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labor and material
requirements
for public housing
construction

Bulletin No. 1402
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
W. Willard Wirtz, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Ewan Clague, Commissioner







labor and material
requirements
for public housing
construction

Bulletin No. 1402
May 1964

U N IT E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T OF LABOR
W . W illa r d W i r t z , Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTIC S
Ewan Clague, Commissioner

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C., 20402 - Price 30 cents







P r e fa c e
T h is study o f la b o r and m a te r ia l re q u ire m e n ts fo r co n s tr u c tio n of
p u b lic hou sing is the fifth in a s e r ie s o f stu dies o f v a rio u s types o f c o n s t r u c ­
tion that m ight be a ffe cte d by g o v e rn m e n t a ctio n . P r e v io u s stu dies have b een
m ade o f la b o r and m a te r ia l re q u ire m e n ts fo r s c h o o ls , h ig h w a ys, F e d e r a l
o ffic e b u ild in g s, and h o s p ita ls . C u rre n tly in v a rio u s sta g es o f p re p a ra tio n
a re studies o f c iv il w o rk s a c tiv itie s o f the C o rp s o f E n g in e e rs (su ch as c o n ­
s tru ctio n o f dam s and le v e e s , and d redgin g o f ch a n n els) and oth er seg m en ts
o f the hou sing in d u stry (su ch as p riv a te o n e -fa m ily and c o lle g e student h o u s ­
in g ). O ther stu dies a re in planning sta g e s.
The studies a re being con d u cted in the B u reau o f L a b o r S ta tis tics ,
D iv is io n o f P r o d u c tiv ity M e a su re m e n t, under the g e n e ra l d ir e c t io n o f
L eon G r e e n b e r g , A s s is ta n t C o m m is s io n e r fo r P r o d u c tiv ity and T e c h n o lo g ­
ic a l D e v e lo p m e n ts. T his b u lletin w as p r e p a r e d b y Stanley F . M ille r and
P h ilip Jaynes under the s u p e r v is io n o f Ja m es F . W a lk e r. H erm an J. R oth berg
w as in ch a rg e o f c o lle c tin g and tabulating the s ta tis tic a l data.
The B ureau w ish e s to a ck n ow led ge the g e n e ro u s c o o p e r a tio n o f the
H ousing and H om e F in a n ce A g e n cy , the P u b lic H ousing A d m in istra tio n , and
the lo c a l housing a u th o ritie s o f the s e v e r a l States f o r m aking a v a ila b le data
fo r tabu lation to d e te rm in e o n -s ite la b o r re q u ir e m e n ts . The B ureau a lso
w ish es to thank the v a rio u s c o n tr a c to r s who su p p lied data on m a te r ia ls and
equipm ent u se d , fr o m w h ich o f f - s it e la b o r re q u ir e m e n ts w e r e ca lcu la te d .




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CO NTENTS

Page
I n t r o d u c t io n .............................................................................................................
N ature o f the s u r v e y ......................................................................................
G en era l su rv e y fin din gs and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ...........................................
B uilding c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .......................
B uilding c o s t s .................................................................................................
O n -s ite m a n -h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s .............................................................. *
R e q u ire m e n ts by o c c u p a t i o n ......................................................................
A p p re n tice m a n - h o u r s ..................................................................................
G e n e ra l and s p e c ia l tra d e s c o n tr a c to r s m a n - h o u r s ..........................
The c o s t o f d ir e c t w a g e s ..............................................................................
O ff-s it e e m p l o y m e n t ..........................................................................................
B u ild e r s 1 o f f - s it e e m p lo y m e n t ..................................................................
E m p loy m en t in tra n sp o rta tio n , tra d e , and s e r v i c e .........................
" L a s t m a n u fa ctu rin g sta g e 1' e m p l o y m e n t ...........................................
E m p loy m en t in se co n d a ry a c t i v i t i e s ...............................
C o n stru ctio n t i m e .........................................................................................
E m p loy m en t by co n s tr u ctio n p e r i o d s ...................................................
M a te ria ls u s e d .................................................................................................

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A pp en d ix. S cop e and m eth od o f s u r v e y ...................................................
C h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f the u n iv e rse and s e le c tio n o f the sa m ple . .
M a n -h ou r e stim a te s . ..................................................................................
C o lle c tio n o f o n -s ite m a n -h o u r d a t a .......................................................
O ff-s it e m a n - h o u r s ..............................................................
S econ d a ry em p loy m en t in a ll i n d u s t r i e s ...............................................
T ota l m a n -h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s ..................................................

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T a b le s:
1. C ost p er squ are fo o t and p e r d w ellin g unit fo r p u blic
h ou sin g p r o je c t s , by s e le c te d c h a r a c t e r is tic s and
r e g io n , 1959-60 ..................................................................................
2. O n -s ite m a n -h o u r re q u ire m e n ts fo r pu blic h ou sin g p r o je c t s ,
by s e le c te d c h a r a c t e r is tic s and r e g io n , 1959-60 ................
3. O n -s ite m a n -h o u r re q u ire m e n ts p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 fo r p u b lic
h ou sin g p r o je c t s , by p ro p o r tio n o f lo w e r s k ille d m a n ­
h o u rs , re g io n ,a n d type o f s tru ctu re , 1959-60 ........................
4 . O n -s ite m a n -h o u r re q u ire m e n ts p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f p u blic
h ou sin g co n s tr u c tio n c o s t and p e rce n t d istrib u tio n , by
occu p a tio n and r e g io n , 1959-60 ...................................................
5. O n -s ite m a n -h o u r re q u ire m e n ts p er $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f pu b lic
h ou sin g c o n s tr u c tio n c o s t and p e rce n t d istrib u tio n , by
occu p a tio n and type o f stru ctu re , 1959-60 ............................
6. A p p re n tice m a n -h o u rs as a p e rce n t of tota l m a n -h o u rs
w o r k e d on p u b lic h ou sin g co n s tru ctio n , by o ccu p a tio n ,
re g io n ,a n d type o f s tru ctu re , 1959-60 .......................................




in

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C O N T E N T S - - C o n tin u e d

T a b le s --C o n tin u e d
7.
8.

9.

10.

11.

12.
13.

Page

A v e r a g e nu m ber o f s u b co n tr a c to r s p e r p u b lic h ou sin g
p r o je c t , by s e le c te d c h a r a c t e r is t ic s and re g io n ,
1959-60 ...................
P e r c e n t o f tota l o n -s ite m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts fo r pu b lic
hou sin g co n s tr u ctio n , by type o f c o n t r a c t o r , re g io n ,
and type o f s tru ctu re , 1959-60 ...................................................
A v e r a g e o n -s it e e a rn in gs fo r p u b lic h ou sin g
co n s tr u ctio n p r o je c t s , by s e le c te d c h a r a c t e r is t ic s
and re g io n , 1959-60 ......................................
A v e r a g e nu m ber o f w eek s r e q u ir e d fo r co n s tr u ctio n o f
p u b lic h ou sin g p r o je c t s , by s e le c te d c h a r a c t e r is t ic s
and r e g io n , 1959-60 ..........................................................................
P e r c e n t o f o n -s it e em p loy m en t fo r p u blic h ou sing
co n s tr u ctio n in each tenth o f total co n s tr u ctio n tim e ,
by r e g io n and type of stru ctu re, 1959-60 ...............................
C ost o f m a te r ia ls p e r $ 1,000 o f p u blic hou sing
co n s tr u ctio n co n tra ct, by type o f m a te r ia l and
re g io n , 1959-60 .................................................................................
C ost o f m a te r ia ls p e r $ 1 ,000 o f p u blic hou sing
co n s tr u ctio n co n tra ct, by m a jo r m a te r ia ls group
and type o f s tru ctu re , 1959-60

C h a rts:
1. D istrib u tion o f 236 m a n -h o u rs fo r ea ch $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f pu b lic
hou sing c o n s tr u ctio n co n tra ct, 1959-60 ...................................
2. P e r c e n t d istrib u tio n o f o n -s ite w a g es and m a te r ia ls u se d
fo r ea ch $ 1 ,000 o f p u blic hou sin g co n s tr u ctio n
co n tra ct, 1959-60 ..............................................................................
3. P e r c e n t o f o n -s ite m a n -h o u rs w o rk e d in e a ch d e c ile o f
co n s tr u ctio n tim e , 1959-60




IV

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L A B O R AN D M A T E R IA L REQ U IREM EN TS F O R
P U B L IC HOUSING CONSTRUCTION

In trod u ction

N ew c o n s tr u ctio n is a m a jo r com p on en t o f the N a tio n 's output o f
goods and s e r v ic e s and an im p orta n t s o u r c e o f e m p lo y m e n t. J ob s a re c r e a t e d
not o n ly at c o n s tr u c tio n s ite s but a ls o in m a n y m a n u fa ctu rin g, tra d e , s e r v ic e ,
and tra n sp o rta tio n in d u strie s w hich m a k e, s e ll, and d e liv e r m a te r ia ls r e ­
q u ire d in c o n s tr u ctio n p r o c e s s e s . B e ca u se o f its fa r -r e a c h in g em p loy m en t
im p a ct, a v ig o r o u s c o n s tr u c tio n in d u stry is re g a r d e d as a sig n ifica n t a id in
a v oid in g c y c lic a l u n em p loym en t.
The B u reau o f L a b o r S ta tistics has un dertaken a s e r ie s o f stu d ies in
o r d e r to m e a s u r e la b o r re q u ir e m e n ts fo r v a rio u s seg m en ts o f the c o n s t r u c ­
tion in d u stry . C o n stru ctio n o f p u b lic h ou sin g w a s s e le c te d fo r study b e ca u se
this seg m en t r e p r e s e n ts one w h ich co u ld be sig n ifica n tly a ffe c te d by g o v e r n ­
m en ta l a ctio n .
The P u b lic H ousing A d m in istra tio n in its 16th annual r e p o r t in d ica te s
that a s s is ta n c e had b een p ro v id e d , fr o m 1937 through 1962, to m o r e than
1 ,8 0 0 co m m u n itie s fo r co n s tr u ctio n o f about 6 4 5 ,0 0 0 d w ellin g units to p r o ­
vid e su itable liv in g q u a rte rs f o r lo w -in c o m e fa m ilie s . A t the end o f 1962,
som e 11 9,0 00 a d d ition al units w e r e in planning o r c o n s tr u ctio n sta g e s. E x ­
p en d itu res fo r c o n s tr u c tio n o f p u blic h ou sin g (F e d e r a l p r o g r a m s plus State
and lo c a l p r o g r a m s ) am ounted to a p p ro x im a te ly $840 m illio n during 1961.
D u ring the y e a r , about 52, 000 new p u b lic h ou sin g units w e r e sta rte d . Annual
ex p en d itu res fo r new , p riv a te re s id e n tia l units a v e ra g e d $ 1 5 . 6 b illio n o v e r
the p ast 5 y e a r s . P u b lic h ou sin g ex p en d itu res o v e r the sam e p e r io d a v e ra g e d
$ 800 m i l l i o n .1
T he 1 9 6 0 's w ill be y e a r s o f u n p re ce d e n te d p opu lation grow th. H ousing
n eed s w ill in c r e a s e t r e m e n d o u s ly --it is e stim a te d that b y 1969, the annual
net gain in h ou se h o ld fo rm a tio n m a y re a c h 1 .3 m illio n . By 1970, the count
o f h ou seh old s m a y show a net gain fo r the d eca d e o f 9. 2 m illio n . 2
W ith the e x p e c te d a c c e le r a t io n o f p r o g r a m s fo r highw ay co n s tr u ctio n
and fo r u rban re n e w a l, lo s s e s to the p r e s e n tly e x istin g h ou sin g supply can be
e x p e cte d to e x c e e d the 3 0 0 ,0 0 0 a y e a r a v e ra g e fo r the 1 9 5 0 's. Som e p o rtio n
o f 16 m illio n fa m ilie s who w e r e ill-h o u s e d in I960 w ill o f n e c e s s it y be r e ­
h o u se d d u rin g the d e ca d e . C ontinuation o f the v olu m e o f h ou sin g p ro d u ctio n
at the I960 le v e l w ou ld le a v e the co u n try fa r sh ort o f its n e e d s. T o m ake any

^ . S . D ep a rtm en t o f C o m m e r c e , C o n stru ctio n R e v ie w , J u ly 1962.
2H H FA, 16th Annual R e p o rt, 1962, p. 13.




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sig n ifica n t p r o g r e s s to w a rd m e e tin g th ese n e e d s, it is e stim a te d that p r o d u c ­
tion m u st re a ch the annual rate o f 2 m illio n dw ellin g units b y the end o f the
d e ca d e . P u b lic h ou sin g , shou ld it m ain tain its h is t o r ic a l sh a re o f th is ra te ,
w ou ld be p rod u cin g 10 0,0 00 units a n n u a lly .3
T he m a jo r sh are o f our in c r e a s in g hou sing n eed s w ill have to be p r o ­
v id ed by new co n s tr u c tio n . T h is new c o n s tr u ctio n w ill in v o lv e b u ild e rs , p r e ­
fa b r ic a t o r s , m a te r ia l p r o d u c e r s , m o rtg a g e le n d e r s , and o th e rs , as w e ll as
F e d e r a l, State, and lo c a l g o v e rn m e n ts.
N ature o f the S u rv ey
T h is r e p o r t is b a se d on fin d in gs o f a su rv e y o f 31 pu b lic h ou sin g p r o j ­
e c ts w h ich w e r e a d m in is te re d by the P u b lic H ousing A d m in istra tio n . P r o je c t s
w e r e s e le c te d in v a r io u s States to be re p re s e n ta tiv e o f fou r b ro a d g e o g ra p h ica l
r e g io n s o f the co n te rm in o u s U nited S t a t e s .4
T he su rv e y w a s d e sig n e d p r im a r ily to d e te rm in e m a n -h o u rs r e q u ir e d
b y a fix e d d o lla r volu m e ($ 1, 000) o f pu b lic h ou sin g c o n s tr u ctio n . M a n -h o u rs ,
a s d efin ed by the su rv e y , in clu d e both o n -s it e co n s tr u ctio n em p loy m en t and
o f f - s i t e em p loy m en t r e q u ir e d to p ro d u ce and d e liv e r m a te r ia ls u se d in c o n ­
stru c tio n . Data fo r o n -s it e la b o r in clu d e m a n -h o u r s fo r s u p e r v is o r y , e n g i­
n e e rin g , c le r ic a l, and cu sto d ia l e m p lo y e e s at c o n s tr u c tio n site s and th ose
fo r w o r k e r s in ea ch co n s tr u ctio n tra d e . Data w e r e a ls o obtain ed on w a g es
p a id and tim in g o f e m p lo y m e n t. In fo rm a tio n fo r o f f - s it e la b o r in clu d e s e m ­
p loy m en t in a c tiv itie s o f c o n t r a c t o r s such as o ffic e and w a re h o u sin g ; building
m a te r ia ls and equipm ent m a n u fa ctu re and d istrib u tio n ; and fin a lly , e m p lo y ­
m en t in a ll oth er in d u strie s w h ich a re a ffe c te d d ir e c t ly o r in d ir e c tly by p r o ­
d uction and d istrib u tio n o f bu ildin g m a te r ia ls fr o m raw m a te r ia ls to the fin al
m a n u fa ctu rin g sta g e.
C erta in ty p es o f em p loy m en t, h o w e v e r, a re not c o v e r e d by the su rv e y .
M a n -h o u rs expen ded on p re p a ra tio n o f plans and s p e c ific a tio n s fo r p r o je c t s
a re ex clu d ed , as is la b o r tim e in v o lv e d in in sta lla tio n s b y p u b lic u tility e m ­
p lo y e e s , site p re p a ra tio n , la n d sca p in g , and stre e t and se w e r w o r k not c o v e r e d
3H HFA, 14th Annual R e p o r t , I960, p . 16.
4The States in clu d e d in each o f the r e g io n s a re as fo llo w s : N o rth e a st- C on n ecticu t, M a in e, M a ssa ch u se tts, New H a m p sh ire , N ew J e r s e y , New Y o rk ,
P en n sy lv a n ia , R hode Isla n d , and V e rm o n t; N orth C e n t r a l--I llin o is , Indiana,
-Io w a , K a n sas, M ich ig a n , M in n esota , M is s o u r i, N eb ra sk a , N orth D akota, O h io,
South Dakota, and W is c o n s in ; S o u th --A la b a m a , A rk a n s a s , D e la w a re , D is tr ic t
o f C olu m b ia , F lo r id a , G e o r g ia , K entucky, L o u isia n a , M a ry la n d , M is s is s ip p i,
N orth C a ro lin a , O klahom a, South C a ro lin a , T e n n e s s e e , T e x a s , V irg in ia , and
W est V irg in ia ; W e s t --A r iz o n a , C a lifo rn ia , C o lo r a d o , Idaho, M ontana, N evada,
N ew M e x ic o , O re g o n , Utah, W ashington, and W y om in g .




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by c o n s tr u ctio n c o n t r a c t s . E stim a te s w e r e m ade o f la b o r g e n e ra te d by
m on ey expen ded fo r c o n t r a c t o r s 1 o v e rh e a d . The m a jo r p o r tio n o f such o v e r ­
head c o n s is ts o f a d m in istra tiv e s a la r ie s . O v erh ea d it e m s , such as ren t,
b on d s, in s u ra n ce , ta xes (including p a y r o ll ta x e s ), w e lfa r e p a y m e n ts, and
o ffic e su p p lies g e n e ra te r e la tiv e ly little e m p lo y m e n t. E m p loy m en t cre a te d
by the resp en d in g o f w a g es and p r o fits o f w o r k e r s and th e ir e m p lo y e r s - the m u ltip lie r e f f e c t - - w a s not c o n s id e r e d w ithin the sco p e o f th is study.
A lthough the p r im a r y o b je c tiv e o f this study w as the d e te rm in a tio n of
la b o r re q u ire m e n ts f o r co n s tr u ctio n o f p u b lic h ou sin g p r o je c t s in the United
S tates, ex a m in a tion o f re g io n a l d iffe r e n c e s w as u n dertaken . P u b lic hou sing
co n s tr u ctio n in e v e r y r e g io n o f the cou n try is fa c e d with the sam e b a s ic
p r o b le m , but it is dealt with in d iffe re n t w a y s. The p r o b le m is to p ro v id e
the d e s ir e d nu m ber and quality o f dw ellin g units at the lo w e s t p o s s ib le c o s t .
T h is r e q u ir e s that d e sig n and co n s tr u c tio n o f p r o je c t s be adapted to the p a r ­
tic u la r c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f ea ch lo c a lit y - - t h e c o s t s o f la b o r and m a te r ia ls ,
the am ount o f sp a ce a v a ila b le , and o th e r fa c t o r s such as clim a te and t o p o g ­
raphy. Since a ll o f th ese c h a r a c t e r is t ic s v a r y fr o m re g io n to r e g io n , the
type o f p r o je c t co n s tr u cte d w ill d iffe r . In the N orth ea st re g io n , fo r in sta n ce ,
the p r im a r y need is f o r la r g e n u m b ers o f dw ellin g units lo ca te d in co n g e ste d
m e tr o p o lita n a r e a s . T h is re q u ir e m e n t, co m b in e d w ith high w age r a te s , has
lea d to the c o n s tr u ctio n o f m u ltis to r y r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e b u ild in g s. Such
bu ild in gs a re m o s t e c o n o m ic a l b e ca u se they use a m in im u m am ount o f sp a ce
and p e r m it m a xim u m u se o f la b o r saving tech n iqu es in c o n s tr u ctio n . In a
d iffe re n t re g io n , such as the South, the r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te stru ctu re m a y
not be the m o s t e c o n o m ic a l. L o a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y o r w ood stru c tu re s a re
fa v o r e d fo r sou th ern p r o je c t s b e ca u se th ere is le s s n eed to c o n s e r v e s p a c e ,
w age ra tes a re lo w e r , and a v e ra g e p r o je c t s iz e is s m a ll. In oth er re g io n s
o f the cou n try , th ere is a m o r e even d istrib u tio n o f s tru ctu ra l ty p e s , r e f l e c t ­
ing m o r e lo c a l v a ria tio n in hou sing re q u ir e m e n ts and c o n s tr u c tio n co n d itio n s .
B eca u se o f v a ria tio n s in m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts b etw een re g io n s and
w ithin re g io n s by s tru ctu ra l ty p e , cau tion m u st be u se d in p r o je c tin g the r e ­
sults o f this study to future y e a r s . If the re g io n a l o r stru c tu ra l d istrib u tio n
o f p r o je c t s chan ges in the fu tu re , then a v e ra g e m a n -h o u r re q u ire m e n ts w ou ld
a ls o ch an ge.
A m o r e d eta iled d e s c r ip t io n o f the sco p e o f the su r v e y and m eth od o f
sa m p le s e le c tio n is g iv en in the appendix.




4

G e n e ra l S u rvey F in din gs and C h a r a c t e r is t ic s

C on stru ctio n o f p u b lic housing p r o je c t s in 19 59 -6 0 c r e a te d 236 m a n ­
h ou rs o f em p loy m en t fo r ea ch $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f c o n s tr u c tio n co n tra ct c o s t . E m p lo y ­
m ent at the co n s tr u ctio n site s a cco u n te d f o r 114 m a n -h o u r s , w h ile 122 m a n ­
h ou rs w e re re q u ir e d fo r v a rio u s o f f - s it e a c t iv it ie s . (See ch a rt 1 .) The la tte r
in clu d ed a ll em p loy m en t re q u ir e d to p ro d u ce and d e liv e r m a te r ia ls and e q u ip ­
m ent in s ta lle d by o n -s it e w o r k e r s in add ition to the em p loy m en t re q u ir e d by
c o n s tr u ctio n c o n t r a c t o r s fo r a d m in istra tiv e , w a re h o u sin g , and c e rta in oth er
o f f - s it e o p e r a tio n s . O ff-s it e m a n -h o u rs (e x ce p t th ose fo r the co n s tr u ctio n
in d u stry) a re d e v e lo p e d fr o m c o s t data rela tin g to the value o f m a te r ia ls u sed
at co n s tr u ctio n site s (including ren tal c o s t s o r d e p r e c ia tio n ch a rg e s fo r c o n ­
stru c tio n eq u ip m en t). T ota l m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts w e r e d istrib u te d as
fo llo w s :
M a n -h o u rs p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 of
c o n s tr u c tio n co n tra ct
N um ber

P ercen t

236

100

O n -s ite c o n s t r u c t i o n ..............................

114

48

O f f - s i t e .......... . ..............................................
C o n stru ctio n . ................................. .. . . .
M anufacturing . . ......................................
T ra n s p o rta tio n , tr a d e , and s e r v ic e
O ther in d u strie s (including m inin g)

122
12
64
36
10

52
5
28
15
4

T ota l . . . . . . . ...............................

A v e r a g e co n s tr u c tio n c o s t (exclu d in g site p re p a ra tio n and planning
co s ts ) o f p u b lic housing p r o je c t s studied w as about $ 1 .3 m illio n . C o n s tr u c ­
tion o f th ese p r o je c t s w as a c c o m p lis h e d during the p e r io d fr o m e a r ly 1959 to
m id d le 1961; h o w e v e r , the g r e a te r p o r tio n took p la ce during 1 9 5 9 -6 0 . Length
o f c o n s tr u ctio n tim e f o r the a v e ra g e p r o je c t studied w as 58 w e e k s , thus p r o ­
viding the equivalent o f continuous w o rk f o r about 74 w o r k e r s (83 m a n -y e a r s )
at co n s tr u ctio n s it e s , and fo r a slig h tly l e s s e r am ount o f e m p loy m en t in
o f f - s it e a c t i v i t i e s .5

5The annual em p loy m en t e stim a te o f c o n s tr u c tio n w o r k e r s is b a se d
on 50 tim e s the 1959 a v e ra g e em p loy m en t in co n tra ct building co n s tr u ctio n
w o rk o f 3 5 .8 h ou rs p e r w eek as re p o r te d in the B u re a u 's E arn in g s and H ours
S e r ie s . F o r oth er types o f e m p lo y m e n t, 2 ,0 0 0 h o u rs w e r e c o n s id e r e d as
1 y e a r fs e m p loy m e n t.




Chart 1. Distribution of 236 Man-Hours for Each $1,000
of Public Housing Construction Contract, 1959-60

PRIMARY

> MAN-HOURS
Transportation,
Trade and Services

(192)

t
Last Manufacturing
Stage

SECONDARY

*■
Transportation,
Manufacturing

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




Trade and Services

> MAN-HOURS
All Other
Industries

(44)

6

D uring re ce n t y e a r s , about $800 m illio n have b e e n expended annually
f o r co n s tr u ctio n o f p u b lic h ou sin g . At the cu rre n t ra te , t h e r e fo r e , such c o n ­
s tru c tio n has cre a te d about 5 1 ,0 0 0 jo b s annually f o r o n -s it e a c tiv itie s and
a p p ro x im a te ly 4 9 ,0 0 0 fo r re la te d o f f - s it e w o rk . In o r d e r to m e e t the a n t ic i­
pated annual need fo r p u b lic h ou sin g , co n s tr u ctio n and re la te d em p loy m en t
w ou ld need to be su b sta n tia lly g r e a te r than cu rre n t le v e ls .
The study d is c lo s e d w ide v a ria tio n s in m a n -h o u r and m a te r ia ls r e ­
q u irem en ts am ong p r o je c t s , r e fle ctin g d iffe r e n c e s in s iz e o f p r o je c t , g e o ­
g ra p h ica l lo c a tio n , and lo c a l p r a c t ic e s . M ark ed d iffe r e n c e s w e r e noted in
such re la te d item s as a v e ra g e h o u rly e a rn in gs and site w a g es as a p e r c e n t ­
age o f co n s tr u ctio n c o s t . M a te ria l p u rch a s e s am ounted 4 7 .5 p e rce n t o f the
c o n s tr u ctio n d o lla r expen ded , w h ile w a g es fo r o n -s it e m a n -h o u rs w e re 3 5 .5
p e r c e n t. (See ch art 2 .) E arn in gs fo r o n -s it e la b o r f o r a ll p r o je c t s a v e ra g e d
$ 3. 14 p e r h ou r.
Building C h a r a c te r is tic s
The 31 housing p r o je c t s s e le c te d fo r study v a r ie d in s iz e fr o m one
w ith 10 d w ellin g units to one containing a lm o st 1 ,0 0 0 . Square fe e t o f f lo o r
a re a ranged fr o m 9 ,0 0 0 to o v e r 1 m illio n . C o n stru ctio n co n tra ct co s ts
ranged fr o m $ 1 1 3 ,0 0 0 to about $11 m illio n . C o n stru ctio n c o s ts p e r square
fo o t and p e r d w ellin g unit ranged fr o m about $ 8 to $15 and a p p ro x im a te ly
$ 8 ,0 0 0 to $ 1 3 ,0 0 0 , r e s p e c t iv e ly . C osts p e r square fo o t and p e r dw ellin g
unit by re g io n and by s e le c te d c h a r a c t e r is t ic s a re p re s e n te d in table 1.
A v e r a g e siz e and c o n s tr u ctio n c o s t o f p r o je c t s studied w e r e as fo llo w s :
A verage
N um ber o f d w ellin g units ........................................................................
F lo o r a rea (sq u a re f e e t ) ........................................................ . . . . . . . .
C on stru ction co n tra ct c o s t .............. .......................................................
C o n stru ctio n c o s t p e r d w ellin g u n i t ...................................................
C on stru ction c o s t p e r square f o o t ........................................................

125
124, 000
$ 1 ,3 2 4 , 000
$ 1 0 ,5 98
$ 10. 68

P r o je c t s can be c la s s ifie d by stru ctu ra l type into th ree c a t e g o r ie s :
r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e , lo a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y , and w o o d . E ach o f the th ree
typ es has a slig h tly d iffe re n t m ix tu re o f m a n -h o u r and m a te r ia ls r e q u ir e ­
m en ts a s s o c ia te d w ith its co n s tr u ctio n . R e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e is g e n e ra lly
u sed fo r co n s tr u ctio n o f m u ltis to r y , e le v a to r -e q u ip p e d b u ild in g s. A ll o f
the r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te p r o je c t s w e r e lo c a te d in m e tr o p o lita n a r e a s , c o m ­
p a re d to 50 p e rce n t o f the w ood and 38 p e rce n t o f the lo a d -b e a r in g m a s o n ry
p r o je c t s .
R e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te p r o je c t s r e p re s e n te d 45 p e r c e n t o f a ll dw ellin g
u n its, fo llo w e d by lo a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y , 30 p e r c e n t, and w o o d w ith 13 p e r ­
cen t. P r o je c t s containing a m ix tu re o f s tru c tu ra l typ es w e r e co n s tru cte d o f




Chart 2. Percent Distribution of On-Site Wages and Materials Used
for Each $1,000 of Public Housing Construction Contract, 1959-60

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR




BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

T a b le 1.

C ost p e r Square F oot and p e r D w elling Unit f o r P u b lic H ousing P r o je c t s ,
b y S e le c te d C h a r a c te r is tic s and R e g io n , 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1
South

United States

O ther r e g io n s 2

C o st p e r - -

C h a r a c t e r is t ic
Square
fo o t

D w elling
unit

Square
fo o t

D w ellin g
unit

Square
fo o t

D w ellin g
unit

......................

$ 1 0 .6 8

$ 1 0 ,5 9 8

$ 9 . 36

$ 9 ,4 0 2

$ 1 1 .5 1

$ 1 1 ,3 4 1

C o n s tru c tio n c o s t g rou p :
U nder $ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 .................
$ 1 ,0 0 0 , 0 0 0 -$ 1 ,9 9 9 , 999 . . .
$ 2, 000, 000 and o v e r ............

$ 1 0 .9 2
10 .7 3
1 0 .6 5

$ 1 0 ,1 5 5
1 0 ,9 6 6
10,661

$ 1 0 .0 4
1 0 .2 4
7. 60

$ 9 ,4 6 2
1 0 ,2 4 9
8 ,4 9 5

$ 12. 07
1 1 .0 6
1 1 .5 7

$ 1 1 ,7 2 2
1 1 ,4 5 8
11,221

1 1 .3 2
9 .6 3
10. 12

1 1 ,1 8 8
9 ,9 6 2
9 ,7 9 2

9. 13
9 .9 8

9 ,4 0 9
9 ,3 8 5

1 1 .3 2
11.21
1 0 .4 5

1 1 ,1 8 8
1 1 ,8 3 3
1 0 ,8 4 8

A ll p r o je c t s . .

T ype o f s t r u c t u r e :3
R e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e . • 0 • <>.
L o a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y • . . •
WOOd............ .. • O0 • • OO. . 0 . • O

1A lthough c o n s tr u c tio n on som e p r o je c t s extended into 1961, m o s t c o n s tr u c tio n w as p e r fo r m e d
in 1 9 5 9 -6 0 .
in s u f f ic ie n t data to w a rra n t sep a ra te p re se n ta tio n b y c h a r a c t e r is t ic s f o r the oth er th ree
r e g io n s .
3D o e s not in clu d e tw o p r o je c t s having a m ix tu re o f d iffe re n t ty p es o f s tr u c tu r e s .




9

m ix tu re s o f w oo d and r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te u n its. T he N orth ea st r e g io n had
a p re p o n d e ra n ce o f r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te p r o je c t s , lo c a te d n ea r such c it ie s
as New Y o r k and P h ila d elp h ia . In the N orth C en tra l and W e ste rn r e g io n s ,
the th ree stru ctu ra l ty p e s w e r e m o r e ev en ly d istrib u te d . T h e r e w e r e no
r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e p r o je c t s in the South; m o s t o f the d w ellin g units w e r e
c o n s tr u cte d o f lo a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y . T he type o f stru ctu re u se d by p r o j­
e cts in the d iffe re n t r e g io n s is s tro n g ly dependent on the extent to w h ich
co n s tr u ctio n takes p la ce in m e tro p o lita n a r e a s . In the South, 79 p e rce n t
o f a ll p r o je c t s studied w e r e lo ca te d in n on m etrop olita n a r e a s ; in re g io n s
ou tside the South, on ly 12 p e rce n t o f the p r o je c t s w e r e in such a r e a s .
A bou t o n e -fifth o f a ll p r o je c t s c o n s is te d o f bu ildin gs co n s tru cte d
w ith w ood flo o r in g (m o s tly fo r se co n d s to r y f lo o r s in t w o -s t o r ie d b u ild in g s).
C o n cre te c o v e r e d with r e s ilie n t tile w as u se d in a ll b u ild in g s, e x ce p t in
two p r o je c t s , fo r ground le v e l f lo o r s . B uildings in about 50 p e rce n t o f the
p r o je c t s w e r e co n s tr u cte d w ith b u ilt-u p ro o fin g p la ce d on c o n c r e te o r w o o d .
T h o s e in the oth er h a lf had w ood en r o o fs c o v e r e d w ith a s b e s to s sh in g le s.
R o o fin g on b uildings in one p r o je c t w as c la y tile p la ce d on c o n c r e t e . A r e a s
fo r a d m in istra tiv e a c tiv itie s o r com m u n ity s e r v ic e s w e r e p ro v id e d fo r in
o n e -s ix th o f the p r o je c t s .
B uilding C osts
T a b le 1 p re se n ts two d iffe re n t m e a s u r e s o f building c o s t , e x p r e s s e d
as c o s t p er square fo o t and c o s t p er dw ellin g unit. T he re la tio n sh ip s shown
v a ry slig h tly b e ca u se o f d iffe r e n c e s fr o m the national a v e ra g e o f 992 square
fe e t p e r d w ellin g unit. The fo llo w in g tabu lation s show la b o r and m a te r ia ls
c o s t s p e r squ are fo o t by re g io n s and b y stru ctu ra l ty p e s.
L a b o r and m a te r ia ls c o s t p e r square fo o t b y - ______________________ re g io n _______________________
United
N o rth - N orth
States ea st
C en tra l
South
W est
T o t a l ......................................
L a b o r c o s t ...............................
M a te r ia ls c o s t . .....................
O v erh ea d and p r o f i t s ..........

$ 1 0 .6 8
3 .7 9
5 .0 7
1 .8 2

$ 1 0 .9 1
4 .0 1
4 .8 6
2 .0 4

$ 1 2 .2 5
4 .5 6
5 .6 3
2 .0 6

$ 9 .3 6
3 .1 4
4 .7 4
1 .4 8

$ 1 2 .9 0
4 .6 0
6 .6 2
1 .6 8

__________________T ype o f stru ctu re ______________

T o t a l ......................................
L a b o r c o s t ...............................
M a te ria ls c o s t ........................
O v erh ea d and p r o f i t s ..........




R e in fo r c e d
c o n c r e te

L o a d -b e a r in g
m ason ry

W ood

$ 1 1 .3 2
4 . 19
5 .0 0
2. 13

$ 9 .6 3
3 .4 5
4 .8 2
1 .3 6

$ 1 0 .1 2
3 .1 8
5. 11
1 .8 3

10

The d iffe r e n c e in c o s t b etw een re g io n s p r o b a b ly re s u lts fr o m the
in te ra ctio n o f s e v e r a l f a c t o r s . H igh er c o s t s in the W e ste rn and N orth C e n ­
tr a l re g io n s m a y be due in p art to g r e a te r d ista n ce s fr o m s o u r c e s o f supply
fo r so m e m a t e r ia ls , w ith con sequ en t h ig h e r shipping c o s t s . L o w e r c o s ts
p e r sq u a re fo o t in the South cou ld re su lt fr o m a co m b in a tio n o f lo w e r w age
c o s t s and s m a lle r ex p en d itu res fo r such ite m s as in su la tion and heating
p la n ts, b e ca u se o f the m ild e r clim a te . C ost is in flu e n ce d by the type o f
building c o n s tr u c te d , as r e fle c t e d not on ly by the b a s ic s tru c tu ra l ty p e , but
by d iffe r e n c e s in d e s ig n q u a lities and d u ra b ility . C o sts p e r dw ellin g unit by
r e g io n a re as fo llo w s :
C ost p e r dw ellin g unit
United S t a t e s ............
N o r t h e a s t ...................
N orth C e n t r a l ..........
S o u t h ............................
W e s t.......................... . .

$ 1 0 ,5 9 8
1 1 ,1 9 2
1 1 ,3 6 7
9 ,4 0 2
11,951

C ost fig u r e s show n in this study apply to c o n s tr u c tio n c o s t o n ly . T h ey
do not in clu d e e x p e n se s f o r planning, a c q u is itio n o f lan d , o r site p re p a ra tio n .
A ls o , th ese fig u r e s r e f e r to in itia l c o s t . In o r d e r to m ake c o m p a r is o n s b e ­
tw een d iffe re n t s tru c tu ra l types as to w h ich is m o s t e c o n o m ic a l, one w ould
a ls o have to c o n s id e r lo n g -r a n g e f a c t o r s . The p r o je c t type w h ich is ch e a p e st
to c o n s tr u ct m a y not be the b e st v a lu e , b e ca u s e o f l e s s e r d u ra b ility o r h ig h er
m ain ten a n ce c o s t s in the long run.




11

O n -S ite M a n -H ou r R e q u ire m e n ts
M a n -h ou r re q u ir e m e n ts p er d o lla r o f co n s tr u ctio n c o s t a re ob tain ed
by d ividin g tota l o n -s it e m a n -h o u rs r e p o r te d by total c o n s tr u ctio n c o s t . T h is
re s u lt is in turn m u ltip lie d by 1, 000 in o r d e r to d e te rm in e re q u ir e m e n ts fo r
ea ch $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f co n s tr u ctio n c o s t . F o r p r o je c t s studied, m a n -h o u r r e q u ir e ­
m en ts v a r ie d fr o m a low o f 64 to a high o f 192. T he United States a v e ra g e
w as 114 (tab le 2).
The m o s t sig n ifica n t re g io n a l v a ria tio n w as the high nu m ber o f m a n ­
h ou rs r e q u ir e d fo r p r o je c t s in the South. T h e re w e r e at le a s t th ree r e a s o n s
fo r th is. F ir s t , sou th ern p r o je c t s had a sm a ll a v e ra g e s iz e . T h is m ean t
that th ere w a s le s s op p ortu n ity to u se la b o r s a v in g equipm ent and p r o c e d u r e s .
S econ d , m o s t o f the p r o je c t s co n s tr u c te d in the South w e r e built o f lo a d b e a rin g m a s o n r y . T h is stru ctu ra l type tends to have h ig h er m a n -h o u r r e ­
q u irem en ts than w o o d o r r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e . T he S ou th 's in c r e a s e d u t ili­
zation o f la b o r to o k p la ce m o s tly in the u n sk illed and s e m is k ille d c a t e g o r ie s
(table 3). In this re g io n , th e re w as le s s ten d en cy to u se m o r e la b o r on
southern p r o je c t s in sk ille d c a t e g o r ie s , such as ca rp e n try o r b rick la y in g ,
p o s s ib ly b e ca u se it is m o r e d ifficu lt to substitute equipm ent fo r sk ille d la b o r ,
w h e re a s a d itch d iggin g m a ch in e can be substituted fo r an u n sk ille d d itc h d ig g e r.
W hen la b o r re q u ir e m e n ts a re e x p r e s s e d as m a n -h o u rs p e r 1 ,0 0 0 square
fe e t o r p e r dw ellin g unit, the p ictu re is slig h tly d iffe re n t. R e g io n a l v a ria tio n s
a re in the sam e d ir e c tio n but o f le s s e r m agn itu de. M a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts in
the South a re 43 p e rce n t h ig h er p er $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f c o n s tr u c tio n co n tra ct c o s t ; 17
p e rce n t h ig h er p er 1 ,0 0 0 squ are fe e t; and 19 p e rce n t h igh er p e r sw e llin g unit
than the a v e ra g e fo r the r e s t o f the U nited S tates.
M a n -h ou r re q u ir e m e n ts appear to be lo w e r fo r la r g e r p r o je c t s . The
re a s o n fo r th is is that such p r o je c t s a ffo r d g re a te r op portu n ity fo r the u se o f
la b o rs a v in g equipm ent, such as c r a n e s , h o is ts , and c o n v e y o r s . A ls o , o r g a n i­
zation and m an agem en t m a y be m o r e e ffic ie n t on the la r g e r p r o je c t s . It a p ­
p e a r s that the fa c to r o f p r o je c t siz e e x e rts it s e lf m o s t s tro n g ly on the v e r y
sm a ll p r o je c t s , w h ich have quite high m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts , and on the v e ry
la r g e p r o je c t s , w h ere substantial sa vin gs in m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts a re
a ch ie v e d . F o r p r o je c t s in the in t e r m e d ia te -s iz e ran ge th e re is not as stron g
a re la tio n sh ip betw een siz e and m a n -h o u r r e q u ir e m e n ts .
A n oth er s o u r ce o f v a ria tio n s in m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts is type o f
stru c tu re . R e q u ire m e n ts a re lo w e s t fo r r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e , next h ig h est
fo r w ood , and h ig h est fo r lo a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y . It is not c le a r , h o w e v e r ,
w heth er th ese v a ria tio n s a re due to inherent stru ctu ra l d iffe r e n c e s , o r if
they a re m a in ly a r e s u lt o f adju stm en ts to re g io n a l v a ria tio n s in w age r a te s .
W here c o m p a r is o n s w ithin the sam e re g io n a re p o s s ib le , lo a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y
has slig h tly h ig h er m a n -h o u r re q u ire m e n ts than the oth er stru ctu ra l ty p e s . A
c o m p a r is o n o f m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts betw een w o o d and r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te




T a b le 2.

O n -S ite M a n -H ou r R e q u ire m e n ts fo r P u b lic H ousing P r o je c t s ,
by S e le c te d C h a r a c te r is tic s and R e g io n , 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1

U nited States

O ther re g io n s 2

South
M a n -h o u rs p e r - -

C h a r a c t e r is t ic

$ 1 ,0 0 0
of
cost

1,000 D w e ll­ $ 1 ,0 0 0
square
ing
of
fe e t
unit
cost

1,000 D w e ll­ $ 1 ,0 0 0
squ are
ing
of
fe e t
unit
cost

1, 000 D w e ll­
squ are
ing
fe e t
unit

A ll p r o j e c t s ..........................

113. 7

1, 214

1, 205

142. 1

1, 331

1, 336

99. 1

1, 140

1, 124

C o n s tru c tio n c o s t group:
U nder $ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 ..............
$ 1 ,0 0 0 , 0 0 0 - $ 1 , 9 9 9 ,9 9 9 . .
$ 2, 0 0 0 ,0 0 0 and o v e r ..........

1 3 9 .8
116. 1
99. 2

1 ,4 9 2
1,2 4 6
1,0 5 7

1 ,4 1 9
1, 273
1 ,0 5 8

160. 3
1 2 7 .9
121. 6

1 ,6 0 9
1, 309
924

1, 516
1, 311
1 ,0 3 3

1 0 2 .4
1 0 8 .9
94. 8

1, 236
1, 204
1 ,0 9 6

1, 200
1, 247
1 ,0 6 4

T y p e o f s t r u c tu r e :3
R e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e ..........
L o a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y . . .
W o o d ....... ...................................

94. 2
137. 9
12 4.5

1,0 6 6
1, 326
1, 260

1 ,0 5 4
1, 374
1, 219

143. 6
138. 5

1, 311
1, 382

1, 351
1, 300

94. 2
122. 7
9 3 .0

1 ,0 6 6
1 ,3 7 6
971

1 ,0 5 4
1 ,4 5 2
1 ,0 0 8

—

—

1A lthough c o n s tr u c tio n on som e p r o je c ts extended into 1961, m o s t c o n s tr u ctio n w as p e r fo r m e d
during 1 9 5 9 -6 0 ,
in s u f f ic ie n t data to w a rra n t separate p resen ta tion b y c h a r a c t e r is t ic s fo r the oth er th ree
r e g io n s .
3D oes not in clu d e tw o p r o je c t s having a m ix tu re o f d iffe re n t ty p es o f s tr u c tu r e s .




13

T a b le 3. O n -S ite M a n -H ou r R e q u ire m e n ts p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0
fo r P u b lic H ousing P r o je c ts , b y P r o p o r t io n o f L o w e r S k ille d M a n -H o u rs,
R e g io n yand T yp e o f S tru ctu re, 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1

P e r c e n t lo w e r s k ille d
m a n -h o u r s o f total

M a n -h o u rs p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f
c o n s tr u c tio n c o s t
A ll
types

R e in fo r c e d
con crete

L oadb e a rin g
m a s o n ry

W ood

113. 7

94. 2

137. 9

124. 5

9 6 .0
115.0
13 8.7
1 6 0 .4

8 5 .8
1 0 8 .4

8 9 .5
1 0 6 .4
1 3 8 .5

--

122. 7
1 3 4 .4
138. 9
1 6 0 .4

..........................

142. 1

_-

1 4 3 .6

138. 5

and t i n d e r ..........................
to 3 5 .0 ...............................
to 4 5 .0 ...............................
and o v e r ............................

1 3 4 .4
1 3 8 .7
1 6 0 .4

1 3 8 .5

--

1 3 4 .4
1 3 8 .9
1 6 0 .4

O ther r e g io n s , 2 to ta l . . . .

9 9 .1

94. 2

122. 7

93. 0

9 6 .0
1 0 8 .2

85. 8
1 0 8 .4

122. 7

8 9 .5
1 0 6 .4

--

-“

—

U nited S tates, t o t a l ............
2 5 .0
25. 1
35. 1
45. 1

and u n d e r ..........................
to 3 5 .0 ...............................
to 4 5 .0 .............. ...............
and o v e r . . . . ............ .. . .

South, tota l
2 5 .0
2 5 .1
35. 1
4 5. 1

2 5 .0
25. 1
35. 1
45. 1

and u n d e r ............................
to 3 5 .0 ................... .............
to 4 5 .0 .................................
and o v e r ...............................

—

1A lthough c o n s tr u ctio n on som e p r o je c t s extended into 1961, m o s t
c o n s tr u ctio n w as p e r fo r m e d in 1 9 5 9 -6 0 .
in s u ffic ie n t data to w a rra n t sep a ra te p re se n ta tio n b y c h a r a c t e r is t ic s
fo r the oth er th ree r e g io n s .




14

is not as d efin ite . F o r the United States as a w h o le , r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e has
lo w e r m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts , but this is due la r g e ly to the in flu en ce o f high
m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts fo r w o o d stru ctu re s in the South. T he two ty p es have
v e r y s im ila r la b o r re q u ir e m e n ts ou tsid e the South. It is in te re s tin g to note
the sharp d iffe r e n c e s in m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts fo r w o o d stru ctu re s betw een
the South and the r e s t o f the U nited S ta tes. The lo w e r m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts
in r e g io n s oth er than the South a re p a rtly due to g re a te r u se o f p r e fa b r ic a te d
w a ll and r o o f s e c t io n s .
T h e r e is le s s d iffe r e n c e betw een r e g io n s in m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts
fo r lo a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y s tr u c tu r e s . T h is su g g ests that th e re m a y be le s s
sco p e fo r the in tro d u ctio n o f la b o r saving tech n iq u es in the c o n s tr u ctio n o f
th ese b u ild in g s. It m a y be m o r e d ifficu lt to m ake u se o f such in n ovation s as
p r e fa b r ic a tio n in the c o n s tr u ctio n o f lo a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y s tr u c tu r e s . C o m ­
p a r is o n o f m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts by r e g io n s is show n in the fo llo w in g ta bu ­
lation :
R e g io n a l c o m p a r is o n s o f m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts

M a n -h o u rs p e r - $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f c o n tr a c t c o s t . . .
1, 000 squ are f e e t .................
D w ellin g u n it ..........................

U nited
States

N o rth ­
ea st

1 1 3 .7
1, 214
1, 205

9 5 .9
1 ,0 4 6
1 ,0 7 3

N orth
C en tra l

South

W est

10 6.0
1, 299
1, 205

142. 1
1, 331
1, 336

9 8 .4
1, 270
1, 176

R e q u ire m e n ts by O ccu p a tion
R e g io n a l v a ria tio n s in m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts fo r d iffe re n t tra d e s
(table 4) r e fle c t d iffe r e n c e s in d esign , w o r k p r a c t ic e s , and w age r a t e s . The
sh a rp est c o n tr a s ts a re n oted in the d iv isio n betw een sk ille d and u n sk ille d
w o r k e r s . The South had about 45 p e rce n t o f a ll m a n -h o u rs p e r fo r m e d by
u n sk illed and s e m is k ille d w o r k e r s , as co m p a r e d w ith 25 to 28 p e r c e n t fo r
the oth er r e g io n s .
W ithin the s k ille d c a te g o r y , re g io n a l v a ria tio n s a re m o s t d ir e c t ly
re la te d to d iffe r e n c e s in stru ctu ra l ty p e s. The d istin ctiv e c h a r a c t e r is t ic s
o f r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e co n s tr u ctio n a re high m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts fo r
la th e r s , ir o n w o r k e r s , and p lu m b e rs; with low re q u ir e m e n ts fo r c a r p e n te r s
and p a in te rs . L o a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y co n s tr u ctio n has high re q u ir e m e n ts
fo r b r ic k la y e r s . W ood co n s tr u ctio n has high re q u ir e m e n ts fo r ca r p e n te r s
and p a in ters and lo w re q u ir e m e n ts fo r e le c t r ic ia n s and p lu m b e rs (table 5).
T he re la tiv e p r o p o r tio n s o f sk ille d and u n sk ille d la b o r u se d depend
p a rtly on the type o f stru ctu re being built and p a r tly on the le v e l o f w a g e s.
L ow w a g es m ake it e c o n o m ic a l to u se g re a te r quantities o f u n sk ille d la b o r .




Table 4.

On-Site Man-Hour Requirements per $ 1,000 of Public Housing Construction Cost and Percent Distribution,
by Occupation and Region, 1959-601

Occupation

United States
Man-hours Percent
worked

Northeast
Man-hours
Percent
worked

North Central
Man-hours
Percent
worked

South
Man-hours Percent
worked

West
Man-hours
Percent
worked

All o c c u p a tio n s .......................

113.7

100.0

95.9

100.0

106.0

100.0

142. 1

100. 0

98.4

100.0

General su p e rv iso rs ................

2. 8

2.5

1.9

2.0

3. 6

3.4

3. 7

2. 6

2.1

2.1

P ro fessio n a l, technical, and
cle r ic a l ......................................

1.7

1.5

1.7

1.8

2. 2

2. 1

1. 2

•8

2.0

2.0

A sb esto s w o r k e r s .......................
B r i c k l a y e r s ..................................
C a r p e n t e r s ....................................
Cement f i n i s h e r s .......................
E le c tr ic ia n s ..................................
Elevator m e c h a n i c s ................ .
G l a z i e r s .........................................
L a t h e r s ........... ...............................
Operating e n g i n e e r s ..................
Ornamental ironworkers . . . . .
P a i n t e r s .........................................
P l a s t e r e r s ........................... ..
P l u m b e r s ......................................
Reinforcing ir o n w o r k e r s .........
R o o f e r s ...........................................
Sheet-metal w o r k e r s ......... ..
Soft floor l a y e r s .........................
Structural i r o n w o r k e r s ............
Tile s e t t e r s ..................................
T r u c k d r i v e r s ..............................
Helpers and t e n d e r s ......... ..
L a b o r e r s . ......................... ..
Custodial w o r k e r s ....................
O th e r .................................. ..

.5
8.6
21.8
3.5
4.7
.3
.4
3.6
3. 1
1.0
5.0
4. 1
8.9
1. 1
.9
1. 1
.3
.2
.2
1.0
5.4
29.9
1.4
2. 2

.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
.9
4.7
26.2
1.2
1.9

.7
7. 1
15.9
3.4
4 .9
.7
.4
6.4
2. 1
1.9
4.0
4 .6
10.4
1.3
.7
.7
.2
(2/)
.1
.7
5.2
17. 1
2.7

.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
(2/)
.1
.7
5 .4
17. 9
2. 8

.8
6.8
21. 6
3. 1
5. 2
.4
.8
2.4
3. 7
1. 2
4. 1
3.7
11.5
1. 3
.3
2.4
(2 /)
1.0
.1
1.0
4 .9
2]. 9

1. 1

.2
13. 2
25.8
3.5
4. 3
(2/)
” .1
1.7
3.8
.1
6. 5
3.9
6 .2
.7
1.5
.7
.6
.1
.4
1. 1
6.6
51.6
.4
4 .2

1
9*. 3
18. 1
2. 5
3. 0

1. 1

.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
(2/)
.9
.1
.9
4 .6
20.7
.9
.9

.3
1. 6
31.9
4. 1
4. 7
.1
.7
1. 2
3.6
.2
5. 3
3. 2
7. 3
1. 8
.8
1. 3
.6
.4
.1
1. 3
2.8
18. 9
.8
1. 3

.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
1.3
2.8
19.2
.8
1.3

1.0
1.0

1Although construction on some projects extended into 1961, m ost construction was perform ed in 1959-60.
2L e s s than 0 .05 percent.




( 21)
. 1

1. 2
2. 7
.1
4. 6
2. 7
4. 4
.5
1. 1
.5
,4
.1
.3
.8
4. 6
36. 2
,3
3. 0

16

Table 5.

On-Site Man-Hour Requirements per $ 1,000 of Public Housing Construction Cost and
Percent Distribution, by Occupation and Type of Structure, 1959-601

Occupation

Wood
Reinforced concrete Load-bearing m asonry
Man-hours Percent Man-hours Percent
Man-hours Percent

All occupations .......................

94. 2

100.0

137.9

100.0

124.5

100.0

General superv isors ................

2. 2

2. 3

3. 3

2.4

4 .0

3. 2

Professional, technical, and
c l e r i c a l ......................................

2. 1

2. 2

1.3

.9

.9

.7

A sb estos w orkers .......................
B rick lay ers . ...............................
C a r p e n te r s ....................................
Cement f i n i s h e r s ......................
E l e c t r i c i a n s .............................
Elevator m e c h a n i c s ..................
G la z iers ........................................
L a t h e r s ..........................................
Operating e n g in e e r s ..................
Ornamental ironworkers . . . . .
P a i n t e r s ........................................
P l a s t e r e r s ...................................
Plum bers .............................
Reinforcing ir o n w o r k e rs.........
R o o f e r s ................................. ..
Sheet-metal w o r k e r s ................
Soft floor l a y e r s ........................
Structural ir o n w o r k e r s ...........
Tile s e t t e r s .................................
T r u c k d r i v e r s ...............................
Helpers and t e n d e r s ..................
L a b o r e r s ........... ..........................
Custodial w o r k e r s ....................
O th e r........... ...................

.6
6.6
13.0
4 .0
5. 1
.8
.4
6.0
2. 5
2.0
3.4
4 .4
11. 3
1.5
.5
.6
.2
.1
.1
.6
6. 3
16.6
2. 6
.8

.6
7.0
13. 8
4. 2
5.4
.8
.4
6.4
2.6
2.1
3. 6
4 .6
12.0
1.6
.5
.6
.2
.1
.1
.6
6. 7
17. 6
2. 8
.8

.4
13.8
26. 1
3.0
4 .8
-.1
2. 3
3. 3
.1
6. 1
4 .7
7.8
.8
1.5
1.2
.5
.1
.4
1.3
6.9
44.5
.8
2.9

.3
10.0
18.9
2. 2
3.5

.1
6. 9
33. 3
3.0
2.8
-.1
.4
4. 2
.1
8. 1
1. 8
5.5
.1
1. 1
.9
.8
(2/)
.4
1.3
1.8
4 1 .8
.1
5.0

.1
5.5
26.7
2.4
2. 2

.1
1.7
2.4
.1
4 .4
3.4
5.7
.6
1. 1
.9
.4
.1
.3
.9
5.0
32. 3
.6
2. 1

.1
.3
3.4
.1
6. 5
1.4
4 .4
.1
.9
.7
.6
(2/)
.3
1.0
1.4
33.6
.1
4.0

1
Although, construction on some projects extended into 1961, m ost construction was
perform ed in 1959-60.
2L e s s than 0.05 percent.




17

If w age r a te s a re h ig h er th ere is a stro n g e r in cen tiv e to substitute la b o r saving equipm ent and tech n iqu es fo r u n sk ille d w o r k e r s . T h e r e is p ro b a b ly
le s s s co p e fo r the re p la ce m e n t o f s k ille d w o r k e r s , even if w a g es a re quite
high. T he p re s e n t nature o f bu ildin g c o n s tr u c tio n is such that m e c h a n iz a ­
tion cannot be c a r r ie d as fa r as it can in m an y oth er in d u s tr ie s . F uture
ex p a n sion in the co n s tr u c tio n in d u stry m a y c r e a te a n eed fo r m o r e m e c h a n i­
zation in o r d e r to s a tis fy h ou sin g dem and at low c o s t .
A p p re n tice M a n -H o u rs
A p p r e n tic e s in fo r m a l, r e g is t e r e d a p p re n tice sh ip p r o g r a m s 6 a cco u n te d
fo r 3 .7 p e rce n t o f tota l o n -s it e m a n -h o u r s and 6 .0 p e r c e n t o f sk ille d m a n ­
h ou rs (table 6). A p p re n tice g la z ie r s and e le c t r ic ia n s a cco u n te d fo r a g re a te r
p r o p o r tio n o f s k ille d m a n -h o u r s fo r th eir c r a ft than a ll o t h e r s - - 1 2 .9 and
120 2 p e r c e n t, r e s p e c t iv e ly . The g re a te s t p r o p o r tio n o f a p p re n tice m a n -h o u rs
w e r e r e p o r t e d in the W e st. F o r m a l a p p re n tice tra in in g p r o g r a m s do not e x is t
o r a re ju s t ev o lv in g fo r th ree o ccu p a tio n s w ork in g on p u b lic h ou sin g p r o j e c t s - a s b e s to s w o r k e r s , e le v a to r m e c h a n ic s , and o p e ra tin g e n g in e e r s . T ra in in g in
th ese occu p a tio n s is u su a lly a c c o m p lis h e d on an in fo r m a l b a s is by a s s is tin g a
jou rn ey m a n in his w o r k until the tra in e e is c o n s id e r e d as fu lly q u a lified to p e r ­
fo r m at jo u rn e y m a n le v e l o f p r o fic ie n c y . In som e in s ta n c e s , p re d e te rm in e d
tim e p e r io d s o f o n -t h e -jo b tra in in g a re re q u ir e d to b e co m e e lig ib le fo r u p g ra d ­
ing to jou rn ey m a n statu s. T h is c r it e r ia has u su a lly b een in fo r m a lly e sta b lish e d
through lo c a l w o r k p r a c t ic e s . W o rk e rs in a le a rn in g status, w hether d esig n a ted
as " im p r o v e r s " in the c a s e o f a s b e s to s w o r k e r s , " h e lp e r s ’ 1 in e le v a to r in s ta lla ­
tion , o r " o i l e r s " in equipm ent o p e ra tio n , a re g rou p ed w ith h e lp e r s and te n d e rs
fo r this r e p o r t . H igh r a te s o f a p p ren tice m a n -h o u r s a re u su a lly a s s o c ia t e d
w ith som e s m a lle r c r a ft s o r with th ose c r a fts w h e re th e re is a sh orta ge o f
s k ille d jo u r n e y m e n .
G e n e ra l and S p e cia l T r a d e s C o n tr a c to r s M a n -H o u rs
E m p lo y e e s o f g e n e ra l c o n t r a c t o r s a cco u n te d f o r about o n e -h a lf o f a ll
m a n -h o u rs w o r k e d . T h is ra tio w as som ew h at lo w e r in the N o rth e a ste rn and
N orth C en tra l r e g io n s , and h ig h er in the South and W e st. P r o je c t s w e r e on
the a v e ra g e s m a lle r in the two la tte r r e g io n s . S m a lle r p r o je c t siz e m eant
that m o r e o f the w o r k w a s done by the g e n e ra l c o n t r a c t o r , b e ca u se in m any
lin e s th ere w as in s u fficie n t w o rk to m ake iss u in g s u b co n tra cts w orth w h ile .
L a rg e p r o je c t s on the a v e ra g e use m o r e s u b c o n tr a c to r s and have a s m a lle r
p r o p o r tio n o f the w o r k done by the g e n e ra l c o n t r a c t o r . T h is is illu s tra te d in
table 7 and in the fo llo w in g tabu lation , w h ere the a v e ra g e n u m ber o f su b co n ­
t r a c t o r s in c r e a s e s fr o m 15 fo r the s m a lle s t s iz e c la s s to 33 fo r the la r g e s t .
M u ltis to r y r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te p r o je c t s u se d m o r e su b co n tr a c to r s
fo r a given p r o je c t s iz e . T h is m a y be due to d iffe re n t stru ctu ra l c h a r a c t e r ­
is t ic s , o r p erh a p s the p r a c t ic e o f su b co n tra ctin g is m o r e h ig h ly d e v e lo p e d in
la r g e m e tr o p o lita n a r e a s w h e re the m u ltis to r y p r o je c t s a re lo c a te d .
6A bona fid e a p p re n tice sh ip p r o g r a m r e g is t e r e d with a State A p p r e n t ic e ­
ship C ou n cil w h ich is r e c o g n iz e d by the F e d e r a l C om m ittee on A p p re n tice s h ip ,
U. S. D ep artm en t o f L a b o r , o r a p ro g ra m r e g is t e r e d with the B ureau o f
A
p pFRASER
re n tice s h ip and T ra in in g , U. S. D epartm en t o f L a b o r .
Digitized for


T a b le 6. A p p re n tice M an -H ou rs as a P e r c e n t o f T o ta l M a n -H o u rs W ork ed
on P u b lic H ou sin g C o n stru ctio n , by O ccu p ation , R e g io n , and T y p e o f S tru ctu re, 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1

R e g io n
O ccu p a tio n

N orth
C en tra l

U nited
States

N orth ­
east

A ll w o r k e r s ............................

3. 7

4 .0

3 .9

S k ille d tr a d e s o n ly . . . 0 . • . . .
B r i c k l a y e r s .................................
C a r p e n te rs ................. <>................
C em en t f i n i s h e r s ......................
E l e c t r i c i a n s ............
G l a z i e r s .......................... .............
L a t h e r s ...........................................
O rn a m en ta l ir o n w o r k e r s . . . .
P a i n t e r s .........................................
P la s t e r e r s . , . . ................. .. . . .
P l u m b e r s ................. . . . . o . . . .
R e in fo r c in g ir o n w o r k e r s . . . .
R o o fe r s ...........................................
S h eet-m eta l w o r k e r s . . . . . . .
S oft f lo o r la y e r s . . . . . . . . . . .
S tru ctu ra l ir o n w o r k e r s . . . . .
T ile s e tte r s . ............ ..
»

6 .0
4. 8
4 .9
8. 1
12. 2
1 2 .9
8 .7
3. 0
3 .9
4. 8
9.0
3. 0
8. 7
9.6
5.7
7. 0
4 .4

5 .9
5 .9
7. 1
12. 3
.5
29. 8
6. 7
3. 5
4 .9
4. 3
7.9

5 .9
4 .6
5 .0
8 .7
1 0 .2
2. 2
1 3 .6
1. 7
7 .4
5. 2
7.5
-8 .9
3.8
21.9
8.8
——

3 .9
2. 1

2. 2

T y p e o f stru ctu re
South

W est

2 .9

6 .0

5. 6
8 .5
4. 1
7. 8
3. 1
5 .9
2. 1 1 1 .0
12. 8
2 8 .7
1 .8
5 .8
1 2 .6
1 5 .0
-1. 6
7 .0
1 .3
3 .4
13.4
8.5
21.4
12. 2
3. 0
12 . 4
.4
30.6
5.6
3 . 9 , 17 . 4
__
4.5
5 .8
--

R e in fo r c e d
c o n c r e te

L oadb e a rin g
m ason ry

4. 1

3. 7

6. 5

7. 2
5 .7
4 .5
3 .4
26. 6
6 .5
1 2 .4
-4 .0
5.7
10. 6
1 1. 9
1 2. 4
20. 7
6.4

4.5
7. 2
1 1 .0
2. 8
26. 3
9 .0
3. 5
4 .4
4. 3
8.8
.1
—
5. 1
3. 0
--

—

5 .8

A lt h o u g h c o n s tr u c tio n on som e p r o je c t s extended into 1961, m o s t c o n s tr u c tio n w as
p e r fo r m e d in 1 9 5 9 -6 0 .




W ood

2 .0
3 .4
3 .7
1 .8
7. 1
29. 2
—
—

~1. 1
3. 6
6.8
1 3. 4
7.3
—

--

19

T a b le 7.

A v e r a g e N um ber o f S u b co n tra cto rs p e r P u b lic H ousing P r o je c t ,
by S e le c te d C h a r a c te r is tic s and R e g io n , 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1

C h a r a c te r is tic

United S ta te s

South

O ther r e g io n s 2

A ll p r o j e c t s ......................................

20

14

28

C o n stru ctio n c o s t group:
Under $ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 ..........................
$ 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 - $ l , 9 9 9 ,9 9 9 ..............
$ 2, 000, 000 and o v e r ................. .. .

15
27
33

14

31
30
37

Type of s tr u c tu r e :3
R e in fo rc e d co n cre te . . . ...............
L o a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y .................
W ood.......................................................

33
17
15

15
13

22
22

33

1A lthough c o n s tr u ctio n on som e p r o je c t s extended into 1961, m o s t
co n s tru ctio n w as p e r fo r m e d in 1 9 5 9 -6 0 .
in s u ffic ie n t data to w a rran t sep a ra te p re se n ta tio n by c h a r a c t e r is tic s
fo r the oth er th re e r e g io n s .
3D oes not include two p r o je c t s having a m ix tu re o f d iffe re n t types of
s tru c tu re s .




20

A v e r a g e nu m ber o f
s u b c o n tr a c to r s p er
p u b lic h ou sin g p r o je c t
by re g io n
U nited S t a t e s ........................................
N o r t h e a s t ...............................................
N orth C e n t r a l ......................................
S o u t h ..............................
W e s t ........... ............................................

20
29
28
14
26

M a s o n r y , p lum bing and heating, and p la s te r in g and lathing w e r e the
th ree la r g e s t su b co n tra ctin g g ro u p s, a ccou n tin g fo r about 54 p e r c e n t o f the
tota l m a n -h o u r s fo r s p e c ia l tr a d e s su b co n tr a c to r s (table 8). P r o je c t s with
w o o d b u ild in g s had a s m a lle r p r o p o r tio n o f tota l m a n -h o u rs fo r ea ch o f th ese
th ree tra d e s than did the oth er stru ctu ra l ty p e s . On the oth er hand, m a n ­
h ou rs o f painting su b co n tr a c to r s w e r e r e la t iv e ly m o r e im p orta n t fo r the w o o d
stru ctu ra l ty p e.
T he South u s e d fe w e r s u b co n tr a c to r s than did the oth er r e g io n s fo r
co m p a r a b le p r o je c t s , p o s s ib ly b e ca u se m o s t o f the southern p r o je c t s w e r e
lo c a t e d in n on m e tro p o lita n a r e a s .
T he C ost o f D ir e c t W a ges
W a g es paym ents fo r o n -s ite m a n -h o u rs a v e ra g e d 3 5 .5 p e r c e n t o f
c o n tr a c t c o s t fo r a ll p u b lic h ou sin g p r o je c t s stu d ied . T o ta l w age paym ents
a re the p ro d u ct o f m a n -h o u rs w o rk e d and a v e ra g e w age r a t e s . T he ra tio
o f w age paym en ts to co n tra ct c o s t w as re m a rk a b ly con sta n t, not on ly in
te r m s o f re g io n a l a v e r a g e s , but fo r individual p r o je c t s as w e ll. H alf o f the
p r o je c t s studied had a ra tio betw een 32 p e rce n t and 37 p e r c e n t. The c o n ­
sta n cy o f th is ra tio m e a n s that high m a n -h o u r r e q u ir e m e n ts a re a s s o c ia t e d
w ith low w a g es and v ic e v e r s a . T h is in d ica te s that c o n s tr u c tio n tech n iqu es
a re adapted to re g io n a l d iffe r e n c e s in la b o r co n d itio n s through use o f m o r e
o r le s s m e ch a n iz e d equipm ent.
T a b le 9 show s a v e ra g e h o u rly ea rn in gs fo r o n -s it e m a n -h o u rs w o r k e d .
P r o je c t s co n s tr u c te d in the South had a m a rk e d ly lo w e r a v e ra g e . T h e re w e r e
two sig n ifica n t r e a s o n s fo r th is. F ir s t , w age le v e ls a re g e n e ra lly lo w e r in
the South than in oth er r e g io n s . S econ d, w a g es tend to be lo w e r in n o n m e tr o ­
p olita n a r e a s o f a given g e o g ra p h ic r e g io n . T he m a jo r it y o f the sou th ern p r o j ­
e c ts w e r e lo c a te d in n o n m e tro p o lita n a r e a s , w h ile m o s t p r o je c t s in oth er
r e g io n s w e r e in m e tr o p o lita n a r e a s . So the usual d iffe r e n c e in w age ra te s
is a ccen tu a ted . A co m p a r is o n o f h o u rly ea rn in g s b y re g io n is as fo llo w s :




21

R e g io n a l c o m p a r is o n o f h o u rly ea rn in gs
U nited
States
A v e r a g e h o u rly ea rn in gs . .
W ages as a p e rce n t o f
c o n tra ct c o s t .............. .. o . .

N o rth ­
east

N orth
C en tra l

South

W est

3. 14

3 .8 4

3 .5 1

2. 36

3. 63

3 5 .5

36. 8

37. 2

3 3 .5

35. 7

W age ra te s a p p e a re d h igh er fo r m u ltis to ry , r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te
p r o je c t s , c o m p a r e d to oth er type p r o je c t s in the sam e r e g io n s . T h is m a y
be b e ca u se a ll o f the r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te p r o je c t s w e r e lo c a te d in m e t r o ­
politan a r e a s , w h ile som e o f oth er type p r o je c t s w e r e n ot. T h e re m a y a lso
be d iffe r e n c e s in the a v e ra g e sk ill le v e ls r e q u ir e d fo r co n s tr u ctio n o f the
v a rio u s stru ctu ra l ty p e s, lea d in g to d iffe r e n c e s in a v e ra g e w age ra te s .




T a b le 8.

P e r c e n t o f T o ta l O n -S ite M an -H o u r R e q u ir e m e n ts fo r P u b lic H o u sin g C o n stru c tio n ,
by T y p e of C o n tra c to r , R e g io n ,a n d T y p e o f S t r u c t u r e , 1959-6Cr

Region

T yp e of s t r u c t u r e

United
States

North­
east

North
Central

South

West

Reinforced
concrete

Loadbearing
m asonry

Wood

A l l t y p e s ...............................................................

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

G e n e r a l ......................................................................

49. 2

42. 6

38.9

56. 9

57.0

39. 8

52.2

60.0

S p e c i a l t r a d e s ..................... . . ............................
C o n c r e t e ..................................................................
E l e c t r i c a l ............................................................
M a s o n r y ..................................................................
P a i n t i n g ..................................................................
P l a s t e r i n g a n d l a t h i n g ..................................
P l u m b i n g a n d h e a t i n g .....................................
R o o f i n g a n d s h e e t m e t a l .......................... .
S i t e p r e p a r a t i o n a n d e x c a v a t i o n .............
S t r u c t u r a l a n d o r n a m e n t a l i r o n .............
A l l o t h e r t y p e s ..................................................

50.8
2.4
4. 3
8. 3
4. 1
7. 1
12. 3
1. 3
2. 3
1.4
7.4

57.4

61.1
3.9
5.1
8.8
4.4
6.9
16.0
.7
4. 7
1.7
8.9

43. 1
3. 1
3.3
7.6
3.8
4.8
10.0
1.7
1.4
.2
7. Z

43.0
.7
5.0
2.7
5.5
4. 1
10.8
1.7
1.7
2. 3
8. 3

60. 2
2.4
5. 2
11.9
3. 6
10.6
14. 7
.6
2.9
2. 8
5. 6

47.8
2.5
3.8
8.8
3.7
6.6
11.6
2.0
3.7
.2
4.8

40.0
3.6
2. 6
2.7
6.1
.2
8. 6
.9
1.6
.1
13.5

T y p e of c o n t r a c t o r

.

1 1
5. 1
10. 3
4.0
10. 9
13.8
.9
2. 3
2.5
6.6

A l t h o u g h c o n s t r u c t i o n on s o m e p r o j e c t s e x t e n d e d int o 1 9 6 1 , m o s t c o n s t r u c t i o n w a s p e r f o r m e d in 1 9 5 9 - 6 0 .




T a b le 9.

A v e r a g e O n -S ite E arn in gs f o r P u b lic H ousing C o n stru ctio n P r o je c t s ,
by S e le c te d C h a r a c t e r is t ic s and R e g io n , 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1

C h a r a c t e r is t ic

A v e ra g e
h o u rly
ea rn in gs

W ages as
percen t of
c o n tr a c t

O ther r e g io n s 2

South

U nited States

A verage
h o u rly
ea rn in gs

W a ges as
percen t of
c o n tra ct

A verage
h o u rly
ea rn in gs

W ages as
p e rce n t o f
co n tra ct

A ll p r o j e c t s ............................

$ 3 . 14

3 5 .5

$ 2 . 36

3 3 .5

$ 3 .71

36. 8

C o n s tr u c tio n c o s t group:
U nder $ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 . . . . . . . .
$ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 - $ 1, 999, 999 . . .
$ 2, 0 0 0 ,0 0 0 and o v e r ............

$ 2 .4 8
3 .0 7
3. 65

3 4 .7
3 5 .6
36. 2

$2.14
2 .5 5
2 .7 1

34. 3
32. 6
3 2 .9

$ 3 .4 7
3 .4 4
3 .8 8

35. 6
3 7.5
37. 3

T y p e o f s tru c tu re :
R e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e . . . . . . .
L o a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y . . . .
W o o d • o . o .......................... *. . •

3. 93
2. 61
2 .5 2

3 7 .0
3 5 .9
3 1 .4

2 .4 1
2. 22

-34. 6
30. 8

3 .9 3
3. 22
3 .5 2

3 7.0
3 9 .5
3 2.7

- -

A lt h o u g h co n s tr u c tio n on som e p r o je c t s exten ded into 1961, m o s t c o n s tr u c tio n w a s
p e r fo r m e d in 1 9 5 9 -6 0 .
in s u f f ic ie n t data to w arran t sep a ra te p re se n ta tio n b y c h a r a c t e r is t ic s fo r the oth er
th re e r e g io n s .
3D o e s not in clu d e two p r o je c t s having a m ix tu re o f d iffe re n t ty p e s o f s t r u c tu r e s .




24

O ff-S ite E m p loy m en t
F o r ea ch 114 m a n -h o u rs o f em p loy m en t p e r fo r m e d at co n s tr u ctio n
s ite s o f p u b lic hou sin g p r o je c t s , 122 addition al m a n -h o u r s w e r e r e q u ir e d to
p ro d u ce and d istrib u te n e c e s s a r y co n s tr u ctio n m a te r ia ls , su p p lies and e q u ip ­
m en t. Thus a tota l o f 236 m a n -h o u rs w e r e g en era ted fo r e v e r y $ 1, 000 e x ­
pended fo r c o n s tr u ctio n c o s t .
O ff-s it e e m p loy m en t is g en era ted in m a n y p la c e s , but can be c l a s s i ­
fie d in the fo llo w in g c a t e g o r ie s :
1. C o n stru ctio n in d u s t r y - - o f f- s it e : a d m in istra tiv e , estim a tin g ,
c le r ic a l, and w a re h o u sin g a c t iv it ie s .
2. M a n u factu rin g a c tiv itie s p ro d u cin g fa b r ic a te d p ro d u cts , raw
m a te r ia ls , and equipm ent.
3. T ra n s p o rta tio n , w a reh ou sin g, and d istrib u tio n o f fa b r ic a te d p r o d ­
u c ts , raw m a te r ia ls , and equipm ent.
4 . A ll oth er in d u strie s d ir e c t ly o r in d ir e c tly a ffe c te d b y p ro d u ctio n
o f fa b r ic a te d p ro d u cts , raw m a te r ia ls , and equ ip m en t. V a r io u s in te rin d u s­
t r y tra n s a ctio n s even tu a lly a ffe ct a ll additional in d u strie s such as a g ricu ltu re ,
fo r e s t r y , and m in in g .
T h e r e a re other ty p es o f em p loy m en t re la te d to c o n s tr u c tio n a c t iv i­
tie s w h ich this study did not attem pt to c o v e r . G rou p s o f w o r k e r s who w ou ld
be a ffe c te d by co n s tr u ctio n o f p u blic h ou sing p r o je c t s , but w e r e not c o n s id ­
e r e d fo r this r e p o r t, w ou ld include e m p lo y e e s o f a r c h ite c tu r a l f ir m s , u tility
co m p a n ie s , and State and lo c a l g ov ern m en t. T h e se e m p lo y e e s and th e ir fu n c ­
tion s w e r e not g e n e ra lly in clu d ed in co n s tr u ctio n c o n tr a c t c o s t s . A la r g e a re a
o f em p loy m en t, a ls o e x clu d e d fr o m ca lcu la tio n s o f m a n -h o u r e ffe c t s , is that
c r e a t e d by resp en d in g and in v estin g o f w a g es and p r o fits a r is in g in v a rio u s
a re a s o f e c o n o m ic a ctiv ity w ithin the sco p e o f this study.
A lthough the ra tio o f o n -s ite to o f f - s it e em p loy m en t re q u ir e m e n ts is
c o m m o n ly u se d in a n a lyzin g em p loy m en t re q u ir e m e n ts in the c o n s tr u ctio n
in d u stry , another type o f d istin ctio n b a se d upon the e c o n o m ic re la tio n s o f
la b o r -g e n e r a t in g a r e a s is a ls o u se fu l. T h e r e fo r e , em p loy m en t re q u ir e m e n ts
have a ls o been d iv id ed into p r im a r y and s e co n d a ry m a n -h o u r n e e d s. A s
shown in the fo llo w in g tabu lation , p r im a r y m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0
o f co n s tr u ctio n c o s t , e stim a te d at 192, a r is e in a c tiv itie s at the site and th ose
m o s t d ir e c t ly r e la te d to the co n s tr u ctio n a ctiv ity . In clu d ed in th e se , in a d d i­
tion to site em p loy m en t, a re o f f - s it e co n s tr u ctio n em p loy m en t, e m p lo y e e s o f
m a n u fa ctu rin g in d u strie s r e p r e s e n te d at the nla st stage o f m a n u fa ctu rin g ”
fo r m a te r ia ls p r io r to shipm ent to c o n s tr u ctio n s ite s , and e m p lo y e e s in t r a n s ­
p orta tion , tra d e , and s e r v ic e o rg a n iz a tio n s d ealin g in m a te r ia ls u se d at th ese
co n s tr u ctio n s ite s .




25

M a n -h o u rs p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f
c o n s tr u ctio n c o n tra ct c o s t
T o ta l
T otal . ..................................................................
O n -s ite c o n s tr u ctio n ••••••..........................
O f f - s i t e ....................................................................
C o n s t r u c t io n ......................................................
M a n u fa ctu r in g ..................... .............................
T ra n s p o rta tio n , tra d e , and s e r v ic e s . . .
A ll oth er (in clu d in g m in in g )........................

236
114
122
12
64
36
10

P r im a r y

S e co n d a ry

192
114
78
12
39
27
--

44
44
25
9
10

S econ d a ry m a n -h o u r re q u ire m e n ts have been d efin ed as th ose a s s o ­
cia ted with a ll oth er re q u ire m e n ts re la te d in d ir e c tly to n eed s at the s ite s .
Such a c t iv itie s , tota lin g 44 m a n -h o u rs or a p p ro x im a te ly 19 p e rce n t o f total
m a n -h ou r r e q u ir e m e n ts , a ffe c t a ll p a rts o f the e co n o m y as the im p a ct o f
p r im a r y a ctiv ity is r e fle c t e d in dem and fo r b a s ic m a te r ia ls and r e la te d
tra n sp orta tion , tra d e , and s e r v i c e s . 7
Som e in d u strie s a re
s e c t o r s . F o r ex a m p le, the
d ir e c t ly to the co n s tr u ctio n
in du stry w h ich in turn s e lls

r e p r e s e n te d in both p r im a r y and s e co n d a ry
sand and g ra v e l in d u stry fu rn ish e s m a te r ia l
in d u stry and a lso to the r e a d y -m ix e d c o n c r e te
to the co n s tr u ctio n in d u stry .

B u ild e rs ' O ff-S ite E m p loy m en t
An ex a ct study o f o f f - s it e em p loym en t o f c o n t r a c t o r s w as not a t­
tem pted, sin ce it w as a lm o st im p o s s ib le to re la te a c c u r a te ly such e m p lo y ­
m ent to p r o je c t s b ein g stu d ied . B u ild e rs ' o f f - s it e em p loy m en t w as o c c u p ie d
not on ly w ith p r o je c t s studied but a lso w ith oth er cu r re n t o r future p r o je c t s .
The estim a te o f 12 o f f - s it e m a n -h o u rs fo r ea ch $ 1,000 o f co n s tr u ctio n
co n tra ct is b a se d on the d iffe r e n c e betw een c o n s tr u ctio n w o r k e r em p loy m en t
and tota l em p loy m en t in the co n s tr u ctio n in d u stry. 8 T h is estim a te a ls o in ­
clu d es u n re p o rte d h ou rs fo r a few s e lf-e m p lo y e d cr a fts m e n who m a y have
w o rk e d at co n s tr u c tio n s ite s .
7S econ d a ry m a n -h o u rs w e re e stim a te d on the b a s is o f a study m ade
by the B u reau o f 1947 in te rin d u stry re la tio n s h ip s . See W . Duane E vans and
M a rv in H offe n b e rg , "T h e In terin d u stry R e la tio n s Study fo r 1947, " R e v ie w
o f E c o n o m ic s and S ta t is t ic s , V o l. X X X IV (M ay 195 2), C a m b rid g e , M a s s ,
pp. 9 7 -1 4 2 . F o r m eth od s em p lo y e d , see appendix.
A d m in is t r a t iv e , en g in eerin g , estim a tin g , and c le r ic a l w o r k e r s
a ccou n ted fo r about 14 p e rce n t o f total em ploym en t in the c o n s tr u ctio n in d u s­
tr y . A bout o n e -fo u r th o f this em p loym en t w as in v o lv e d at c o n s tr u ctio n s ite s .
E m p loy m en t and E a rn in g s S ta tistics fo r the United States 1 9 0 9 -6 0 , (B LS
B ulletin 1312, 1961).




26

C om bin in g th is em p loy m en t with o n -s it e em p loy m en t r e s u lts in an
estim a te o f 126 m a n -h o u rs o f em p loy m en t in the c o n s tr u c tio n in d u stry fo r
ea ch $ 1, 000 of p u b lic h ou sin g c o n s tr u ctio n .
E m p loy m en t in T ra n s p o rta tio n , T ra d e , and S e r v ic e
D is trib u tio n o f co n s tr u c tio n m a te r ia ls fr o m p ro d u cin g in d u strie s r e ­
q u ire s em p loy m en t o f w o r k e r s in tra n sp o rta tio n , w a reh ou sin g , and tra d e
in d u s tr ie s . The e stim a te o f 27 h o u rs o f p r im a r y em p loy m en t p er $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f
c o n s tr u c tio n co n tr a c t is b a se d on the d iffe r e n c e betw een p r o d u c e r 's value
and d e liv e r e d value o f m a te r ia ls u se d at c o n s tr u ctio n s it e s . T h is estim a te
in clu d e s on ly d istrib u tio n o f m a te r ia ls fr o m p r o d u c e r s to co n s tr u ctio n site s
and e x clu d e s d istrib u tio n o f m a te r ia ls am ong in d u strie s p r io r to shipm ent
o f c o m p le te d p r o d u c ts .
" L a s t M a n u factu rin g S tage" E m p loy m en t
M a n u factu rin g is the s e c t o r o f the e co n o m y m o s t a ffe cte d , oth er than
the co n s tr u ctio n in d u stry , by co n s tr u ctio n o f pu b lic h ou sin g . It is e stim a te d
that 39 m a n -h o u rs w e r e r e q u ir e d fo r each $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f total co n s tr u ctio n c o n ­
t r a c t to p ro d u ce co n s tr u c tio n m a te r ia ls u se d in building p u b lic hou sin g p r o j ­
e c t s . T h is e stim a te , h o w e v e r , in clu d e s on ly em p loy m en t r e q u ir e d in the
la s t m a n u fa ctu rin g p r o c e s s o f m a t e r i a l s .9 E m p loy m en t g en era ted b y this
a ctiv ity is d istrib u te d in m any in d u strie s a ffe c te d d ir e c t ly by co n s tr u ctio n
a ctiv ity . F o r ex a m p le, it in clu d e s sa w m ills cutting rough lu m b e r fo r fo r m s ,
and e sta b lish m en ts m akin g m illw o r k ite m s fr o m lu m b e r, but d oes not in ­
clu d e em p loy m en t in sa w m ills p ro d u cin g lu m b e r fo r m illw o r k p ro d u cts . The
la tte r is in clu d ed in e stim a te s of se co n d a ry em p loy m en t d is c u s s e d b e lo w .
E m p loy m en t in S e co n d a ry A c tiv itie s
In addition to 39 m a n -h o u rs p r e v io u s ly n oted fo r p r im a r y em p loym en t
fo r ea ch $ 1,0 0 0 o f p u b lic h ou sin g co n s tr u ctio n co n tr a c t in fa c t o r ie s p ro d u cin g
co n s tr u ctio n m a te r ia ls , an additional 25 m a n -h o u rs w e r e re q u ir e d in s e c o n d ­
a r y m an u fa ctu rin g a c t iv it ie s .
T ra n s p o rta tio n , tra d e , and s e r v ic e in d u strie s re q u ir e d 27 m a n -h o u rs
to m a n u fa ctu re and tra n sp o rt m a te r ia ls to and fr o m the in d u strie s a ffe c te d
in d ir e c tly . T h ese in d u strie s as a group r e q u ir e d 9 m a n -h o u rs fo r each
$ 1 ,0 0 0 o f c o n s tr u ctio n co n tra ct to m e e t the n eed s o f se co n d a ry b u sin e ss
a ctiv ity .
O ther b u sin e ss a c tiv itie s , p r in c ip a lly a g r ic u ltu r e , fo r e s t r y , and
m in in g, a ccou n te d fo r the rem a in in g 10 m a n -h o u rs o f se co n d a ry re q u ir e m e n ts .

in c lu d e d in the b ill o f m a te r ia ls w e r e su p p lies and the expended value
o f c o n s tr u ctio n equipm ent u se d by c o n t r a c t o r s .




27

C on stru ction T im e
A v e r a g e c o n s tr u c tio n tim e fo r the p r o je c t s su rv e y e d w as 58 w e e k s.
Individual p r o je c t s v a r ie d fr o m a lo w o f 30 w eek s to a high o f 122 w e e k s.
The s tro n g e s t in flu en ce on co n s tr u ctio n tim e a p p e a re d to be p r o je c t s iz e .
It took an a v e ra g e o f 47 w eek s fo r co n s tr u ctio n o f p r o je c t s in the s m a lle s t
c o s t c a te g o r y , w hile th ose p r o je c t s in the la r g e s t c a te g o r y r e q u ir e d 94
w eek s (table 10). P r o je c t s co n s tr u cte d o f w ood a p p ea red to have a sh o rte r
a v e ra g e co n s tr u ctio n tim e than did r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e o r lo a d -b e a r in g m a ­
son ry p r o je c t s of the sam e s iz e . T h is m a y be due to g re a te r use o f p r e fa b ­
r ic a tio n and fa s te r e r e c t io n o f the b a s ic building fr a m e . C o n stru ctio n tim e
fo r co m p a r a b le p r o je c t s w as g e n e ra lly sh o rte r in the South, p ro b a b ly b e ­
ca u se the m ild e r clim a te p e rm itte d co n s tr u ctio n to continue y ea r round.
A v e r a g e n u m ber o f w e e k s re q u ir e d fo r co n s tr u ctio n fo llo w s :
U nited States . .........................
N orth ea st ......................... .
.
N orth C en tra l ..........................
S o u t h ...........................
W e s t .............................................

58
78
85
46
61

E m p loy m en t by C o n stru ctio n P e r io d s
In o r d e r to m e a s u re the d istrib u tio n o f e m p loy m en t, the co n s tr u ctio n
tim e fo r ea ch p r o je c t w as d iv id ed into 10 equal p e r io d s , and data on the nu m ­
b er o f m a n -h o u rs w o rk e d w e r e tabu lated fo r ea ch o f th ese p e r io d s . T h is
p e rm itte d the co m b in a tio n o f m a n -h o u rs fo r p r o je c t s o f v a rio u s s iz e s in o r d e r
to obtain ty p ica l em p loy m en t p a tte rn s. T he ty p ica l p attern is fo r em p loym en t
to sta rt slo w ly , build to a peak in the m id d le d e c ile s , then ta p er o ff tow a rd s
the end (table 11). T h e r e w e r e no r a d ic a l d e p a rtu re s fr o m this pattern , a l ­
though co n s tr u ctio n o f w o o d fra m e bu ild in gs ca m e to a fa s te r peak, with 30
p e rce n t o f tota l em p loy m en t in the th ird and fourth d e c ile s . R e in fo r c e d c o n ­
c r e te m a n -h o u rs stayed at a high le v e l la te r than did th o se o f the other s t r u c ­
tu ra l ty p e s. C hart 3 show s o n -s it e m a n -h o u r re q u ir e m e n ts p er $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f
co n s tr u ctio n c o s t by d e c ile .
M a te ria ls U sed
C o st o f m a te r ia ls (table 12) re p r e s e n te d a p p ro x im a te ly 4 7 .5 p e rce n t
o f tota l co n s tr u c tio n c o s t fo r all p u blic h ou sin g p r o je c t s su rv e y e d . T h e se
c o s t s a ls o in clu d e d e p re c ia tio n c h a rg e s o r ren ta l c o s t s fo r co n s tr u ctio n
equipm ent, as w e ll as c o s t s o f s m a ll am ounts o f su p p lies co n su m e d and m a ­
t e r ia ls o r fix e d equipm ent in c o r p o r a te d in s tr u c tu r e s . A bou t 61 p e rce n t o f
the p r o je c t s fe ll w ithin 5 p e rce n t o f the a v era g e fo r a ll p r o je c t s . The p e r ­
centage o f p r o je c t s w ithin c e rta in ra n g e s is as fo llo w s :




28

P e r c e n t m a te r ia ls c o s t o f
total c o n s tr u c tio n c o s t
4 0 .9
4 5 .0
5 0 .0
5 5 .0

to
to
to
to

4 4 .9
49. 9
5 4 .9
5 7 .8

P ercen t of
p r o je c t s

.....................................
......................
.....................................
.....................................

20
35
35
10

T he d iffe r e n c e betw een tota l c o n s tr u c tio n c o s t and the sum o f m a te ­
r ia ls and o n -s it e w age c o s t s fo r a ll p r o je c t s am ounted to about 17 p e r c e n t.
T h is d iffe r e n c e r e p r e s e n t s the to ta l o f th ose o v e rh e a d c o s t s w h ich cannot
be a ttrib u ted to s p e c ific p r o je c t s - - s u c h a s a d m in istra tiv e o f f - s it e s a la r ie s ,
e x p e n se s o f ce n tra l o ffic e and y a rd o p e ra tio n s , in su ra n ce and ta x e s , plus
oth er o v e rh e a d , and p r o fit .
T a b le 13 p r e s e n ts c o s t s o f m a jo r m a te r ia ls grou p s b y type o f s t r u c ­
tu r e . M a te r ia ls c o s t is e x p r e s s e d in t e r m s o f d o lla r s p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f c o n s t r u c ­
tion c o n tr a c t ex p e n d itu re . T h is m a y be tra n sla te d into p e rce n ta g e t e r m s if
the r e a d e r p r e f e r s . F o r in sta n ce , $475 o f c o s t p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f ex pen ditu re is
eq u iva len t to 4 7 .5 p e r c e n t o f tota l c o n s tr u c tio n e x p e n d itu re . A lthough m a te ­
r ia ls re q u ir e m e n ts a re e x p r e s s e d as a ra tio o f c o s t in the ta b le s , in som e
w a y s this is not a tru e m e a s u r e o f m a te r ia ls r e q u ir e m e n ts . F o r a p r o je c t
w ith a given n u m ber o f d w ellin g u n its, m a te r ia ls c o s t as a p e rce n ta g e o f tota l
c o s t w ill be a ffe c te d by w h eth er la b o r c o s t s a re high o r lo w , s in ce la b o r c o s t s
a re a ls o a com p on en t o f the to ta l. M a te r ia ls re q u ir e m e n ts a re e x p r e s s e d b e ­
lo w in te r m s o f c o s t p e r 1, 000 sq u a re fe e t, so that the e le m e n t o f la b o r c o s t
w ill not a ffe c t c o m p a r is o n s .
Re gion
U nited S t a t e s ...................................
N o r t h e a s t ...........................................
N orth C e n t r a l .................................
S o u t h ...................................................
W e s t ............................................... .. .

M a te r ia ls c o s t p e r
1 ,0 0 0 squ are fe e t
$ 10, 680
1 0 ,9 1 0
1 2 ,2 5 0
9, 360
12, 900

T y p e o f stru ctu re
R e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e .....................
L o a d -b e a r in g m a s o n r y ..............
W o o d .......................... .........................




11, 320
9, 620
1 0 ,1 2 0

29

T able 10. A v e r a g e N um ber o f W eek s R e q u ire d fo r C on stru ction o f P u b lic
H ousing P r o j e c t s , by S e le c te d C h a r a c t e r is t ic s and R egion , 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1

C h a r a c t e r is t ic

United States

South

Other r e g i o n s 2

A ll p r o j e c t s ...................................

58

46

78

C on stru ction c o s t group:
Under $ 1 ,0 0 0 , 000 .......................
$ 1 ,0 0 0 , 0 0 0 - $ l , 9 9 9 , 999 .........
$ 2, 000, 000 and o v e r ...................

47
73
94

43
61
64

60
90
102

T ype of s t r u c t u r e :3
R e in f o r c e d c o n c r e t e ...................
L o a d - b e a r in g m a s o n r y ..............
W o o d ...................................................

84
54
46

48
42

84
76
58

1Although c o n s tr u c tio n on som e p r o je c t s extended into 1961, m o s t
c o n s tr u c tio n w as p e r f o r m e d in 1 9 59-60.
i n s u f f i c i e n t data to w a rran t separate p resen ta tion by c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
fo r the other three r e g io n s .
3D oes not include two p r o je c t s having a m ix tu re o f d ifferen t types o f
str u c tu r e s .




T a b le 11.

P e r c e n t o f O n -S ite E m p lo y m e n t fo r P u b lic H o u sin g C o n s tr u c tio n in E a c h T e n th o f T o t a l
C o n s t r u c t io n T im e , b y R e g io n an d T y p e o f S t r u c t u r e , 1 9 5 9 - 6 0 1

R eg io n and
type of s t r u c t u r e

P e r c e n t of o n -site m a n -h o u rs in -F irst
ten th

Second
te n th

T h ird
te n th

F o u rth
te n th

F ifth
tenth

S ix th
ten th

Sev en th
ten th

E ig h th
ten th

N in th
te n th

L ast
ten th

R eg io n
U n i t e d S t a t e s ..............................
N o r t h e a s t ......................................
N o r t h C e n t r a l ...........................
S o u t h .................................................
W e s t .................................................

3. 6
4. 1
3. 6
3 .5
2. 7

8. 7
7. 7
8. 2
9 .7
8. 7

12. 0
9 .9
1 2 .4
1 3 .4
1 1 .5

13. 2
1 1 .7
13. 5
14. 2
13. 5

13. 8
13. 9
13. 8
13. 5
1 5 .5

1 4 .0
13. 5
16. 7
13. 1
1 4 .9

1 2 .4
13. 2
14. 3
10. 7
13. 7

10. 5
1 2 .4
10. 3
9. 1
11. 1

7. 5
9. 1
5 .4
7. 3
5 .9

4. 3
4 .6
1 .8
5 .4
2 .4

T y p e of s tr u c tu r e :2
R e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e ..............
L o ad -b e arin g m aso n ry . . .
W o o d .................................................

3. 6
3. 3
4 .9

7. 1
8 .4
12. 5

1 0 .4
1 1 .5
16. 7

12. 0
1 4 .0
1 4 .4

13. 7
14. 3
1 2 .0

1 4 .6
1 4 .0
1 0 .6

13. 6
1 2 .5
8 .5

12. 3
9 .8
8. 7

8 .5
7 .4
6. 2

4. 1
4 .8
5 .4

A l t h o u g h c o n s t r u c t i o n o n s o m e p r o j e c t s e x t e n d e d in to 1 9 6 1 , m o s t c o n s t r u c t i o n w a s p e r f o r m e d in 1 9 5 9 - 6 0 .
2D o e s n o t i n c l u d e tw o p r o j e c t s h a v i n g a m i x t u r e o f d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f s t r u c t u r e s .
N ote:

B e c a u s e of ro u n d in g,




s u m s of in d iv id u al i t e m s m a y not e q u a l 1 0 0 .0 .

Chart 3. Percent of On-Site Man-Hours Worked in Each Decile of
Construction Time, 1959-60

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR




BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

T a b le 12.

C o st o f M a te ria ls p e r $ 1,0 0 0 o f P u b lic H ousing C o n stru ction C on tra ct,
by T ype of M a te ria l and R e g io n , 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1

S e le c te d p r o d u c t s and p rod u ct groups

United
State s

T o t a l c o s t , a ll p r o d u c t s ...................................

$ 4 7 5 .0 0

$ 4 4 5 .7 0

$ 4 6 0 . 00

$ 5 0 6 .7 0

$ 5 1 3 . 30

Stone, cla y , and g la ss p r o d u c t s .......................

$ 1 3 2 .5 0

$ 1 18.80

$ 1 1 6 .6 0

$ 1 5 5 . 10

$ 13 8.6 0

C em en t, c o n c r e t e , and gypsum p rodu cts . .
R e a d y - m i x c o n c r e t e ..........................................
G y p su m p r o d u c t s ...............................................
C o n c r e t e b lo c k and b r i c k ..............................
C e m e n t ....................................................................
C o n c r e t e pipe ......................................................
P r e c a s t c o n c r e t e p r o d u c t s ............................
L i m e .........................................................................

84. 90
47. 50
14. 90
11.4 0
5. 10
2 .4 0
1 .9 0
1 .7 0

74. 20
4 7 .0 0
12.50
7. 20
4 .0 0
1 .3 0
. 60
1 .5 0

69. 70
47. 20
10. 80
3. 70
5 .0 0
(2 /)
. 80
1 .90

9 8 .5 0
43. 60
17. 60
2 1 .6 0
5 .6 0
4. 90
3 .0 0
2. 20

11 0.5 0
64. 30
23. 30
7. 10
8 .4 0
1 .9 0
5. 00
( 2 /)

S tru ctu ra l c la y p r o d u c t s ...................................
B r i c k and s t ru c tu ra l c la y tile .....................
C la y s e w e r pipe .................................................
C e r a m i c tile ........................................................

28. 30
22. 70
2. 20
1 .7 0

28. 70
25.4 0
.9 0
1.00

31.5 0
2 6 .0 0
5. 10
(2 /)

31.5 0
23. 60
1 .9 0
3. 20

8. 50
1 .0 0
2. 80
1 .0 0

O ther stone, c la y , and g la ss p rodu cts . . . .
A sp h a lt tile ...........................................................
Sand and g r a v e l ...................................................
F ib e r g la ss in su la tion (including
a c o u s t ic a l t i l e ) .................................................
W indow g la s s ........................................................
C ru sh e d r o c k , slag, and m is c e lla n e o u s
a g g r e g a t e .............................................................

19. 30
5. 20
3. 70

16. 00
6 .0 0
1 .4 0

15. 50
4. 50
3. 20

2 5 .0 0
5. 20
6. 30

19. 60
4. 00
4. 80

3. 10
2. 80

4. 20
2 .5 0

2. 70
2 .4 0

2. 90
3 .4 0

. 50
3. 20

2. 60

1 .20

1 .90

4. 20

4. 00

See fo o tn o te s at end o f ta b le .



N orth­
east

N orth
C en tra l

South

W est

T a b le 12.

C ost of M a te ria ls p e r $ 1, 000 o f P u b lic H ousing C o n stru ctio n C on tra ct
by T ype of M a te ria l and R e g io n , 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1--C o n tin u e d

United
States

N orth­
east

N orth
C entral

South

W est

$ 1 0 8.4 0

$ 1 19.20

$ 11 4.7 0

$ 9 7 . 60

$ 9 0 . 80

F a b r ic a t e d stru ctu ra l m eta l p r o d u c t s .........
R e in f o r c i n g b a r s , ro d s , and j o i s t s . .........
M eta l w in d o w s, f r a m e s , and
a c c e s s o r i e s .....................................................
O rn a m en ta l m e t a l ............................................
M eta l d o o r s , f r a m e s , and a c c e s s o r i e s . .
F a b r ic a t e d sh eet m eta l, fo r m e d m e ta l
r o o f , and f l o o r d ecks and m eta l f o r m s .
M eta l l a t h .............................................................
S tru c tu ra l s t e e l .................................................
W ir e m e s h .............................................................

80. 20
28. 70

9 5 .8 0
42. 70

84. 80
31. 30

66. 20
13. 70

5 7 .4 0
23. 10

15. 10
8. 60
7. 90

14.4 0
12.40
8 .5 0

14. 60
5. 20
6. 60

17. 90
7. 90
8. 10

8. 80
2 .5 0
7. 80

20
80
70
10

5 .9 0
9. 20
1 .80
.9 0

6. 50
4. 00
1 .9 0
4. 20

O ther m e t a l p r o d u c t s ..........................................
C o p p e r (sh e e t m e ta l and p i p e ) .....................
N a i l s .........................................................................
G a lv a n iz e d sheet m e t a l ...................................
M eta l c a s e w o r k .................................................

17. 50
10. 50
2 .4 0
1 .9 0
1 .6 0

13. 20
10. 20
1 .7 0
.9 0
(2 /)

O ther f a b r ic a t e d m e ta l p r o d u c t s ...................
B u ild e r 's h a r d w a r e ..........................................

10. 70
10. 60

10. 10
10. 10

67.
26.
26.
8.
5.

5 0 .7 0
19. 60
24.9 0
1 .20
3 .4 0

S e le c t e d p ro d u cts and p rod u ct groups
M eta l p r o d u c t s (e x c e p t plumbing
and h e a t i n g ) .............................................................

L u m b e r and lu m b e r p r o d u c t s ............................
R ough and d r e s s e d l u m b e r ..............................
M ill w o r k .................................................................
F a b r ic a t e d stru ctu ra l l a m i n a t e s ...................
P l y w o o d ....................................................................
See fo o tn o te s at end o f ta b le.




7.
5.
2.
2.

20
60
10
60
00

10
10
50
30

10. 30
1. 30
1.40
2. 30

23. 30
10. 10
1 .7 0
2. 70
7. 60

19. 80
11.2 0
3 .5 0
2. 70
. 50

15. 30
10.40
2. 80
1.70
(2 /)

6. 60
6. 60

11.6 0
1 1 .4 0

18. 10
18. 10

85.
35.
28.
13.
8.

9 6 .4 0
4 9 .4 0
40. 80
3. 50
2. 20

5 3.
14.
16.
18.
3.

20
30
50
20
90

8.
4.
4.
2.

60
10
80
20
30

T a b le 12.

C ost o f M a te ria ls p er $ 1,0 0 0 o f P u b lic H ousing C o n stru ction C on tra ct,
b y T ype o f M a teria l and R e g io n , 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1--C o n tin u e d

U nited
States

N o rth ­
east

N orth
C en tra l

P lu m b in g p r o d u c t s ......................................................
F i x t u r e s ...................................................... ..................
S teel and g a lv a n ize d p i p e .....................................
C a s t -ir o n p ip e . .......................................... ............. ..
V a lv e s and s p e c ia lt ie s ..........................................

$ 4 7 . 70
17 .4 0
1 1 .7 0
9 .9 0
8 .0 0

$ 4 4 .5 0
15. 30
1 0 .5 0
1 1 .3 0
6. 60

$48.
13.
13.
7.
12.

F ix e d h ou se e q u i p m e n t ............................................
R e f r i g e r a t o r s .............................................................
E le v a t o r s and m o v in g s t a i r s ..............................
R a n g e s ...........................................................................
V en etia n b lin d s . . . . . . . 0 ....................... .. ............

28. 80
10. 20
9 .9 0
5. 80
1 .5 0

E le c t r ic a l equipm ent, fix tu r e s , and w ire . . . .
C o n d u it...................................... .. . . . ..........................
L ig h tin g fix tu r e s ................... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S w itch b oa rd s and p a n e l s .......................................
W ire and c a b l e ..........................................................
O ther n o n c u r r e n t -c a r r y in g w ir e d e v ice s . . .
C u r r e n t -c a r r y in g w ir in g d e v i c e s .....................
E le c t r ic it y g en era tin g u n it s .................................

S e le c te d p ro d u cts and p rodu ct groups

H eating, v en tila tin g , and a ir-co n d itio n in g
e q u i p m e n t ....................................................................
R a d ia to r s , c o n v e c t o r s , b o ile r s , and
hot w a ter ta n k s........................................................
Unit h e a te rs and v e n t ila t o r s .................................
S tora g e ta n k s .......................... ....................................
W a rm a ir fu r n a c e s ...................................................
P u m ps ...........................................................................
See fo o tn o te s at end o f ta b le .



South

W est

20
90
60
70
70

$ 5 1 .3 0
22 .0 0
1 1 .6 0
8 .9 0
8. 10

$46.
15.
12.
12.
4.

70
30
90
60
50

3 6 .4 0
8 .7 0
19 .4 0
4 .5 0
1. 10

32. 70
1 0 .4 0
11. 10
7. 10
2 .4 0

19 .9 0
12 .0 0
(2 /)
6". 40
1 .5 0

22.
9.
4.
6.
1.

70
80
10
20
80

22. 80
5 .9 0
4 .0 0
3. 60
3 .4 0
2. 10
1. 60
1. 30

2 3 .0 0
5 .9 0
3 .5 0
3 .9 0
3. 10
1 .8 0
1 .5 0
2 .6 0

2 5 .4 0
7 .0 0
5. 30
4 .4 0
3. 10
1. 30
1. 30
1 .4 0

19.00
4 .5 0
3. 30
2. 20
3. 80
2. 60
1 .3 0
(2 /)

30. 90
8. 60
6. 20
5 .4 0
3. 30
2. 60
3 .5 0
(2 /)

17. 30

18 .5 0

28. 80

1 1 .9 0

9 .4 0

11 .0 0
(2 /)
2. 90
.6 0
1 .2 0

1 1 .5 0
. 80
2. 70
5 .4 0
3 .0 0

2 .9 0
7 .9 0
. 60
(2 /)
(2 /)

2. 50
. 60
(2 /)
4 .9 0
(2 /)

7.
2.
1.
1.
1.

60
90
80
70
10

T a b le 12.

C ost o f M a te ria ls p e r $ 1, 000 o f P u b lic H ousing C o n stru ctio n C on tra ct,
by T ype o f M a te ria l and R e g io n , 1 9 5 9 -6 0 l - -C on tin u ed

U nited
State s

N o rth ­
ea st

N orth
C en tra l

P a in ts and oth er c h e m ic a l c o m p o u n d s ..............
P a in t .........................................................................
P utty, ca u lk in g , and gla zin g p r o d u c t s ............

$ 8 . 60
6 .0 0
.9 0

$ 6 . 10
4 . 30
.7 0

$ 9 . 20
7 .0 0
1. 20

P e tr o le u m p r o d u c t s ................................................. T
A sp h a lt p a v i n g ..........................................................
A sp h a lt and ta r p i t c h e s .............................. T. t . ,
A sp h a lt fe lt s ....................................................7 t t t f

5 .4 0
2 .4 0
1. 20
1. 10

3 .5 0
1. 10
1 .3 0
.9 0

A ll o t h e r ...........................................................................
N u r s e r y p ro d u cts . ........................................TTr t
A sp h a lt s h i n g le s ...............................................Tf t

11. 10
5. 10
2. 60

C o n stru c tio n equipm ent ren tal value or
d e p r e c ia tio n c h a r g e .................................................

25. 20

S e le c te d p ro d u cts and p rodu ct grou p s

South
$ 1 1 . 10
7 .0 0
1. 10

$ 9 . 50
7. 20
. 60

80
80
60
30

8. 90
4 . 70
1 .5 0
1 .8 0

5 .4 0
2 .4 0
. 90
1.00

6 .9 0
5 .0 0
(2 /)

6. 80
2. 60
. 80

18.80
6. 60
7. 20

9. 70
4. 90
(2 /)

18. 20

2 1 .6 0

2 7 .5 0

53. 10

2.
.
.
.

1A lthough co n s tr u ctio n on som e p r o je c t s extended into 1961, m o s t co n s tr u ctio n w as
p e r fo r m e d in 1 9 5 9 -6 0 .
2L e s s than $ 0 .5 0 .
N ote: G rou p tota ls include value o f p ro d u cts not shown s e p a ra te ly .
rou n d ed to the n e a r e s t tenth o f one d o lla r .




W est

V alu es w e r e

T a b le 13.

C o st o f M a te ria ls p e r $ 1, 000 o f P u b lic H ousing C o n stru ction C on tra ct,
by M a jo r M a te ria ls G roup and T yp e o f S tru ctu re , 1 9 5 9 -6 0 1

M a te r ia ls group

R e in fo r c e d
c o n c r e te

L o a d -b e a r in g
m ason ry

W ood

T o ta l c o s t , a ll p r o d u c t s ..............................................

$ 4 4 2 . 10

$ 5 0 1 . 30

$ 5 0 4 . 90

S tone, cla y , and g la ss p r o d u c t s .............. ....................
Cjement, c o n c r e t e , and gypsum p r o d u c t s ................
S tru ctu ra l c la y p r o d u c t s ...................................................
O th er ston e, c la y , and g la ss p r o d u c t s .......................
M eta l p ro d u cts (e x c e p t plum bing and heating) 0 « . . .
F a b r ic a t e d m e ta l p r o d u c ts ............................................
O th er m e ta l p r o d u c t s ........................................................
O th er fa b r ic a t e d m e ta l p ro d u cts .................................
L u m b e r and lu m b e r p r o d u c t s ........................................
P lu m b in g p ro d u cts .............................................................
F ix e d hou se e q u ip m e n t .....................................................
E le c t r ic a l equ ip m en t, fix tu re s and w ire ................
H eating, v en tila tin g , and a ir -c o n d itio n in g
e q u ip m e n t.............................................................................
P a in ts and oth e r c h e m ic a l co m p o u n d s.......................
P e tr o le u m p ro d u cts .............................................................
A ll o t h e r ..................................................................................
C o n stru c tio n e q u ip m e n t ...................................................

$ 12 3.5 0
7 6 .6 0
33. 50
1 3 .4 0
124. 60
1 0 0 .2 0
1 5 .0 0
9 .4 0
32. 30
47. 70
3 9 .4 0
24. 90

$ 1 5 1 .8 0
9 8 .4 0
27. 30
26. 10
96. 70
65. 70
19. 30
1 1 .7 0
90. 30
4 6. 00
19. 30
20. 90

$ 12 7.5 0
7 7 .0 0
28. 70
2 1 .8 0
8 3 .0 0
4 7 . 30
2 1 .0 0
14. 70
117.40
5 1 .2 0
2 1 .1 0
18 .8 0

1 9 .4 0
5. 90
3 .0 0
4 .5 0
18. 50

14.
10.
8.
13.
24.

10
20
60
90
20

1A lthough c o n s tr u c tio n on som e p r o je c t s exten ded into 1961, m o s t c o n s tr u ctio n w as
p e r fo r m e d in 1 9 5 9 -6 0 .




15. 20
10 .5 0
7 .5 0
2 6 .4 0
3 2 .8 0

37

C osts appear h ig h er in the N orth C en tra l and W e ste rn r e g io n s . A
p o s s ib le r e a s o n fo r this is g r e a te r d ista n ce fr o m m a jo r s o u r c e s o f supply
fo r som e m a te r ia ls , with con sequ en t h ig h er tra n sp o rta tio n c o s t s . H o w e v e r,
th ere m a y be oth er r e a s o n s , such as a r c h ite c tu r a l d e sig n v a ria tio n s , w h ich
cannot be id en tified fr o m the data at hand.
A lthough th ere is little d iffe r e n c e in tota l m a te r ia ls re q u ir e m e n ts ,
v a ria tion s in the am ount spent on subgrou ps and individual p ro d u cts a re
quite p ron ou n ced fo r the d iffe re n t stru ctu ra l ty p e s. The fo u r m o st im p o r ­
tant p rod u ct g rou p s a re ston e, c la y , and g la ss p r o d u c ts ; m eta l p ro d u cts;
lu m b er and lu m b er p ro d u cts; and plum bing p r o d u c ts . On the a v e ra g e , these
fou r grou p s a ccou n t f o r 75 p e rce n t o f total m a te r ia ls c o s t s .
Stone, cla y , and g la ss p ro d u cts a ccou n ted fo r about 28 p e rce n t o f
m a te ria ls c o s t . L o a d -b e a rin g m a s o n ry stru c tu re s had h ig h er c o s ts fo r
these p r o d u c ts , b e ca u se o f g re a te r ex p en d itu res fo r c o n c r e te b lo c k and
b r ic k . E xp en d itu res fo r this p rod u ct g rou p w e re h ig h er in the South
b eca u se o f the p re p o n d e ra n ce o f lo a d -b e a r in g m a s o n ry stru c tu re s lo ca te d
th e re . The W est had h ig h er c o s ts in this c a te g o r y , p a r tic u la r ly fo r cem en t.
The m eta l p ro d u cts g rou p , next la r g e s t , c o m p r is e d 23 p e rce n t of
total m a te r ia ls c o s t. R e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te stru c tu re s had the g re a te s t
exp en d itu res fo r m eta l p ro d u cts . T his w as due to high expen ditu res fo r
fa b rica te d m eta l p r o d u c ts , p a r tic u la r ly the r e in fo r c in g r o d s , b a r s , and
jo is t s w h ich this type o f stru ctu re r e q u ir e s . This m a te r ia ls grouping d oes
not r e p re s e n t the total con trib u tion o f m e ta lw o rk in g in d u strie s, sin ce
m eta l p ro d u cts shown s e p a ra te ly in equipm ent c a t e g o r ie s a re not included
h ere.
L u m b er and lu m b e r p ro d u cts , the th ird la r g e s t c a te g o r y , am ounted
to 14 p e rce n t o f total m a te r ia ls c o s t . Not s u r p r is in g ly , w ood stru ctu re s
had the h igh est expen ditu res fo r lu m b e r p ro d u cts . R e in fo r c e d co n c r e te
stru ctu re s had low exp en d itu res in this c a te g o r y , le s s than o n e -th ir d as
m uch as w ood . R egion a l v a ria tio n s a re a ls o in te re s tin g . High expen ditu res
fo r lu m b er in the W est w e re p ro b a b ly e n co u ra g e d by n e a rn e ss o f lu m b er
m ills and oth er supply s o u r c e s . L ow ex p en d itu res in the N orth ea st and
N orth C en tral re g io n s a re in flu en ced both by g r e a te r d ista n ce fr o m supply
s o u r c e s , and by the fa ct that the dom inate stru ctu ra l types b u ilt, r e in fo r c e d
c o n c r e te and lo a d -b e a r in g m a s o n ry , do not re q u ire as m uch lu m b e r.
P lu m bin g p ro d u cts a ccou n ted fo r 10 p e rce n t o f tota l m a te ria l
ex p en d itu res. T h ere w as v e r y little v a ria tio n by r e g io n o r stru ctu ra l type.
A p p a ren tly expen ditu res fo r plum bing p ro d u cts a re m o r e o r le s s a fix e d
fa c to r in p u b lic housing co n s tr u ctio n .




38

R em ain ing p ro d u ct c a te g o r ie s w ill not be d is c u s s e d in d e ta il, but
so m e o f the m o r e in te re s tin g re la tio n sh ip s can be noted. E xp en d itu res fo r
heating and ventilating p r o d u c ts , fo r e x a m p le , a re h ig h e r in the N ortheast
and N orth C en tra l re g io n s b e ca u se o f m o r e s e v e r e c lim a t ic con d ition s than
in the South. Som e o f the ex p en d itu res fo r heating equ ip m en t, such as d u cts,
a re a ls o in clu d ed under fa b r ic a te d s h e e t-m e ta l p r o d u c ts , o r under g a lv a ­
n ized sh eet-m eta l p r o d u c ts . E xp en d itu res f o r fix e d h ou se equipm ent a re
h ig h er fo r r e in fo r c e d c o n c r e te bu ildin gs b e ca u se th ese bu ildin gs have
e le v a to r s o r e s c a la t o r s and the oth er types do not.
In su m m a ry , ea ch stru ctu ra l type has a p a r tic u la r Mm ix M o f p ro d u ct
ex p en d itu res a s s o c ia t e d w ith it. In som e p ro d u ct c a t e g o r ie s , such as
plum bing p r o d u c ts , there is no g re a t d iffe r e n c e betw een d iffe re n t stru ctu ra l
ty p e s; in oth er c a t e g o r ie s , such as lu m b e r and lu m b e r p ro d u cts, the v a ria tio n
is c o n s id e r a b le . R e in fo r c e d c o n c r e t e s tru c tu re s have high re q u ir e m e n ts fo r
m e ta l p ro d u cts and fix e d hou se equipm ent. L o a d -b e a r in g m a s o n ry stru ctu re s
have high re q u ire m e n ts fo r ston e, cla y , and g la s s p r o d u c ts ; w ood stru ctu re s
have high re q u ire m e n ts fo r lu m b e r and lu m b e r p r o d u c ts .
M a te ria ls re q u ire m e n ts v a r y fr o m r e g io n to r e g io n b e ca u se o f
d iffe r e n c e s in the kind o f stru ctu ra l types being b u ilt, the c o s t and a v a ila ­
b ility o f m a te r ia ls , and oth er fa c t o r s such as clim a te .




39

Appendix.

Scope and Method of Survey

This study, designed to develop estimates of man-hour require­
ments associated with construction of public housing projects, utilized data
obtained from or related to activity at the construction sites as well as
secondary sources such as the Census of Manufactures. Public housing
projects which were not federally aided were not included in this study.
Characteristics of the Universe and Selection of the Sample
A complete listing of all public housing projects administered by the
Public Housing Administration, as of June 30, I960, was secured. This
publication, titled Consolidated Development Directory (Report S-11A),
indicates location, number of dwelling units, construction starting dates,
and other pertinent data for all projects as of that date. The universe for
sampling purposes consisted of all projects (approximately 130 containing
about 14, 000 dwelling units) on which construction was indicated as having
been started during 1959. These projects were stratified by four broad
geographical regions described previously under Nature of the Survey and
by number of dwelling units in each project.
A sample of 31 projects, approximately 1 in 4 of the universe, was
selected. As sampling within cells was not uniform owing to the number of
projects within some cells, variable weights were assigned to projects.
Unless otherwise noted, all information presented in this report is based
on weighted data. Although construction on some projects extended into
1961, most construction on projects studied took place during 1959 and I960.
Man-Hour Estimates
Customary presentation of employment data for construction projects
includes estimates for on-site and off-site employment. Such a presenta­
tion is followed in this study. In addition, however, there is an economic
distinction which can be made in analyzing man-hour requirements for con­
struction. Basic grouping in this instance would be primary and secondary
labor effects of construction expenditures, with the primary sector including
on-site employment plus the off-site employment directly related to activity
at the job sites.
Primary man-hour requirements, for purposes of this report,
include, in addition to all on-site labor, construction contractors1 office
employment, labor required in those manufacturing industries which fabri­
cate construction materials used on the site--that is, the last stage of manu­
facturing companies, plus all trade, distribution, and services involved in
placing construction materials at the site. Secondary employment includes
all other labor requirements necessary to produce and transport raw mate­
rials and semifinished products to factories which finally produce items
used at construction sites.




40

Data for on-site man-hour requirements were generally collected
from payroll records. All other labor requirements discussed below,
whether considered primary or secondary, were established by use of
secondary data.
Collection of On-Site Man-Hour Data
Under the U. S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended, the Public
Housing Administration is responsible for administering the low-rent public
housing program. The act provides for a program of locally owned and
operated low-rent public housing under which local governments, pursuant
to State enabling legislation, establish independent legal entities (local
housing authorities) to develop, own, and operate the housing projects.
PHA provided financial and technical assistance through 1962 to about 1,370
local housing authorities for development of housing projects. It reviews
administration of projects after construction is completed to determine that
they are operated and maintained in a manner to promote serviceability,
efficiency, economy, and stability and that the low-rent character of the
projects is maintained.
When a public housing project is constructed with Federal assistance,
each prime contractor and subcontractor engaged on the project is required
by legislation to submit to local housing authorities a copy of each weekly
payroll showing (with other information) daily and weekly hours worked, the
gross weekly earnings, and the occupation of each of his employees working
on the particular project. Through the cooperation of the Federal Housing
Administration and local housing authorities of the several States, copies of
payrolls for projects included in the sample, along with lists of contractors
working on the projects, were made available to the Bureau. These payrolls
provided data for estimating on-site man-hour requirements, as well as data
on wages for all hourly rated workers on the projects. Data for on-site
salaried employees, not accounted for on payrolls submitted, were obtained
from contractors by field representatives of the Bureau. In a few cases,
payroll records requested were not available or were inadequate as data
sources. For these situations, alternate projects were substituted.
Off-Site Man-Hours
From contractors and subcontractors cooperating in the study, a
price list was obtained of the value of each type of material used in construc­
tion of sample projects. These material listings were classified into cate­
gories consistent with 4-digit Census of Manufactures product groups. For
each of these product groups, average amounts required per $ 1,000 of
contract construction were determined. Once average requirements were
calculated, each figure was reduced by a ratio representing the difference




41

between valuation by the purchaser and valuation by the producer,10 Since
all data reported by contractors were in purchasers1 value, reduction to
producers1 value resulted in figures consistent with Census data published
on these various components.1
Secondary Employment in All Industries
Secondary employment is defined as the employment in all industries
involved in production and transportation of building materials and equipment,
from basic extraction to, but not including, the final manufacturing stage.
To calculate all secondary man-hours involved in each construction
material and equipment, a newly prepared 200-interindustry system of clas­
sification was used which incorporated a 200-order interindustry system of
classification, replacing the previous 57-order interindustry analysis. The
200-order interindustry analysis, while principally based on the 1947 inter­
industry analysis, is now adjusted to I960 prices and productivity levels.
The newly prepared 200-interindustry system is also constructed on a sixsector determination of associated employment needed to produce a given
bill of goods. Each of the six sectors--agriculture, mining, manufacturing,
transportation, trade, and all other--has an individual employment factor
for each product group. By multiplying the value of each component by the
six individual employment factors, it was possible to determine amount of
employment required in the six sectors to produce each given material. Price
adjustments and productivity adjustments were made to arrive at data for the
year consistent with the bill of materials.
Total Man-Hour Requirements
From each off-site stage (primary distribution, primary manufactur­
ing, and secondary industry), a man-hour figure per $1, 000 of public housing
construction was obtained. When these were combined with direct or on-site
man-hours, the total employment effect, within the definition used by the study,
was determined. However, procedures used in estimating employment gen­
erated by public housing construction did not include all such employment.
Techniques used for the off-site segment cover only employment generated by
direct purchases of materials and supplies and implicit in depreciation of con­
struction equipment. The following areas of employment related to volume of
construction activity were not covered: (1) architectural, surveying, estimat­
ing, and other planning employment; (2) inspection or supervision by the archi­
tect or the government during construction; (3) the labor time involved in

10The ratio used for this reduction was the purchaser-to-producer ratio
for these components in new construction as developed for use in the 1947 study
of the industrial interrelationships of the American economy.
u This ratio was established by using the 1959 Survey of Manufactures.




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installations by public utility employees, as well as any site preparation not
covered by the construction contract; (4) employment generated by purchases
of moveable furniture and equipment; (5) the "multiplier11 effect of respending
of wages and profits; and (6) construction and equipment of production facilities ,
if needed to supply construction materials.




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U . S. G O V E R N M E N T P R IN T IN G

O F F I C E : 19 64 O - 7 3 1 -4 7 3