trusts (REITs) (Thomasson, 2012).

An alternative funding option would be PPP (Public-Private Partnerships), an agreement

between a public agency and a private group. This arrangement varies greatly between sectors,

projects and countries and can be modified greatly. The U.S. Department of Transportation


considers contracting out operations and maintenance and “design-build” a construction project

by a single contractor as a PPP. One of the biggest benefits of a PPP is the fact that

responsibilities and risks are shared. Traditionally, the U.S. government uses the “design-build”

and decides, plans, and finances construction projects. With this method of funding and

building, different entities bid for the job while the U.S. government assumes all the risks

involved in building the structure and maintaining it. On the other hand, a PPP is a means of

sharing the risks and costs of an infrastructure provision.

It is important to point at that PPPs do not solve the problem of funding; rather it is a

combined effort that includes sources of revenue from private investors, tolls, taxes and interest

on bonds. Essentially, the public organization is able to make payments over time, which

relieves some of the pressure of the annual budget. Another benefit of the PPP is the reduced

waste and improved efficiency involved with construction projects. For example, in 2009, the

United Kingdom’s National Audit Office found that 65 percent of the UK PPP construction

projects were completed on budget, compared to 54 percent not using PPP. Between 1985 and

2011, there were 377 PPP infrastructure projects funded in the United States, which accounts for

only 9 percent of total nominal costs of infrastructure PPP’s around the world (Istrate & Puentes,

2011). Transversely, Europe accounts for approximately 45 percent (Fig.5).


Figure 5: Public/ Private Partnerships (PPP’s) WorldwideNominal Total Costs (in billions $USD), 1985-2011

(Image retrieved from Brookings.edu)

Another possibility is an infrastructure bank, which can also take many different forms.

Its main distinction, from a traditional lending institution, being that it is established by the

government. One such example includes the EIB created by the European Union (EU) in 1957,

which capitalized funds from its 27 member countries. The members provide extra funds,

known as “callable capital” to cover loan defaults. The creation of a Federal infrastructure bank

could provide low interest to no interest loans and tax incentives for city or community

transportation projects. A Federal infrastructure bank would be another way to provide federal

credit assistance, such as direct loans and loan guarantees, to sponsors of infrastructure projects.

With the reduction in capital being released by traditional banking institutions, some alternatives

need to be explored. In 2008, President Obama suggested that the US would borrow $60 billion

from federal funding and would invest this money in infrastructure over the next ten years. It is

predicted that most of the funding would be spent on highways and mass transit systems (Istrate

& Puentes, 2011).


From a global perspective of the construction industry, the United States has tremendous

room for growth. In fact, only 22 U.S. based firms find a place among the Engineering News-

Record (ENR) Top 225 International Contractors. The combined revenues of those 22 companies

($86.5 billion) are divided almost evenly between the U.S. and international markets, 52% and

48%, respectively (FMI Corporation, p. 9). China has recently surpassed the European Union

and the United States as the world’s largest construction market. It is predicted that European

and American contractors will join forces to make a larger impact on the global market.

Summary

To regain some of the lost ground in the U.S. domestic construction market, firms need to

examine training programs and adopt lean manufacturing practices that can be utilized to carry

out projects. There is a need to implement technologies that are more efficient and productive to

remain competitive in the construction industry. Growth in the construction industry has far

reaching implications for the current U.S. economy and for the future of this country. The U.S.

must start reinvesting in the infrastructure of the country to remain competitive. . It is estimated

that it would cost 1.6 trillion dollars over the next 5 years to meet the current infrastructure needs

to bring the roads up to the 21st Century (Reid, 2012). By investing in infrastructure and

transportation projects, it is projected that the U.S could put as many as 5 million construction

workers back on the job, which could help jump start an already stagnate economy. If the U.S. is

to remain competitive in a global economy, investment at home must be made a priority.


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