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L

itzl
Labor and
Material
Requirements for
Public Housing
Construction
1968
Bulletin 1821
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
1974




Labor and
Material
Requirements for
Public Housing
Construction
1968
Bulletin 1821

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Peter J. Brennan, Secretary
BU REAU OF L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
Julius Shiskin, Commissioner




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Stock Number 2901-01318

Preface
This study of labor and material requirements for the construction of public housing is
one in a series of studies conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of various types of
construction activity. Data are based on public housing projects scheduled to be completed
between January 1967 and March 1968 under the auspices of the Housing Assistance Ad­
ministration (HAA) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Other
published studies in this series include highways, hospitals, schools, private one-family
houses, Federal office buildings, civil works, college housing, and sewer works. A study of
private multi-family housing is nearing completion and will be published in 1974.
This study is the second one conducted on public housing; the first (presented in BLS
Bulletin 1402) was conducted for projects completed in 1959-60. The data presented in
this study are useful both in themselves and also for analyzing changes in labor and material
usage between the time periods of the two studies. This study includes, therefore, not only
the 1968 data with analysis, but also a number of comparisons between the data of 1960
and those of 1968.
The Bureau wishes to acknowledge the generous cooperation of the Housing Assistance
Administration of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and of the local hous­
ing authorities of the several States that made available payroll data for tabulation to
determine onsite labor requirements. The Bureau wishes also to thank the various contrac­
tors who provided additional direct labor and materials data.
This study was prepared in the Bureau’s Office of Productivity and Technology by Joseph
T. Finn assisted by Henry Renten and Frank L. Wood, under the general supervision of
John J. Macut, Chief, Division of Technological Studies.




Ill




Contents
Page

Introduction____________________________________________________________________________
Nature of survey ____________________________________________________________________
General survey findings______________________________________________________________
Distribution of onsite m an-hours_______________
Man-hours by type of contractor_____________
Construction tim e ______________________________
Contractors’ s h a r e ________________________________________
Onsite w a g e s_______________________________________________________________________
Materials, equipment, and supplies-----------------Regional differences____________________________________
Details of regional onsite m an-hours___________________________________________________
O ccupations________________________________________________________________________
Comparison with other surveys_______________________________________________________
Tables:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

Man-hour requirements in construction and other industries, 1960 and 1968 __________
Onsite man-hour requirements for public housing construction by selected characteristics
and region for 1960 and 1968 ____ ______ ___ _____________________________ _
National averages for selected building characteristics of public housing construction, 1960
and 1968 ____________________________________________________________________
Percent distribution of onsite man-hours for public housing construction by occupation,
1960 and 1968 ______________________________________________________________
Onsite man-hour requirements for public housing by occupation and region, 1960 and
1968 _______________________________________________________________________
Apprentice man-hours as a percent of total onsite employment for public housing con­
struction, by occupation and region, for 1960 and 1968 ------------ -----------------------Percent distribution of onsite man-hours for public housing construction by type of op­
eration, 1968 _________________________________________________________________
Percent distribution of onsite man-hours by decile of construction time, 1960 and 1968 __
Percent distribution of onsite man-hour requirements for public housing construction
by type of contractor and region, 1960 and 1968
__________________________
Total cost of materials, equipment, and supplies for each $1,000 of new public housing
construction, 1960 and 1968______________ ______ ____________________________
Total cost of materials, equipment, and supplies for each 100 square feet of new public
housing construction,1960 and 1968 ____
Onsite man-hour requirements for public housing construction, by selected character­
istics and region, 1968 ___________________________________________
Distribution of total man-hours per 1,000 current dollars of contract cost by industry
and type of construction, 1958-70 -------------------------------- ---- -----------------------------Distribution of onsite man-hours per 1,000 current dollars of contract cost by occupation
and type of construction, 1958-70 _____________________________________________
Percent distribution of contract costs, by type of construction, 1958-70 ---------------------Percent distribution of materials, equipment and supplies per 1,000 current dollars of
construction contract cost by type of materials and construction studied, 1958-70 ------




1
1
2
4
6
6
7
7
7
10
11
12
13
2
2
2
4
5
7
7
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
14
15

Contents— continued
Charts:
1. Man-hour requirements per $1,000 of public housing construction, by sector, 1960 and
1968 ________________________________________________________________________
2. Man-hour requirements per 100 square feet of public housing construction, by sector,
1960 and 1968 _______________________________________________________________
3. Distribution per dollar of construction costs for public housing, 1960 and 1968 ----------------Appendixes:
A. Scope and method of survey______________________________________________________
Characteristics of the universe and selection of sam ple_____________________________
Man-hour estim ates_____________________________________________________________
B. Bibliography____________________________________________________________________




Page

3
3
8

16
16
16
18

Introduction
This study, the second on public housing, was
designed to measure labor and material require­
ments for public housing construction in 1968. In
addition, by comparing the findings for the 1968
projects with those of the similar study undertaken
in 1960, some insights into trends in these require­
ments, occupations, contractor operations, and costs
can be obtained.
Some changes have occurred in the public hous­
ing program between and after the periods of the
two studies. For example, while the federally sub­
sidized low-rent public housing program grew from
478,153 1 dwelling units under management in 1960
to 1,055,046 12 units in 1972, the portion of these
units reserved for the elderly increased from 1,133 3
units to 231,900.4 Actually, however, most of the
elderly families in public housing occupy conven­
tional units, rather than ones specifically designed
for the elderly. For example, in 1968, although 35
percent of the units under management were oc­
cupied by senior citizens, only 13 percent of the
units occupied had been specifically designed for
the elderly.5 The increase in the proportion of the
total units designed for the elderly was undoubtedly
a major reason for the decline in average square
feet per dwelling unit, as developed from the two
BLS studies, from 992 square feet in 1960 to 811
square feet during 1968. This reflects a shift to
efficiency and one bedroom apartments as opposed
to units having more than one bedroom.
Nature of survey

This study is based on a survey of 48 public
housing projects out of a total of 354 projects,
1Fourteenth Annual Report, Housing and Home Finance
Agency, 1960, pp. 210 and 211.
2 HUD-FHA unpublished, preliminary table as of May
9, 1973.
3 Table 157 in 1971 HUD Statistical Book.
4 HUD-FHA unpublished, preliminary table.
8 Annual Report of the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development, 1968, p. 12.




scheduled to be completed between January 1967
and March 1968. All the projects were sponsored
by the Housing Assistance Administration (HAA)
of HUD, and were located in the continental
United States.
This survey did not attempt to cover two aspects
of the HUD programs which provided Federal sub­
sidies to local low rent housing authorities, i.e.,
turnkey projects and projects located on Indian res­
ervations. Since the turnkey program was just get­
ting underway during the survey planning period,
it was impossible to include enough of this type of
project in the survey sampling frame.
Projects on Indian reservations were excluded
because of a major departure from conventional
methods, since a large percentage were constructed
under the “Mutual Help Program.” That is, the
prospective tenants donated part of the onsite con­
struction labor, making an accurate determination
of cost of construction and number of onsite man­
hours extremely difficult.6
The survey was designed primarily to measure
the number of man-hours per $1,000 of construc­
tion contract cost for public housing. Man-hours, as
defined by the survey, include both onsite construc­
tion man-hours and offsite labor required to produce
and deliver materials used in construction.7
In addition to providing information on man­
hours, the study also includes data on the types and
value of materials used, wages paid, occupations
employed, and operations involved.
6 See appendix A for further details regarding the sampling
frame.
7Definitions—Onsite construction hours: Direct man-hours
actually worked at the public housing construction site
by construction and other workers. Offsite construction
hours: Indirect hours expended by workers in offices and
warehouses of public housing contractors including secre­
taries, clerks, warehouse workers, engineers, and administra­
tors. This includes the offsite work of the contractors as
well. Other industries offsite hours: Indirect hours expended
in manufacturing, mining, transportation, and service indus­
tries which are required to produce and distribute the
materials, equipment and supplies used in public housing
construction.

General survey findings

Public housing construction during 1968 created
32,990 full-time jobs onsite and 5,129 jobs for
contractors’ offsite personnel. The latter include ad­
ministrators, appraisers, engineers, architects, secre­
taries, and clerks. Furthermore, production and dis­
tribution of the materials provided 23,009 more
jobs.8
For 1968, each $1,000 of construction contract
cost required 160 man-hours on a current dollar
basis. Ninety-four of these hours were expended in
the construction sector, 80 of them onsite. The com­
parable data developed from the earlier BLS sur­
vey were: total man-hours 241, construction 132,
onsite 114. (See tables 1 and 2.) To a large
extent, the decline in onsite man-hours, since 1960,
in this study, reflects the impact of rising construc­
tion costs during the period. When a comparison is
made between the two surveys using square footage
as a measure of output instead of $1,000 of cost,
onsite man-hours per 100 square feet remained un­
changed. (See charts 1 and 2.) In evaluating these
figures, note should be taken of the lack of homo­
geneity in a measure of livable space (square feet)
between 1960 and 1968. Although the average
apartment size declined during the period, it ap­
pears that the reduction in space had no affect
s These estimates are developed by relating the survey
results to the amount of value put in place for public
housing, published in Construction Report C30 by the
Bureau of the Census. However, Census classifies turnkey
projects as private rather than public construction. Thus,
the above estimates of the jobs created by public housing
construction do not take into account the impact of the
turnkey program.
Table 1. Man-hour requirements in construction and other
industries, 1960 and 1968
1968

1960 1
Per
Per
1,000
100
current square
dollars feet

Industry

All

industries

241

257

Per­
cent
100.0

Per
Per
1,000
100
current square
dollars feet
160

243

Per­
cent
100.0

_________

132

141

54.8

94

143

59.0

Onsite ___________
Offsite __________

114
18

122
19

47.3
7.5

80
14

122
21

50.0
9.0

--------

109

116

45.2

66

100

41.0

Manufacturing -----Wholesale trade,
transportation
and service ____
Mining and all
other __________

62

66

25.7

42

64

26.0

Construction

Other industries

29

31

12.0

16

24

10.0

18

19

7.5

8

12

5.0




Per $1,000 of contract cost1
Per 1,000 square feet
Per dwelling unit

1960

1968

1960

1968

113.7
1,214
1,205

79.6
1,212
983

95.9
1,046
1,073

66.9
1,107
920
South

North Central

Per $1,000 of contract cost1
Per 1,000 square feet
Per dwelling unit

1960

1968

1960

1968

106.0
1,299
1,205

86.3
1.452
1,036

142.1
1,331
1,336

90.5
1,216
1,033

West

Per $1,000 of contract cost1
Per 1,000 square feet
Per dwelling unit

1960

1968

98.4
1,270
1,176

62.8
949
741

1 Current dollars.

on the requirements for kitchen fixtures, appliances,
and bathroom facilities. In other words, the cost per
dwelling unit rose less than the cost per square foot.
(See table 3.)
The average apartment in a public housing proj­
ect completed in 1968 contained 811 square feet
of livable space and cost $12,346 to construct, or
$15.22 per square foot. In 1960, the average apart­
ment was considerably larger (992 square feet) and
cost substantially less to build, $10,598 or $10.68
per square foot. The cost per dwelling unit has in­
creased significantly less than the cost per square
foot, reflecting a decline in living space in the aver­
age public housing apartment.
A major cause of this decline in apartment size
was the shift in emphasis toward providing more
housing for the elderly, as opposed to housing for
large families, with increased space requirements.
Fifty-eight percent of the apartments in the proj­
ects surveyed in 1968 were reserved for the elderly,
compared with 9 percent in I960.9
The average size and cost in current dollars of
9
Consolidated Development Directory (U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development Report S-11A, June
1967).
Table 3. National averages for selected building charac­
teristics of public housing construction, 1960 and 1968
Characteristic
Number of dwelling units _____________
Floor area (square feet) _______________
C o n s tru c tio n

1 Revised from data as published in Labor and Material Requirements
for Public Housing Construction (BLS Bulletin 1402, 1964).

Northeast

United States
Characteristic

c o n tra c t

co st1

Construction cost per dwelling unit1 ___
Construction cost per square foot1 .....
1 Current dollars.

1968
90
73,263
$1,114,891
$12,346
$15.22

1960
125
124,000
$1,324,000
$10,598
$10.68

Chart 1.

Sector
(94 )

Construction

Onsite

Offsite

Manufacturing
(62 )

Wholesale trade,
transportation,
and services

Mining and [— J (8>
all other

( 18 )

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

Man-hours

Chart 2.

Man-hour Requirements per 100 Square Feet of Public Housing Construction,
by Sector, 1960 and 1968

Sector

'//m

<■■22,

Construction l
(

122)

Onsite

y//m \///

( 143)

( 141 )

Offsite

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade,
transportation,
and services

Mining and
all other




75
Man-hours

100

125

150

the projects surveyed in 1960 and 1968 are shown
in the following tabulation:

1960
Number of projects
31
sample
Number of dwell­
124
ing units
Livable space
(1,000 square
feet) ____________
125
Square feet per
992
dwelling u n it ____
Cost per dwelling
unit ______________ $10,598
Cost per square f o o t __ $ 10.68

1968

Percent
change,
1960 to
1968

48

—

90

-2 8

Distribution of onsite man-hours
73.3

-4 1

811

-1 8
16
42

$12,346
$ 15.22

To test the sensitivity of the change in unit labor
requirements, an alternate measure of output was
used, based on a deflated measure of value.10 When
calculated in this fashion, onsite man-hours declined
over 2 percent a year, as the following tabulation
shows:

1960
Man-hours per 1,000
114
constant dollars
Man-hours per 100
spare feet ________ ... 122

A verage annual
percent
change
1968
96
122

2.2
—

This discrepancy between the estimates of unit
man-hour requirements points up the problems of
measuring productivity in construction when signif­
icant changes occur in product mix. A more ap­
propriate measure of output would account for all
of the characteristics associated with real value, not
just space alone. Although the price index used to
derive man-hours per 1,000 constant dollars only
approximates a true price index for public housing,
it is nevertheless considered superior to a measure
based on space alone.
Even with this method, these changes in man­
hour requirements reflect shifts in the mix of ma­
terials, methods of construction, and characteristics
of buildings, as well as productivity changes. It is
10
The Bureau of the Census single-family housing price
index, adjusted to exclude land and linked to the Boeckh
Residential cost index, was used as a deflator. This survey
studied multi-family housing. However, the single-family
index was used for deflation because, the Bureau of the
Census considers this index to be the best one available
for application to all residential structures, regardless of
size.




difficult to isolate the changes in productivity from
these other factors.
Nevertheless, the change in onsite man-hour re­
quirements, while it reflects, to some extent, pro­
duction mix changes as well as productivity
movements does provide some insight into the
direction of improved efficiency in the utilization
of manpower.

Sixty-four percent of the onsite hours were worked
by skilled treadesmen (table 4). Carpenters were
credited with the largest single portion, or 32 per­
cent of these skilled hours. The fact that 29 per­
cent of the buildings studied had wood frames was
a major fact contributing to the dominance of the
carpenters. They were followed in descending order
by plumbers, bricklayers, electricians, and painters.
The five trades accounted for 48 percent of the
onsite hours.
Table 4. Percent distribution of onsite man-hours for
public housing construction by occupation, 1960 and 1968
Percent distribution

Occupation

1968
All occupations _____________________

1960

100.0

100.0

Construction workers ____________ __________

94.5

92.0

Skilled trades ________________ ________

64.3

61.1

Asbestos workers
______ ________
Bricklayers_____ - _________________
Carpenters _______________________
Cement finishers _________ ________
Electricians ______________ ______
Elevator mechanics _____ ________
Glaziers__________________________
Lathers __________________________
Operating engineers ______________
Ornamental ironworkers ___________

.4
7.8
20.3
2.6
5.8
.5
.2
1.4
3.1
.6

.4
7.6
19.1
3.1
4.1
.3
.4
3.2
2.7
.9

Painters _________________________
Plasterers _______________________
Plumbers
___ ________________
Reinforcing ironworkers ___________
Roofers _______ _________________
Sheet-metal workers
Soft-floor layers___________________
Structural ironworkers ____________
Tile and terrazzo workers _________

4.9
1.6
9.3
2.3
.7
1.0
.6
.6
.6

4.4
3.6
7.8
1.0
.8
1.0
.3
.2
.2

Semiskilled and unskilled workers _____

30.2

30.9

Laborers ______________
____ .
Helpers and tenders _______________

23.4
6.8

26.2
4.7

Nonconstruction workers ___________________

5.1

6.1

Supervisory, professional and
technical workers ______________

3.6

4.0

Custodial workers ________________

.9

1.2

Truckdrivers

_

.6

.9

Miscellaneous onsite workers ______________

.4

1.9

_ _

_______

-

Thirty percent of the onsite man-hours were
performed by laborers, helpers, and tenders. The
South led the other regions in the use of these un-

skilled and semiskilled workers. (See table 5.) This
disproportion was reflected in the fact that the South
had the lowest average hourly earnings.

Table 5. Onsite man-hour requirements for public housing by occupation and region, 1960 and 1968
Northeast

United States
1968

1960
Occupation

1968

1960

Per $1,000
Per $1,000
Per $1,000
of con­ Per 100 Percent of con­ Per 100 Percent of con­ Per 100
struction square distri­ struction square distri­ struction square
feet
bution
bution
feet
cost1
feet
cost1
cost1

Per $1,000
Percent
of con­ Per 100 Percent
distri­
struction square distri­
feet
bution
bution
cost1

All occupations __________

114

122

100.0

80

122

100.0

96

103

100.0

67

102

100.0

Supervisory, professional, technical
and clerical___________ _______

5

5

4.0

3

4

3.6

4

4

3.8

2

3

3.4

70
1
9
22
4

73
1
9
23
4
5

61.1
.4
7.6
19.1
3.1
4.1
.3
.4
3.2
2.7
.9
4.4
3.6
7.8
1.0
.8
1.0
.3
.2
.2

52

81
1
10
25
3
7
1

65
1
7
16
3
5
1

70
1
8
17
4
5
1

70
1
10
17
2
7
1

P)

P)

68.3
.7
7.4
16.6
3.6
5.1
.7
.4
6.7
2.2
2.0
4.2
4.8
10.8
1.4
.7
.7
.2

46
1
7
11
1
5
1

P)

P)

2
4
1
6
2
11
3
1
1
1
1
1

64.3
.4
7.8
20.3
2.6
5.8
.5
.2
1.4
3.1
.6
4.9
1.6
9.3
2.3
.7
1.0
.6
.6
.6

69.1
.7
9.9
16.2
2.1
7.1
.9
.4
3.0
2.7
1.3
2.9
3.2
12.0
3.6
.4
1.0
.6
.7
.4

.9
4.7
26.2
1.2
1.9

1
5
19
1

1
8
29
1
1

.6
6.8
23.4
.9
.4

Skilled trades _________________
Asbestos workers _________
Bricklayers ________________
Carpenters ________________
Cement finishers ___________
Electricians________________
Elevator mechanics _________
Glaziers ___________________
Lathers ___________________
Operating engineers ________
Ornamental ironworkers
Painters __________________
Plasterers ________________
Plumbers __________________
Reinforcing ironworkers
Roofers ___________________
Sheet-metal workers ___
Soft floor layers ___________
Structural ironworkers ______
Tile setters _______________
Other onsite workers:
Truckdrivers _______________
Helpers and tenders ________
Laborers __________________
Custodial workers __________
Other _____________________

5
P)
P)

P)

4
3
1
5
4
9
1
1
1

1
4
3
1
5
4
10
1
1
1

P)
P)
P)

P)
P)
P)

1
5
30
1
2

1
6
32
1

2

P)

6
16
2
5

P)
P)
1
3

P)

4
1
7
2
1
1
1
1
1

P)

P)

6
2
2
4
5
10
1
1
1

7
2
2
4
5
11
1
1
1

P)
P)
P)

P)
P)
P)

1
5
17
3
1

1
6
18
3
1

Supervisory, professional, technical
and clerical _________________
Skilled trades _________________
Asbestos workers __________
Bricklayers ________________
Carpenters ________________
Cement finishers ___________
Electricians________________
Elevator mechanics _________
Glaziers ---------------- ----------Lathers ___________________
Operating engineers ________
Ornamental ironworkers
...
Painters ___________________
Plasterers _________________
Plumbers __________________
Reinforcing ironworkers ____
Roofers ___________________
Sheet-metal workers_________
Soft floor la y e rs ____ _____
____
Structural ironworkers
Tile setters _______________
Other onsite workers:
Truckdrivers _______________
Helpers and tenders
Laborers __________________
Custodial workers __________
Other _____________________
See footnotes on next page.




.1

.7
5.4
17.9
2.8
1.1

3
3
1
3
3
12
4

P)

P)

1

P)
P)
P)

1
1
1

P)

11
1

9
17
1

P)

P)

.4
8.7
16.7
1.2
.4

P)
6

P)

South

North Central
All occupations ___________

P)

2
2
1
2
2
8
2

106

113

100.0

86

131

100.0

142

152

100.0

91

139

100.0

6

6

5.5

3

5

3.7

5

5

3.4

3

5

3.7

70
1
7
22
3
5
(2)
1
2
4
1
4
4
12
1

75
1
7
23
3
6
1
1
3
4
1
4
4
12
1

58

81

51.7
.1
9.3
18.1
2.5
3.0

53

81

P)

P)

P)

P)

P)

P)

67.6
.5
6.0
21.9
3.7
7.2
.6
.2
1.3
2.9
.2
4.6
1.5
10.6
3.1
.3
1.2
.6
1.0
.2

75

5
19
3
6
1

89
1
8
29
5
9
1

P)
P)

P)

1

.1
1.2
2.7
.1
4.6
2.7
4.4
.5
1.1
.5
.4
.1
.3

9
1
9
1
2
1
1
1
1

58.1
.1
7.5
22.1
2.1
4.0
.2
.1
.2
3.6
.2
6.4
.4
6.5
1.0
1.1
.9
.5
.4
.8

.5
5.4
21.3
1.2
.3

1
7
52

1
7
55
1
5

.8
4.6
36.2
.3
3.0

1
9
42
1
1

.9
6.2
30.2
.5
.4

2
(3)
1

3

66.5
.8
6.4
20.4
2.9
4.9
.4
.8
2.3
3.5
1.1
3.9
3.5
10.8
1.2
.3
2.3

P)

P)

P)

P)

.9
.1

1
5
22
1
1

1
5
23
1
1

.9
4.6
20.7
.9
.9

P)

P)
1

P)

1
3

4
1
9
3

2
4

6
2
14
4

P)

P)

1
1
1

2
1
1

P)

P)

P)
5
18
1

1
7
28
2

P)

P)

P)

P)

13
26
4
4

14
28
4
5

P)
P)

P)
P)

P)

P)

2
4

7
4
6
1
2
1
1

P)
4

2
4

7
4
7
1
2
1
1

P)

7
20
2
4

10
31
3
6

P)
P)
P)

P)
P)
P)

P)

P)

3

6

P)

6
1
1
1
1

P)

1

1
6
27
1

P)

5

West
1968

1960
Occupation

All occupations

________________________________

Supervisory, professional, technical and clerical
_________
Skilled trades ____________________________________________
Asbestos workers ________________________ -- --- ----Bricklayers __________________________________________
Carpenters _. _ _ .
________________________________
Cement finishers _____________________________________
Electricians __________________________________________
-----------Elevator mechanics ____________________
Glaziers _____________________________________________
Lathers _____________________________________________
Operating engineers _________________________________
Ornamental ironworkers ______________________________
Painters _____
_________________ ___________________
Plasters __________________________
_______________
Plumbers _________________________ ________________
Reinforcing ironworkers _____ _________________________
Roofers _____________________________________________
Sheet-metal workers ...
___________________________
Soft floor layers ________ __________________________
_________________________
Structural ironworkers
Tile setters ... ___________ __________________________
Other onsite workers:
Truckdrivers ______ ___ ______________________________
Helpers and tenders _________________________________
Laborers __ _______ _________________ _ _________
Custodial workers ____________________________________
Other _______________________________________________

Per $1,000
of con­
struction
cost1

Percent
distri­
bution

105

100.0

Per 100
square
feet

Percent
distri­
bution

63

96

4
69
P)
2
32
4
5
P)
1
1
4
P)
5
3
7
2
1
1
1
P)
P)

4
73
P)
2
34
4
5
P)
1
1
4
P)
6
3
8
2
1
1
1
P)
P)

4.1
70.5
.3
1.6
32.5
4.2
4.8
.1
.7
1.2
3.7
.2
5.4
3.3
7.4
1.8
.8
1.3
.6
.4
.2

3
47
1
3
16
3
5
P)
P)
1
2
P)
4
1
7
1
1
1
1
P)
P)

4
74
1
4
25
4
7
1
1
1
3
1
6
2
10
2
2
2
1
P)
1

4.2
74.5
.7
4.4
26.0
4.3
7.1
.5
.6
1.0
2.9
.5
6.2
2.1
10.6
1.8
1.6
2.2
1.2
.2
.6

1
3
9
1

1
3
14
1

1
4
9

1
6
14

1.0
5.9
14.5

1

1

1.3
2.8
14.5
.8
1.3

P)

P)

P)

98

1 Current dollars.
2 Less than 0.5 percent.

The percent of total onsite man-hours performed
by skilled tradesmen increased from 61.1 percent in
1960 to 64.3 in 1968. This increase was caused
largely by relatively small changes among the var­
ious occupations. However, electricians, a major on­
site trade, showed a significant increase from 4.1
percent in 1960 to 5.8 percent in 1968. This rise
was paralleled by an increase in the use of elec­
trical equipment, fixtures, and wire per $1,000 from
4.8 percent of the total materials in 1960 to 7.9
percent in 1968.
The percentage of onsite man-hours provided by
laborers declined from 26.2 in 1960 to 23.4 in
1968. This is the expected reverse of the trend
shown by the skilled trades mentioned above. Also,
semiskilled workers, i.e. helpers and tenders, in­
creased in their percentage of total onsite man­
hours, from 4.7 to 6.8.
Employment of skilled trade apprentices accounted
for 6 percent of the onsite hours for all occupa­
tions. However, data for electricians and plumbers
showed a significantly greater-than-average use of
apprentices— 15 and 11 percent respectively. (See
table 6.) This is a reflection of the active appreticship programs in these two crafts.




Per 100
square
feet

Per $1,000
of con­
struction
cost1

100.0

8 Less than 0.05 percent.

Man-hours by type of contractor

The distribution of onsite man-hours by type of
contractors (table 7) shows a pattern that differs
from the occupational distribution. (See table 4.)
For example, carpenters accounted for 20.3 percent
of the man-hours, whereas, carpentry contractors
supplied only 2.6 percent of the onsite man-hours.
The explanation lies in the fact that the majority
of the carpenters are employed by other special
trades contractors and by the general contractor. For
instance, concrete contractors will employ carpenters
to build the wooden forms. Flooring and roofing con­
tractors also employ carpenters.
Construction time

The average project required 64 weeks for com­
pletion, compared with 58 weeks for projects in
the 1960 survey. In order to develop a typical em­
ployment pattern, the construction time for each
project was divided into 10 equal parts or deciles and
the onsite hours were allocated to these deciles. This
distribution or phasing pattern of onsite work as
shown in table 8, discloses that the distribution of
onsite hours during the construction period has not
changed significantly from 1960 to 1968.

Table 6. Apprentice man-hours as a percent of total onsite employment for public housing construction, by occupation
and region, for 1960 and 1968
United States

Occupation

Northeast

North Central

South

West

1960

1968

1960

1968

1960

1968

1960

1968

1960

1968

3.7

4.0

4.0

4.8

3.9

3.3

2.9

3.7

6.0

5.1

Skilled trades only __
_
___ _ _ 6.0
Bricklayers
_
4.8
4.9
Carpenters
__
______ ______ ______
8.1
Cement finishers ______ _____ ___
___ ...
Electricians
.. ...
12.2
Glaziers _______________ _____
_ ______
12.9
_.
Lathers
.. _
. _ __ _____ _
8.7
3.0
Ornamental ironworkers
___
_
______
.
__ __
Painters
. _ __ _ _____
3.9
Plasterers
__ . _
4.8
9.0
Plum bers_____ __ ___ ________ _ _____
3.0
Reinforcing ironworkers ______ _____ ____
Roofers _
___ ___ ___ . _
______
8.7
Sheet metal-workers .. _____ _ _ _
._ _
9.6
5.7
Soft floor layers
_____ __
_ _______ ___
__ _ _
Structural ironworkers
__ _____
7.0
4.4
Tile setters _
. _
._
__ _____

6.2
4.0
5.6
3.6
15.2
3.4
3.0
.5
4.2
1.9
11.2
3.3
5.1
6.7
4.2
1.4
8.8

5.9
5.9
7.1
12.3
.5
29.8
6.7
3.5
4.9
4.3
7.9

6.9
4.2
5.3
9.4
17.4
1.5
1.5
C1)
8.9
1.8
13.1
.5
2.4
5.0
4.5
1.5
6.5

5.9
4.6
5.0
8.7
10.2
2.2
13.6
1.7
7.4
5.2
7.5

4.9
4.9
3.6
2.5
7.0
8.0
8.7

5.6
4.1
3.1
2.1
28.7
1.8
12.6

6.3
3.4
6.8
.7
19.7

2.8
2.4
8.7
7.8
.9
6.4
8.9
2.1
3.8

1.3
3.4
8.5
12.2
12.4
30.6
3.9

8.5
7.8
5.9
11.0
12.8
5.8
15.0
1.6
7.0
13.4
21.4
3.0
.4
.5.6
17.4
4.5

6.9
5.0
4.5
.6
18.0
14.4
1.5
3.9
2.7
4.1
14.6
9.0
.6
10.4
8.6
7.0

All workers

___

__

___ _____

3.9
2.1
2.2

8.9
3.8
21.9
8.8

5.8

.4
2.5
3.3
.7
10.5
2.5
7.0
7.6
11.0

1 Less than l/10th of 1 percent.

Contractor’s share

The general contractor’s share of total onsite
man-hours— as opposed to those of the special
trades contractor— declined from 49.2 percent in
1960 to 42.3 percent in 1968. (See table 9.) The
largest increase was in concrete subcontracting. On
the other hand, the share of the plastering and
lathing subcontractors declined from 7.1 percent to
4.2 percent. This decline reflects the increased use of
wallboard- an example of prefabrication— in place
of plaster. The average number of contractors per
project remained virtually unchanged at 19.
Onsite wages

Average hourly wage rates for onsite labor in­
creased from $3.14 to $4.06, an advance of over
29 percent. Wages as a percent of contract cost
Table 7. Percent distribution of onsite man-hours for
public housing construction by type of operation, 1968

General

__ __

___________________________

_____

___

_________

__

100.0

__

42.3

Special trades _ _________ _____ __ _________
Carpentry, millwork ________________________
Concrete ___________
_ _ .. _ ______ - _
Electrical
_____
_______
___ _ ______
Masonry
.. _______ ... . _ ______________

57.7
2.6
6.8
5.9
6.9

Painting
__ _____
___ _______________
Plastering and lathing ______________________
Plumbing,' heating and air-conditioning ______
Roofing and sheet metal ------------------------------

4.6
4.2
13.0
.9

Site preparation and excavation ______________
Structural and ornamental iron ______________
All other types -----------------------------------------

2.6
1.5
8.7




Materials, equipment, and supplies

A little over 43 percent of each contract dollar
was spent for materials, supplies, and equipment.
(See tables 10 and 11.) Nearly half of this was
for two major groups of materials: stone, clay and
glass products, $110.78 (out of every $1,000 of
contract), and metal products, $97.94. Major items
in these two groups were ready-mix concrete, $37.45;
brick and structural clay tile, $13.75; and reinforc­
ing bars and joists, $14.50.
Lumber and lumber products amounted to $62.41
or about 14 percent of total materials. The two ma-

Percent distribution

Contractor
All contractors

declined from 35.5 percent to 32.4 percent. (See
chart 3.) Obviously, the increase in wage rates was
largely offset by the 30-percent decline in onsite
man-hours from 114 to 80 per 1,000 dollars. How­
ever, 1968 onsite man-hours on a constant dollar
basis are 96 per 1,000 dollars, as previously stated.
Thus, the true decline in man-hours, after adjust­
ment for cost inflation, is 16 percent.

Table 8. Percent distribution of onsite man-hours by
decile of construction time, 1960 and 1968
Percent of onsite hours
Construction time
1968
Total
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th

decile
decile
decile
decile
decile
decile
decile
decile
decile
decile

________________
_____
__

__

._ _ _
. ._
___
__________
________ _____
_ _

__________________________
.. ______________________
_ ____
__
_______
_______________

______

1960

100

100

3.6
7.6
10.9
13.1
14.8
14.6
12.4
10.4
8.2
4.4

3.6
8.7
12.0
13.2
13.8
14.0
12.4
10.5
7.5
4.3

Chart 3.

Distribution per Dollar of Construction Costs for Public Housing, 1960 and 1968

Onsite wages
(32.4%)

Materials
( 41. 9 %)

Overhead and p ro fit
(24.2%)

Equipment

Equipment

(2.5%)

(1.5%)

1960

1968

jor items in this group were: rough and dressed
lumber $27.09 and millwork $26.69.
Heating, ventilating and airconditioning equip­
ment totaled $19.11 or about 4 percent of all ma­
terials used. Electrical equipment, fixtures and wire
was $34.28 or 8 percent of the total.

Plumbing products accounted for 10 percent of
all materials or $43.55 per $1,000 of construction.
The total material expenditure per $1,000 de­
clined 8.6 percent from the level shown for the
earlier study. The physical volume of material used,
however, dropped less sharply. This anomaly

Table 9. Percent distribution of onsite man-hour requirements for public housing construction by type of contractor and
region, 1960 and 1968
Type of contractor

Northeast

United States
1960

1968

1960

1960

West

South

North Central
1968

1968

1960

1968

1960

1968

100.0

100.0

All types . ______

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

General________________

49.2

42.3

42.6

29.0

38.9

45.0

56.9

51.3

57.0

34.8

Special trades _________
Concrete ____
Electrical
______
Masonry ...............
Painting ___________
Plastering and
lathing __________
Plumbing, heating, airconditioning ______
Roofing and sheet
metal ___________
Site preparation and
excavation _______
Structural and orna­
mental iron _____
All other ty p e s........

50.8
2.4
4.3
8.3
4.1

57.7
6.8
5.9
6.9
4.6

57.4
1.1
5.1
10.3
4.0

71.0
13.2
7.2
9.5
2.8

61.1
3.9
5.1
8.8
4.4

55.0
5.7
7.2
4.2
4.1

43.1
3.1
3.3
7.6
3.8

48.7
2.8
4.1
6.3
6.1

43.0
.7
5.0
2.7
5.5

65.2
5.4
7.2
6.9
5.2

7.1

4.2

10.9

7.8

6.9

4.4

4.8

1.5

4.1

3.8




12.3

13.0

13.8

14.7

16.0

14.0

10.0

11.1

10.8

15.4

1.3

.9

.9

.6

.7

.4

1.7

1.3

1.7

1.8

2.3

2.6

2.3

2.6

4.7

2.0

1.4

3.0

1.7

2.5

1.4
7.4

1.5
11.3

2.5
6.6

2.1
10.3

1.7
8.9

2.3
10.8

.2
7.2

.6
11.9

2.3
8.3

2.0
15.1

reflects the 3 percent increase in the wholesale
price index for construction materials from 1959
to 1967, the period during which the materials used
to construct the projects in the two surveys were
purchased. On the other hand, the portion of each
$1,000 of construction contract allocated to profit
and overhead increased from 17.0 to 24.2 percent
(chart 3), while the share used for onsite wages
declined, from 35.5 to 32.4 percent. Thus, the decline
in the share of each $1,000 expended on materials

was caused largely by the increase in the portion
allocated to profit and overhead. That is, construction
costs, exclusive of land, for public housing increased
20.0 percent from 1960 to 1968,11 while the cost of
the materials consumed in these years rose only 3
percent. Undoubtedly, an important factor influenc­
ing the rise in overhead costs was the sharp increase
in interest rates during this period.
11 The Bureau of the Census single-family housing price
index—op. cit.

Table 10. Total cost of materials, equipment, and supplies for each $1,000 of new public housing construction, 1960
and 1968
Per $1,0003
Selected products and
product groups

1960

Total cost— all products
Stone, clay and glass products _____

Percentage

1968

1960

1968

475.00

433.98

100.0

100.0

132.50

110.78

27.9

25.5

84.90
47.50
14.90
11.40
5.10
2.40
1.90
1.70

70.97
37.45
9.77
9.39
6.94
1.22
5.70
.50

17.9
10.0
3.1
2.4
1.1
.5
.4
.4

16.4
8.6
2.3
2.2
1.6
.3
1.3
.1

28.30

21.44

6.0

4.9

22.70
2.20
1.70
1.70

13.75
1.83
4.45
1.41

4.8
.5
.4
.4

3.2
.4
1.0
.3

19.30

18.37

4.1

4.2

5.20
3.70

4.99
3.26

1.1
.8

1.1
.8

3.10
2.80

2.87
.98

.7
.6

.7
,2

2.60
1.90

1.49
4.78

.5
.4

.3
1.1

108.40

97.94

22.8

22.6

80.20
28.70

64.95
14.50

16.9
6.0

15.0
3.3

15.10
8.60

12.60
8.53

3.2
1.8

2.9
2.0

7.90

5.29

1.7

1.2

7.20
7.90
2.70
2.10

10.53
3.60
9.15
.75

1.5
1.6
.6
.4

2.4
.8
2.1
.2

Other metal products__________
Copper (sheet metal and
pipe) ---------- --------Nails ____________________
Galvanized sheet m e ta l-----Metal case work _________
Not elsewhere classified ___

17.50

25.78

3.7

5.9

10.50
2.40
1.90
1.60
1.10

14.67
.99
6.46
1.63
2.03

2.2
.5
.4
.3
.2

3.4
.2
1.5
.4
.5

Other fabricated metal products Builders hardware _________
Not elsewhere classified___

10.70
10.60
.10

7.21
7.18
.03

2.3
2.2
---

1.7
1.7
---

Cement, concrete and gypsum
products
-- __________
Ready-mix
___ ________
Gypsum products _________
Concrete block and bricks __
Cem ent---------- ------------Concrete pipe
____ ___
Precast concrete ________
Lime _
_ ________
Structural clay products ---------Brick and structural clay
tile _________ ________
Clay sewer pipe ______
Ceramic tile
_________
Not elsewhere classified ___
Other stone, clay, and glass
products - _____
- -----Asphalt tile (including vinyl
asbestos) --------------------Sand and gravel --------------Fibre glass insulation (in­
cluding acoustical tile)
Window glass -----------------Crushed rock, slag,
miscellaneous aggregate
Not elsewhere classified----Metal products ---------------------------Fabricated structural metal
products
_______________
Reinforced bars, rods, Joists .
Metal windowframes and
accessories
__________
Ornamental metal ___ _____
Metal doors, frames,
accessories
_______
Fabricated sheet metal,
formed metal roof, decks,
metal fo rm s-----------------Metal lath and wire mesh .. Structural steel ___________
Not elsewhere classified -----




Per $1,000 1

Percentage

Selected products and
product groups

1960

1968

Lumber and lumber products _______
Rough and dressed lumber
Millwork „. _ _ ____________
Fabricated structural laminates __
Plywood
_ _____
_________
Not elsewhere classified _______

67.20
26.60
26.10
8.60
5.00
.90

62.41
27.09
26.69
0.02
4.88
3.73

14.1
5.7
5.5
1.8
1.0
.2

14.4
6.2
6.2

Plumbing products ________________
Fixtures _____________________
Steel and galvanized pipe _____
Cast iron p ip e ____________
Valves and specialities ________
Not elsewhere classified _______

47.70
17.40
11.70
9.90
8.00
.70

43.55
15.33
7.11
9.70
8.08
3.33

10.0
3.7
2.5
2.1
1.7
.1

10.0
3.5
1.6
2.2
1.9
.8

Fixed house equipment ___________
Refrigerators _________________
Elevators and moving stairs ___
Ranges
____________________
Venetian blinds _______________
Not elsewhere classified _______

28.80
10.20
9.90
5.80
1.50
1.40

24.98
7.86
8.75
5.75
1.36
1.26

6.1
2.1
2.1
1.2
.3
.3

5.8
1.8
2.0
1.3
.3
.3

Electrical equipment, fixtures and wire
Conduit______________________
Light fixtures ___ __________
Switchboard and panel _______
Wire and c a b le _______________
Other non-current carrying wire
devices ____________________
Current carrying devices _______
Electrical generating units
Not elsewhere classified _______

22.80
5.90
4.00
3.60
3.40

34.28
3.85
6.04
5.34
10.14

4.8
1.2
.8
.8
.7

7.9
,9
1.4
1.2
2.3

2.10
1.60
1.30
.90

1.93
3.32
.62
3.04

.4
.3
.3
.2

.4
.8
.1
.7

17.30

19.11

3.6

4.4

7.60
2.90
1.80
1.70
1.10
2.20

8.06
.92
.62
1.42
1.31
6.78

1.6
,6
.4
.4
.2
.5

1.9
.2
.1
.3
.3
1.6

Paints and chemical compounds ___
Paints _______________________
Putty, caulk and glazing _______
Not elsewhere classified _______

8.60
6.00
.90
1.70

8.50
6.05
.80
1.65

1.8
1.3
.2
.4

2.0
1.4
.2
.4

Petroleum products _________ ______
Asphalt shingles ______________
Asphalt paving _______________
Asphalt and tar pitches _______
Asphalt felts _________________
Not elsewhere classified
____

8.00
2.60
2.40
1.20
1.10
.70

9.60
2.62
2.39
.80
1.39
2.40

1.7
.5
.5
.3
.2
.1

2.2
.6
.6
.2
.3
.6

All other ________________________
Nursery products ____________
Not elsewhere classified _______

8.50
5.10
3.40

7.53
2.93
4.60

1.8
1.1
.7

1.8
.7
1.1

Construction equipment ----------------

25.20

15.30

5.3

3.5

Heating, ventilating and air
conditioning _____ ____________
Radiators, connectors, boilers and
hot water tanks
__________
Unit heater and ventilators
Storage tanks __________
Warm air furnaces _______ ___
Pumps _______________________
Not elsewhere classified _______

1960

1968

1.1
.9

Table 11. Total cost of materials, equipment, and supplies for each 100 square feet of new public housing construction,
1960 and 1968
Selected products and
product groups

Per 100 sq. ft.

Percentage

1960

1968

1960

1968

507.32

660.55

100.0

100.0

Stone, clay and glass products _____
141.51
Cement, concrete and gypsum
90.68
products ___________________
Ready mix _______________
50.73
15.91
Gypsum products__________
12.18
Concrete block and bricks-_
Cem ent__________________
5.45
2.56
Concrete pipe ____________
Precast concrete __________
2.03
Lime ____________________
1.82

168.61

27.9

25.5

108.02
57.00
14.87
14.29
10.56
1.86
8.68
.76

17.9
10.0
3.1
2.4
1.1
.5
.4
.4

16.4
8.6
2.3
2.2
1.6
.3
1.3
.1

30.23

32.63

6.0

4.9

24.24
2.35
1.82
1.82

20.93
2.79
6.77
2.15

4.8
.5
.4
.4

3.2
.4
1.0
.3

20.61

27.96

4.1

4.2

5.55
3.95

7.60
4.96

1.1
.8

1.2
.8

3.31
2.99

4.37
1.49

.7
.6

.7
.2

2.78
2.03

2.27
7.28

.5
.4

.3
1.1

115.77

149.07

22.8

22.6

85.66

98.86

16.9

15.0

30.65

22.07

6.0

3.3

16.13
9.19

19.18
12.98

3.2
1.8

2.9
2.0

8.44

8.05

1.7

1.2

7.69
8.44
2.88
2.24

16.03
5.48
13.93
1.14

1.5
1.7
.6
.4

2.4
.8
2.1
.2

Other metal products ________
Copper (sheet metal and
pipe) --------------------------N a ils ____________________
Galvanized sheet metal ____
Metal casew ork___________
Not elsewhere classified___

18.69

39.24

3.7

5.9

11.21
2.56
2.03
1.71
1.17

22.33
1.51
9.83
2.48
3.09

2.2
.5
.4
.3
.2

3.4
.2
1.5
.4
.5

Other fabricated metal products Builders hardware ________
Not elsewhere classified___

11.43
11.32
.11

10.97
10.93
.05

2.3
2.2

1.7
1.7

Total cost— all products

Structural clay products _______
Brick and structural
clay tile _______________
Clay sewer pipe ________
Ceramic tile _____________
Not elsewhere classified___
Other stone, clay, and glass
products ___________________
Asphalt tile (including vinyl
asbestos) ___ ___________
Sand and gravel __________
Fibre glass insulation (in­
cluding acoustical tile) ...
Window glass ____________
Crush rock, slag, mis­
cellaneous aggregate
Not elsewhere classified ___
Metal products

__________________

Fabricated structural metal
products_______________
Reinforcing bars, rods,
Joists _________________
Metal windowframes and
accessories ____________
Ornamental metal _________
Metal doors, frames and
accessories _________ __Fabricated sheet
metal, formed metal
roof, decks, metal forms
Metal lath and wire mesh ..
Structural steel ___________
Not elsewhere classified

_

_

• Selected products and
product groups

Per 100 sq. ft.

|1

Percentage

1960

1968

1960

1968

Lumber and lumber products _______
Rough and dressed lumber _____
Millwork
___ __
______
Fabricated structural laminates __
Plywood ____________________
Not elsewhere classified _______

71.77
28.41
27.88
9.19
5.34
.96

94.99
41.23
40.62
.03
7.43
5.68

14.1
5.6
5.5
1.8
1.1
.2

14.4
6.2
6.1

Plumbing products _______________
Fixtures _____ ______________
Steel and galvanized pipe _____
Cast iron pipe ___ ___________
Valves and specialties_________
Not elsewhere classified . _

50.95
18.58
12.50
10.57
8.54
.75

66.29
23.33
10.82
14.76
12.30
5.07

10.0
3.7
2.5
2.1
1.7
.1

10.0
3.5
1.6
2.2
1.9
.8

Fixed house equipment ____________
Refrigerators _________________
Elevators and moving s t a ir s ____
Ranges ______________________
Venetian b lin d s___ ____________
Not elsewhere classified_______

30.76
10.89
10.57
6.19
1.60
1.50

38.02
11.96
13.32
8.75
2.07
1.92

6.1
2.1
2.1
1.2
.3
.3

5.8
1.8
2.0
1.3
.3
.3

24.35
6.30
4.27
3.84
3.63

52.18
5.86
9.19
8.13
15.43

4.8
1.2
.8
.8
.7

7.9
.9
1.4
1.2
2.3

2.24
1.71
1.39
.96

2.94
5.05
.94
4.63

.4
.3
.3
.2

.4
.8
.1
.7

18.48

29.09

3.6

4.4

8.12
3.10
1.92
1.82
1.17
2.35

12.27
1.40
.94
2.16
1.99
10.32

1.6
.6
.4
.4
.2
.5

1.9
.2
.1
.3
.3
1.6

Paints and chemical compounds ___
Paints ______________________
Putty, caulk and glazing
Not elsewhere classified ..

9.19
6.41
.96
1.82

12.94
9.21
1.22
2.51

1.8
1.3
.2
.4

2.0
1.4
.2
.4

Petroleum products _____________
Asphalt shingles _____________
Asphalt paving ___ ____________
Asphalt and tar pitches ______
Asphalt felts _________________
Not elsewhere classified ____

8.54
2.78
2.56
1.28
1.17
.75

14.61
3.99
3.64
1.22
2.12
3.65

1.7
.5
.5
.3
.2
.1

2.2
.6
.6
.2
.3
.6

9.08
5.45
3.63
26.91

11.46
4.46
7.00
23.29

1.8
1.1
.7
5.3

1.7
.7
1.1
3.5

Electrical equipment, fixtures and
wire _ _ . ___ ________________
Conduit______________________
Light fixtures_________________
Switchboard and panel _________
Wire and cable ___ ___ _____
Other non-current carrying wire
devices
___ __ ____ _
Current carrying devices _____
Electricity generating units
Not elsewhere classified
Heating, ventilating and air
conditioning ___________________
Radiators, convectors, boilers
and hot water tanks _______
Unit heater and ventilators ___
Storage tanks _______________
Warm air furnaces ___________
Pumps _ _________________ __
Not elsewhere classified _____

All

other _______________________
Nursery products _____________
Not elsewhere classified ..
Construction equipment ...... ......

1.1
.9

NOTE: Details may not add to totals due to rounding.

Regional differences

The preceding sections refer to data on a national
basis. In this section, regional data will be pre­
sented, but the analysis is limited largely to the
data developed from the 1968 study, as the earlier
survey did not always provide comparable statis­
tics for the four geographic regions.
Table 12 depicts the man-hour requirements by
construction cost group and by type of structural
frame for the United States and the four geographic




regions.12 For each $1,000 of construction contract
“ Table provides data for each characteristic on three
bases: per $1,000 of cost, 1,000 square feet, and dwelling
unit. Usually, one characteristic when compared with
another will rank on the same level regardless of which
of the bases is used for the comparison. However, where
there is a divergence, the preferred base is per $1,000 of
cost. The other two bases, i.e., per 1,000 square feet and per
dwelling unit, are attempting to measure physical factors
that cannot be held constant. That is, the content of a 1,000
square feet unit and a dwelling unit may vary among the
projects surveyed. However, all three measures are pre­
sented, so that the reader may use them to analyze the data
in accordance with his special requirements.

cost the onsite man-hours required in the North
Central and Southern regions exceeded the national
requirements of 80 man-hours; in the North East
and Western regions they were fewer.

in the other region, i.e., the West, were concentrated
to such an extent in one value class as to make a
valid comparison between classes impossible.
Furthermore, nationally, reinforced concrete was
the most labor efficient type of structural frame 14
when measured by the man-hours expended per
$1,000 and per dwelling. This was true on all three
bases of comparison in the North Eastern and
North Central regions. In the other two regions,
i.e., the South and the West, wood made the least
labor intensive type of structural frame, measured
on all three bases.
Also, three-fourths of the projects in the value
group under $1 million had masonry frames, but
the two higher value groups were dominated by proj­
ects with reinforced concrete frames. Thus, since
75 percent of the projects in the lowest value group
had the more labor intensive masonry framework,
this value group would be expected to be the most
labor intensive. Actually, it is more labor efficient
than the next larger value group, but less labor sav­
ing than the largest value group. Thus, neither the
economies of scale nor the type of frame completely
explain the distribution of man-hour requirements
in the Northeast region. Obviously, there are exo­
genous factors involved that were not measured by
the survey.
In the Southern region, projects with the larger
construction contract values used fewer man-hours
per $1,000, per square foot, and per dwelling unit.
For example, the average man-hours per $1,000 were
98.3 for projects where the construction contract was
valued at under $1 million. This average declined to

Details on regional onsite man-hours

When the projects in the Northeast region were
grouped according to the value of the construction
contract, and compared on all three bases, the high­
est value group, i.e., $2,000,000 and over, showed
the lowest expenditure of onsite man-hours. How­
ever, the next lowest onsite level of man-hours
went with the lowest value group. The middle value
group showed the greatest use of onsite man-hours.
This mixed picture cannot be clarified by crossreference to the section of the table which classi­
fies the projects by type of frame.
Table 12 shows that all the projects except one
had a frame of either reinforced concrete or mas­
onry.13 The projects with reinforced concrete frames
used less onsite labor than the ones constructed of
masonry. However, the difference is riot significant, as
shown in the following tabulation:
Man-hours per
Frame

1,000
current
dollars

1,000 square
feet

Dwelling
unit

66.2
68.9

1,081
1,191

916
930

Reinforced
concrete
Masonry

Data for the United States and three of the four
regions also show the expected economies of scale
associated with the larger projects. The projects

14
The structural frame is the skelton of the building. This
provides the building shape and is the support for the
outer walls, the floors, and ceiling.

13Masonry framework is constructed of stone, brick, or
concrete block.

Table 12. Onsite man-hour requirements for public housing construction, by selected characteristics and region, 1968
Un'*ed States

|

Northeast

|

North Central

|

South

|

West

Man-hours per—
$1,000 1,000 Dwell­
square
ing
of
co st1 feet
unit

$1,000
of
cost1

1,000
square
feet

Dwell­
ing
unit

$1,000 1,000 Dwell­
ing
of square
co st1 feet
unit

$1,000
of
co st1

1,000 Dwell­
square
ing
feet
unit

$1,000
of
co st1

1,000 Dwell­
square ing
feet unit

All projects _________

79.6

1,212

983

66.9

1,107

920

86.3

1,452

1,036

90.5

1,216

1,033

62.8

949

741

Construction cost group:
Under $1,000,000 ______
$1,000,000— $1,999,999
$2,000,000 and o v e r ____

91.3
81.5
60.5

1,346
1,296
912

1,067
1,008
771

68.0
73.7
63.2

1,245
1,365
982

1,015
1,021
859

94.4

1,771

1,264

76.3

1,237

880

1,043
1,041
1,014

675

(2)

1,284
1,180
1,157

804

(2)

98.3
88.0
83.2

53.0

(2)

73.7
86.0

1,224
1,203

953
1,026

66.2
68.9

1,081
1,191

916
930

__

85.5

1,449

1,005

(2)

(2)

(2)

84.7

1,247

1,015

(2)

(2)

Type of structural frame:
Reinforced concrete ____
Masonary _____________
Steel _________________
Wood _________ ________
1 In current dollars.




__

(2D

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

__

(2)

(2)

(2)

68.1

1,126

94.5

1,218

1,067

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2 )

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

97.6

1,917

1,339

84.5

1,147

2 Insufficient data.

964

53.0

__
804

742
(2)

675

83.2 man-hours for the projects in the $2 million and
over value group.
The predominant types of structural frames in the
Southern region were masonry and wood in that
order. With respect to projects having these two
types of framework, those with wood frames used
significantly less onsite labor as the following tabu­
lation shows:
Man-hours per
Frame
Wood
Masonry

1,000
current
dollars
84.5
94.5

1,000 square
feet
1,147
1,218

Dwelling
unit
964
1,067

The North Central region shows the same pat­
tern as the South as regards the relationship be­
tween the value of the construction contract and the
amount of onsite labor. That is, the larger projects
used less labor per $1,000, per 1,000 square feet,
and per dwelling unit.
The major types of framework used in this region
were reinforced concrete and wood in that order.
The reinforced concrete projects required consider­
ably less onsite labor, as shown in the following
tabulation:
Man-hours per
Frame
Reinforced
concrete
W o o d ...........

1,000
current
dollars
85.5
97.6

1,000 square
feet

Dwelling
unit

1,449
1,917

1,005
1,339

Most of the projects having reinforced concrete
frames were valued at $1 million or more, but all
of the wooden projects cost less than $1 million.
Therefore, it is not possible to ascribe the use of less
onsite labor in the construction of the projects with
concrete frames to the use of this material. That
is, some if not all of the labor saving may have been
due to economies of scale.
The projects surveyed in the West were concen­
trated to such an extent in the lower value cost
group that the other value groups did not contain
a sufficient number of projects to allow a meaningful
comparison.
The major types of structural framework in the
West were wood, followed by reinforced concrete.
All the wooden framed projects were in the under $1
million value group. Also, no other projects were in
this value group. There is a sharp difference in




the man-hours per $1,000, 1,000 square feet, or
dwelling unit. For wood, the figure is 53.0 man­
hours per $1,000, compared with 68.1 for rein­
forced concrete.
Occupations

Carpenters constituted the leading skilled oc­
cupation in the survey. Of course, they were more
predominant in those regions where wood was a
major type of structural framework. However, re ­
gardless of the type of framework, carpenters per­
formed a major portion of the onsite hours, be ­
cause carpenters were required in several operations.
These ranged from building the forms for concrete
construction to laying floors, and installing doors.
The percentage of total onsite hours performed
by skilled tradesmen had increased in all regions
between 1960 and 1968. The South during both
time periods used the smallest percentage of skilled
tradesmen. Furthermore, the South exceeded all the
other regions in the percent of onsite man-hours
provided by laborers. On the other hand, the West
exhibits the reverse of the picture shown by the
South, i.e., it led the regions in the use of skilled
trades during both time periods.
Since the skilled workers receive a higher wage
rate than laborers, those regions using a higher
percentage of skilled man-hours might be expected
to exhibit higher average hourly earnings. Analy­
sis of the tables following shows that this is not
necessarily true.
Skilled man-hours as a percent of total onsite
man-hours, by region, were:
Region
West
Northeast
North Central
__________
South _______________________

Percentage
1960
70.5
68.3
66.5
51.7

1968
74.5
69.1
67.6
58.1

On the other hand, average hourly earnings by
region, 1960 and 1968, were:
Region
I9 6 0
Northeast
West ___________________________
3.63
North Central _
South

1968
3.84 5.14
4.80
3.51 4.18
2.36 3.16

A comparison of the regional rankings above
shows that the North Central and Southern regions
ranked third and fourth in both tables for the two
time periods. However, the West ranked first in the

use of skilled labor but second as regards average
hourly earnings. The Northeast, however, placed
second in skilled labor and first in average hourly
earnings. Since wage rates in metropolitan areas
tended to be higher than those in nonmetropolitan
areas, a major reason for the Northeast rate during
1968 was that 13 of the 14 sample projects in that
region were located in metropolitan areas.
The tabulation below demonstrates that during
1968, when ranked by metropolitan concentration,
the Northeast was first, followed by the West in
second place:
N um ber of projects
Region
Northeast
North C entral____
South _
____
West
____ .

M etropolitan Nonm etropolitan
13
1
6
4
7
9
6
2

In addition, average hourly earnings are corre­
lated with extent of unionization. The West and
Northeast tend to be more highly unionized than
the South and North Central regions.
Comparison with other surveys

Man-hour requirements for public housing per
$1,000 of contract costs tend to fall near the upper
limit when compared with other types of building
construction studied in the BLS Construction La­
bor Requirements Studies between 1965 and 1970

closer to the level for hospitals and schools than for
single-family housing. (See table 13.)15 Onsite man­
hour requirements are higher for public housing
than for any other type of construction studied in­
dicating the more labor intensive nature of public
housing construction.
In terms of occupational requirements, public
housing construction differs little from hospitals and
schools studied in the BLS series. Table 14 shows
that hospital construction requires more plumbers
because of the greater amount of specialized plumb­
ing work required. Public housing and schools have
virtually the same plumbing requirements and are
second only to hospitals, in this respect. In addi­
tion, public housing employs more operating en­
gineers indicating that more heavy equipment is
used in this work. This is borne out by capital
equipment expenditures shown in table 15. The cost
figures shown in this table further indicate that the
proportion of onsite wages for public housing was
the highest for any type of building construction,
another reflection of the labor intensive nature of the
work.
15
In comparing the public housing construction survey
with other surveys of construction labor requirements, it
must be kept in mind that the studies cover different time
periods. Furthermore, comparisons cannot be reasonably
made with heavy construction (i.e. highways, sewers and
civil works) which is entirely different from building con­
struction in man-hour and material requirements and in the
nature of construction activity.

Table 13. Distribution of total man-hours per 1,000 current dollars of contract cost by industry and type of construction,
1958-70
Year of
construc­
tion

Type of construction
Initial studies:
Federally aided highways _____
Federal office buildings ______
Elementary and secondary
schools __________________
Civil Works:
Land projects
Dredging _______________
Public h o u sin g____ ________
General hospitals ___________
College housing _____________
Single-family housing ________
Sewer Works:
Lines
Plants

Total
man­
hours

Onsite
construc­
tion

1958
1959

237
227

97
97

1959

222

Offsite
construc­
tion

Manufac­
turing

Wholesale trade,
transportation,
and services

10
12

66
72

39
31

24
16

86

10

74

32

19

201
237
236
210
226
202

85
134
114
89
94
72

6
11
14
11
11
12

53
57
62
79
73
61

35
23
29
19
30
31

22
12
18
13
17
26

211
210

86
83

7
7

74
72

29
32

16
16

188
178
160
137
136

72
76
80
52
56

9
10
14
10
7

65
64
42
41
40

26
18
16
20
23

15
10
8
14
9

Mining and
all other

1959-60
1959-60
1959-60
1960-61
1962
1962-63

__

___

Recycled studies:
Elementary and secondary
schools __________________
General hospitals ____________
Public housing _ ____________
Single-family housing ________
Federally-aided highways _____




1964-65
1965-66
1968
1969
1970

Table 14. Distribution of onsite man-hours per 1,000 current dollars of contract cost by occupation and type of con­
struction, 1958-70

Type of
construction

Initial studies:
Federally aided
highways1 ____
Federal office
buildings_______
Elementary and
secondary
schools -

Year
of
con­
struc­
tion

Other
Other
occupa­
skilled Laborers, tions
Operat­
Plast­
Iron
ing
erers Plumb­ construc­ helpers (includ­
Brick­ Carpen­ Elec­
ing
tion
and
tricians workers engi­ Painters and
ers
layers ters
truck
tenders
trades
neers
lathers
drivers)

10.4

1959

100.0

6.0

5.2

12.6

9.1

4.2

2.4

2.1

3.8

8.7

11.8

32.5

1.5

1959

100.0

3.9

9.3

18.7

7.1

28

1.9

3.3

2.7

9.4

7.9

29.1

4.0

10.1
4.7
4.0
3.9
3.4

3.1

1959-60
1959-60
1960-61

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

7.6
5.4
10.0

19.1
13.2
16.9

4.1
8.8
6.6

24.1
1.1
2.7
1,6
1.7

4.4
2,8
3.6

6.8
6.2
3.4

7.8
14.2
9.7

6.9
1.7
6.5
12,0
7.8

23.0
1.7
30.9
26.7
31.8

26.4
4 90.8
4.0
1.7
1.1

1962

100.0

3.0

5.5

34.6

2.8

1.4

9.5

2.0

5.2

12.2

23.3

.5

100.0
100.0

10.1
9.0

1.3
2.0

2.4
14.3

.1
3.3

.4
3.9

19.6
14.6

1.5

.4
5.1

2.7
6.6

44.5
31.7

18.5
8.0

1964-65
1965-66
1968

100.0
100.0
100.0

3.6
3.2
3.6

9.2
5.0
7.8

16.5
13.0
20.3

7.3
9.9
5.8

3.1
3.1
3.5

2.7
1.8
3.1

3.5
2.6
4.9

2.0
6.1
3.0

9.6
15.6
9,3

10.1
13.1
6.6

30.9
25.7
30.2

1.5
.7
1.9

1969

100.0

2.8

5.7

34.9

3.0

1.8

7.3

1.7

4.3

20.0

27.9

.5

1970

100,0

6.2

---

--

--

---

2 47.0

---

3 46.8

Sewer works:
L in e s ________
Plants

1962-63

____

_

6.4

1 Detail by occupation not available.
2 Excludes apprentices and on-the-job trainees.
3 Includes apprentices and on-the-job trainees and laborers, helpers and
tenders.

Table 15.

3 51.4

100.0

1959-60

2 38.2

_

1958

Civil works;
Land projects
Dredging ____
Public housing ___
General hospitals
College housing
Singie-family
housing ___

Recycled studies:
Elementary and
secondary
schools ________
General hospitals
Public housing ___
Single-family
housing . ______
Federally aided
highways1 ____

Adminis­
All
trative
occupa­
and
tions
super­
visory

2.1
3.5
3.9

_

4 Includes mostly ships masters, captains, mates, crewmen, and support
personnel.

Percent distribution of contract costs, by type of construction, 1958-70

Type of construction
Initial studies:
Federally aided highways __________
Federal office buildings ___ ______
Elementary and secondary schools
Civil works:
Land projects ____________ ______
Dredging ______________________
Public h o u sin g__________ ___________
General hospitals ___________________
College housing ____________________
Single-family housing2 ______________
Sewer works:
Lines _________________________
Plants ________________________
Recycled studies:
Elementary and secondary schools
General hospitals __ ___________ ...
Public housing ___________________
Single-family housing2 ______________
Federally aided highways ___________

Year of
construction
1958
1959
1959

Total

Materials

Equipment

Overhead
and
profit1

100.0
100.0
100.0

23.9
29.0
26.7

50.6
51.4
54.1

(3)
1.9
1.4

25.5
17.7
17.8

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

26.0
32.3
35.5
28.2
29.3
22.1

35.0
17.3
45.0
53.2
52.6
47.2

19.3
24.9
2.5
1.2
1.6
1.0

19.7
25.5
17.0
17.4
16.5
29.7

100.0
100.0

24.3
26.6

44.5
49.2

11.2
8.2

20.0
16.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

25.8
29.6
32.4
20.4
25.6

54.2
50.4
41.9
43.4
45.0

1.0
1,3
1.5
.9
(3)

19.0
18.7
24.2
35.3
29.4

1959-60
1959-60
1959-60
1960-61
1962
1962-63

1964-65
1965-66
1968
1969
1970

1 Includes offsite wages, fringes, construction financing costs, inventory
and other overhead and administrative expenses as well as profit.




Onsite
wages

2 Includes selling expenses,
3 Equipment included with overhead and profit.

Materials, on the other hand, comprise a smaller
percentage of costs in public housing than for other
studies. For public housing construction, the largest
materials expenditures were made for stone, clay
and glass products; metal products; lumber and
wood products; and plumbing products. These four
groups accounted for over 70 percent of materials
used in public housing for both surveys. The capital
equipment expenditures (construction equipment)

were higher for public housing than for all other
types of building construction studied with the ex­
ception of federal office buildings. (See table 16.)
Thus, public housing construction is capital intensive
as well as labor intensive. This unexpected com­
bination of characteristics could result from the fact
that turnkey projects, which are said to be more effi­
ciently constructed, were excluded from the cur­
rent survey.

Table 16. Percent distribution of materials, equipment and supplies per 1,000 current dollars of construction contract
cost by type of material, and construction studied, 1958-70

Type of construction

Initial studies:
Federally aided highways .
Federal office buildings Elementary and secondary
schools __________________
Civil works:
Land projects ___________
Dredging
._ _
_____
Public housing ___ _ _
___
General hospitals ____________
College housing _____________
Single-family housing ________
Sewer works:
Lines
Plants ___ ___
Recycled studies:
Elementary and secondary
schools _ ________________
General hospitals ___________
Public housing ____________
Single-family housing
____
Federally aided highways
1 None reported.
2 Estimated.




Year
of
con­
struction

Metal
Stone, prod­
Heating,
clay ucts
ventilat­
Petro­
leum
and (except Plumbing ing, & airprod­ glass as indi­ products condition­
ing equip­
ucts
prod­ cated
ment (exc.
ucts
else­
electric)
where)

Elec­
trical
prod­
ucts

Construc­
tion
All
equip­
other
ment
mate­
Other
(rental
rials,
fixed
cost &
equip­ deprecia­ equip­
ment
tion or ment &
equiva­ supplies
lent
value)

Total
materials
and
euipment

Lumber
and
wood
prod­
ucts

Paint
and
chemi­
cals

1958
1959

100.0
100.0

1.8
3.3

t1)
.9

17.1
.9

28.1
22.2

19.5
25.1

5.1

0)
12.3

(*)
18.2

w
8.0

2 19.2
3.5

14.4
.5

1959
1959-60

100.0

8.6

1.4

2.0

24.4

28.9

5.8

9.6

10.9

2.9

2.5

3.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

4.0
N.R.
14.1
4.2
10.7
40.0

3.8
3.9
1.8
.8
1.1
2.1

12.6
28.1
1.7
.9
1.1
2.3

25.5
.2
27.9
19.4
26.6
24.2

15.6
7.5
22.8
26.4
28.2
11.4

.3
N.R.
10.0
8.7
7.7
5.6

.1
N.R.
3.6
9.8
5.9
3.8

.2
.4
4.8
11.0
8.3
3.6

.2
.2
6.1
16.3
6.9
2.8

35.5
59.0
5.3
2.1
2.9
2.0

2.2
.7
1.7
.5
.7
2.0

100.0
100.0

0.8
1.6

.4
1.0

3.0
1.8

60.5
19.0

11.1
27.6

0)
.4

0)
2.0

.6
8.3

3.1
23.3

20.2
14.2

0)
.6

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
3 100.0

9.4
4.7
14.4
40.6
1

1.0
.8
2.0
1.8

2.3
.8
2.2
1.8
17

24.0
18.1
25.5
21.5
32

24.8
22.9
22.6
9.4
18

7.2
10.3
10.0
6.9

9.6
9.8
4.4
4.2
(*)

6.8
16.1
5.8
2.5
W

2.8
2.5
3.5
1.9
2 19

2.4
1.8
1.8
5.5
13

____

1959-60
1959-60
1960-61
1962
1962-63

1964-65
1965-66
1968
1969
1970

i 1)

Percentage calculated from rounded data.

9.8
12.2
7.9
3.9
i 1)

Appendix A. Scope and Method of Survey
This study was designed primarily to develop es­
timates of man-hour requirements associated with
construction of federally aided, public housing proj­
ects. The survey collected data concerning man-hour
and material expenditures associated with the con­
struction of these projects.
Characteristics of the universe and
selection of the sample

A complete listing of all public housing projects
sponsored by the Housing Assistance Administra­
tion of the Department of Housing and Urban De­
velopment, as of June 30, 1967, was obtained. This
publication, Consolidated Development Directory
(Report S-11A), lists for all projects as of that date,
location, number of dwelling units, date when avail­
able for occupancy and other pertinent data. The
universe from which the sample was drawn consis­
ted of 354 projects scheduled to be completed dur­
ing the period January 1967 through March 1968.
These projects were stratified by the four broad geo­
graphical regions1 and several construction cost
classes. A sample of 48 projects, approximately one
for each seven projects in the universe, was selected.
Man-hour estimates

Estimates of total man-hour requirements for
public housing construction were derived by com­
bining estimates of onsite and offsite man-hours.
Onsite man-hours were obtained from payrolls
submitted by the contractors under the provisions
of the Davis-Bacon Act. These were checked for
1 The States included in each of the regions were as
follows: Northeast—Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Is­
land, and Vermont; North Central—Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin; South—Ala­
bama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North
Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia and West Virginia;—and West—Arizona, Cali­
fornia, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.




completeness by interviews with the contractors and
their subcontractors. Estimates were made for unob­
tainable missing data. The contractors were also re­
quested to furnish onsite employment data for occu­
pations not covered by the Davis-Bacon Act, such
as supervisory, technical, and clerical personnel and
self-employed subcontractors (working proprietors).
Offsite man-hour requirements represent the hours
required to produce and distribute the material,
supplies and equipment used in construction. Esti­
mation of these hours started with a listing of the
value of all such items. These data were obtained
by the BLS field representatives from each prime
contractor and his subcontractors. For a relatively
small number of subcontractors, who were out of
business or otherwise inaccessible, or uncooperative,
or whose contracts were exceedingly small, esti­
mates of materials used were prepared on the ba­
sis of reports for similar jobs.
The materials listings thus obtained were classi­
fied into categories, consistent with the 4-digit
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) as found in
the Census of Manufactures product groups. For
each of these groups, the average amounts required
for $1,000 of construction were calculated. This bill
of materials was deflated to the 1958 price level so
that the 1958 interindustry study of the Bureau of
Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce
could be used.
Each of these deflated averages was reduced by
a ratio representing the difference between the price
at which the manufacturer sold the materials and
the price the contractor paid for them— the differ­
ence being apportioned between the trade and trans­
portation sectors. The resulting values were matched
with the interindustry study to determine the total
man-years of employment, required in each industry
sector during 1968 to produce the materials used.
The man-years for each industry were multiplied
by the average annual hours for all employees in
that industry during 1968 listed in the Labor De­
partment publication, Employment and Earnings Sta­
tistics.

These man-hours per $1,000 of construction con­
tract cost, were converted to per 100 square feet of
construction by determining the cost per square foot
of construction. An estimate was also developed for
the hours worked by the offsite employees of the
construction industry. The estimate for these hours




is based on the difference between the proportion of
all nonconstruction workers in the general building
contract construction industry as reported in the
BLS employment trend series, and the proportion
of on-site nonconstruction man-hours as developed
in this study.

Appendix B. Bibliography
The following are publications of the construction
labor requirements studies, Office of Productivity
and Technology, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Sales publications may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Wash­
ington, D.C. 20402, or from Regional Offices of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Free
copies may be obtained, so long as supply lasts, from the Bureau’s Office of Productivity
and Technology, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. 20212.

Bulletins, Reports, and Articles
Civil works construction

Labor and Material Requirements for Civil Works
Construction by the Corps of Engineers (BLS
Bulletin 1390), 1964, 28 pp.
A statistical study of onsite and offsite man­
hour and wage requirements for dredging and
land-type projects in the U.S. Corps o f En­
gineers’ civil works program from 1959 to
1960.

College housing construction

Labor and Material Requirements for College
Housing Construction (BLS Bulletin 1441),
May 1965, 34 pp.
A report based on findings in a survey of 43
college housing projects which were adminis­
tered by the Community Facilities Administra­
tion. The survey is designed primarily to de­
termine the man-hours required for $1,000
of college housing construction.
Miller, Stanley F., “Labor and Material
Required for College Housing,” M onthly Labor
R eview , September 1965, pp. 1100-04. A sum­
mary of BLS Bulletin 1441.

Discussion of labor and material trends
in highway construction between 1958 and
1970.

Labor and Material Requirements for Construction
of Federally-Aided Highways, 1958, 1961,
and 1964 (BLS Report No. 299), 17 pp.
Study providing measures for 1958, 1961,
and 1964 of the labor and material require­
ments for federally-aided highways, with sep­
arate measures of the requirements for onsite
and offsite construction. For onsite construc­
tion, the study also provides a comparison
of annual man-hour requirements for 1947-64.

Kutscher, Ronald E. and Waite, Charles A., “Labor
Requirements for Highway Construction,”
Monthly Labor Review, August 1961, 4 pp„
Summary of findings of the 1958 highway
survey.

Wakefield, Joseph C., “Labor and Material Re­
quirements: Highway Construction, 1958 and
1961”, Monthly Labor Review, April 1963, pp.
394-98.
A summary comparison of the 1958 and
1961 highway surveys.

Federally aided highways
Federal office building construction

Ball, Robert, “Labor and Materials Required for
Highway Construction,” Monthly Labor R e­
view, June 1973, pp. 40-45.




Labor Requirements for Federal Office Building Con­
struction (BLS Bulletin 1331), 1962, 43 pp.

A statistical study of onsite and offsite
labor requirements for constructing 22 Federal
office building projects in various localities of
the United States over a 3-year period from the
fall of 1957 to 1960.

Rothberg, Herman J., “Labor and Material Require­
ments for One-Family Housing,” Monthly La­
bor Review, July 1964, pp. 797-800.

Murray, Roland V., “Labor Requirements for Fed­
eral Office Building Construction,” Monthly
Labor Review, August 1962, pp. 889-93.

Labor and Material Requirements for Construction
of Private Single-Family Houses (BLS Bulle­
tin 1755), 1972, 30 pp.

A summary of BLS Bulletin 1331.

Hospital construction

Labor Requirements for Hospital Construction
(BLS Bulletin 1340), 1962, 46 pp.
A statistical study of onsite and offsite labor
requirements for construction of selected pub­
lic and private, profit and non-profit, general
hospitals in various localities of the United
States between m id-1958 and m id-1959.

Rothberg, Herman J., “Labor Requirements for
Hospital Construction, 1959-60,” Monthly La­
bor Review, October 1962, pp. 1120-24:
A summary of BLS Bulletin 1340.

Labor and Material Requirements for Hospital and
Nursing Home Construction. (BLS Bulletin
1691), 1971, 50 pp.
A study similar to the one done in 1962
but with data shown per square foot as well
as per $1,000 of construction contract. Covers
hospitals and nursing homes constructed in
1965-66.

Riche, Martha Farnsworth, “Man-hour Require­
ments Decline in Hospital Construction,
Monthly Labor Review, November 1970,
page 48.
Summary of BLS Bulletin 1691.

Private housing construction

Labor and Material Requirements for Private OneFamily House Construction (BLS Bulletin
1404), 1964, 37 pp.
A statistical study of onsite and offsite labor
requirements for constructing a sample of onefamily houses build in 1962 in various locali­
ties of the United States.




A summary of BLS Bulletin 1404.

Updates Bulletin 1404.

Ball, Robert and Ludwig, Larry, “Labor Require­
ments for Construction of Single-Family
Houses,” Monthly Labor Review, September
1971, pp. 12-14.
Summary of a study of labor and material
requirements for single-family housing con­
struction in 1969.

Public housing construction

Labor and Material Requirements for Public Hous­
ing Construction, (BLS Bulletin 1402), May
1964, 42 pp.
A report based on findings of a survey of
31 public housing projects which were ad­
ministered by the Public Housing Adminis­
tration. Projects were selected in various
States to represent four broad geographic
regions of the conterminous United States.

Finn, Joseph T., “Labor Requirements for Public
Housing Construction,” Monthly Labor R e­
view, April 1972, pp. 40-42.
Summary of a study of labor requirements
for public housing construction in 1968.

School construction

Labor Requirements for School Construction, (BLS
Bulletin 1299), 1961, 50 pages.
A study of primary and secondary man­
hours required per $1,000 o f new school con­
struction based on contracts awarded through­
out the United States for 85 elementary and
43 junior and senior high schools.

Epstein, Joseph, and Walker, James F., “Labor Re­
quirements for School Construction,” Monthly
Labor Review, July 1961, pp. 724-30.
A summary of BLS Bulletin 1299.

Labor and Material Requirements for School Con­
struction, June 1968, (BLS Bulletin 1586), 23
pp.
A survey of selected elementary and second­
ary public schools constructed primarily dur­
ing the period of 1964-65. In addition to
providing information on man-hours, the study
also includes data on the types and value o f
materials used, wages paid, occupations and
use of apprentices.

Finn, Joseph T., “Labor Requirements for School
Construction,” Monthly Labor Review, August
1968, pp. 40-43.
A summary of BLS Bulletin 1586.

Discussion of the BLS program of labor
and material requirements and analysis o f the
potential of using data from the program to
measure productivity by type of construction.

Ball, Claiborne M., “Employment Effects of Con­
struction Expenditures,” Monthly Labor R e­
view, February 1965, pp. 154-58.
A summary of the man-hour requirements
broken down by offsite and onsite hours, by
occupation and regions for eight types of con­
struction.

“Construction Labor Requirements,” reprint of
Chapter 28 of The Handbook of Methods for
Surveys and Studies, BLS Bulletin 1711, 1971.
Description of techniques of CLR studies.

Sewer works construction

Labor and Material Requirements for Sewer Works
Construction (BLS Bulletin 1490), 1966, 31
pp.
Study designed to measure the total man­
hours of labor required for each $1,000 of new
sewer facilities construction contract. The basis
for this study was 138 contracts for new sewer
work in the years 1962-63.

Summaries, comparisons, and other papers

Mark, Jerome A., and Ziegler, Martin, “Measur­
ing Labor Requirements for Different Types
of Construction,” Paper before the Conference
on the Measurement of Productivity in the Con­
struction Industry, Sponsored by the National
Commission on Productivity and the Construc­
tion Industry Collective Bargaining Commis­
sion, September 14, 1972, Washington, D.C.




Ziegler, Martin, “BLS Construction Labor Require­
ments Program,” paper before the North Amer­
ican Conference on Labor Statistics, San Juan,
Puerto Rico, June 1971.
CLR program and objectives are discussed.

Weinberg, Edgar, Mechanization and Automation
of Building Site Work, National Response P a ­
per for the Economic Commission for Europe,
Committee on Housing, Building and Planning,
Third Seminar on the Building Industry, Mos­
cow, October 1970.
Discussion of current technology and labor
requirements at the construction site.

Weinberg, Edgar, “Reducing Skill Shortages in Con­
struction,” Monthly Labor Review, February
1969, pp. 3-9.
Discussion ©f methods for reducing occupa­
tional shortages.

☆ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1974 0 -5 5 1 -2 3 6

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