The New Economy Versus the Old Economy

That investment will also need to include labor and produc- tivity initiatives. Since 2009, the value of nonresidential construction installed per person has decreased 21%, while the workers needed to install $1 million of product has climbed 27% (Exhibit 3.)

And projects aren’t just getting bigger. Their timelines are also condensing. For nonresidential projects valued at more than $25 million, the average schedule has shortened by more than a year during the past decade. That puts a strain on already challenged labor conditions as people are expected to do more in less time.

Exhibit 3: Increasing Nonresidential Project Complexities Demand More Labor

U.S. Nonresidential Construction Employment vs. Spending Measured in Constant 2012 Dollars

$190

8.5

$180

8.0

Value installed per person decreased 21%

$170

7.5

$160

7.0

$150

6.5

$140

6.0

Workers needed increased 27%

$130

5.5

$120

5.0

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

$1,000 installed per person

Workers needed to install $1M

Source: BLS, FMI * Current dollars converted using CPI

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