| Labor productivity, or the output per hour-worked, is considered one of the best measures of production efficiency. The ultimate goal of every industrial sector in the nation, including construction, is to increase productivity. Macroeconomics data suggest that labor productivity declined significantly in the construction industry during the 1979–1998 period. However, microeconomic studies indicate the contrary. This dissertation critically examines the construction labor productivity macroeconomic data in the United States from 1979 to 1998 to determine its validity and reliability. Data collection, distribution, manipulation, analysis, and interpretation are reviewed and problems are identified. The dissertation presents a comparison of construction and manufacturing labor productivity during this period.; This dissertation describes a comprehensive research plan whose goal is to understand why labor productivity in the construction industry has followed a declining trend over the last couple of decades while other sectors have managed to create sustained increases. Special emphasis is given to the comparison between the construction industry and the manufacturing industry, in terms of labor force profiles, project environments, and production processes, among other characteristics. This dissertation also builds a profile of the construction labor force over the last 20 years and compares it to the manufacturing industry. Information about employment, education, age, and gender for both industries is presented. Projections for labor demand to the year 2008 are also examined.; This dissertation also presents the results of a survey instrument applied to determine the relative level of relevance of construction labor productivity drivers and opportunities. Owners, general contractors, electrical contractors, mechanical contractors, consultants and others participated in this survey. The results suggest that respondents consider the improvement of labor productivity within their reach and control rather than determined by external conditions. |
