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LABOR AND
MATERIAL
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
SCHOOL
CONSTRUCTION
JU N E 1968
B L S B u lle tin 1 5 8 6
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
P r e fa c e
This study of lab or and m a teria l requ irem en ts fo r the con stru ction of sch ools
is one of a s e r ie s which the Bureau of L abor S tatistics have m ade of va riou s types of
con stru ction that m ight be affected by future governm ental action. It is s im ila r to an
e a r lie r study of sch ool con stru ction m ade in 1959. Other p re v io u s ly published studies
include highw ays, F e d e r a l o ffice buildings, h osp ita ls, c iv il w orks a ctiv ities of the
A rm y C orp s of E n gin eers, public housing, private o n e -fa m ily dw elling units, c o lle g e
housing, and sew er w orks con stru ction .
T h ese studies are m ade by the Bureau*s O ffice of P rod u ctivity, T ech n ology and
Growth under the gen eral d ire ctio n of Jerom e A. Mark, {A ssistant C o m m issio n e r fo r
P rod u ctivity, T ech n ology, and Growth. The study was d irected by Jam es F. W alker.
Henry Renten was resp o n sib le fo r the c o lle c tio n of data.
The Bureau gratefully acknow ledges the coop era tion of the Housing and Home
Finance A gency fo r m aking available m uch of the data on fe d e r a lly -a id e d sch ool
pr o je c ts .
1X1
CONTENTS
Page
I n t r o d u c t i o n ......................................................................................................................................................
1
N atu re of s u r v e y ............................................................................................................................................
L i m i t a t i o n s o f the d a t a ...............................................................................................................................
G e n e r a l s u r v e y f i n d i n g s ............................................................................................................................
C o m p a r is o n of sa m p le s
...........................................................................................................................
C h a n g e s in o n - s i t e m a n - h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s ..................................................................................
O n - s i t e m a n - h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s ...........................................................................................................
R e q u i r e m e n t s by o c c u p a t i o n
..............................................................................................................
C o n t r a c t o r s * s h a r e s ......................................................................................................................................
O n - s i t e w a g e s ...................................................................................................
C o n s t r u c t i o n t i m e .........................................................................................................................................
A f f e c t on o t h e r i n d u s t r i e s ........................................................................................................................
M a t e r i a l s u s e d ...............................................................................................................................................
1
1
1
3
4
5
5
5
7
7
7
7
A p p e n d ix . S c o p e and m e t h o d o f S u r v e y ............................................................................................
S u r v e y c r i t e r i a .........................................................................................................................................
M a n - h o u r e s t i m a t e s ...............................................................................................................................
A r e a d e f i n i t i o n .........................................................................................................................................
22
22
22
23
T a bles:
1.
N u m b e r and c o s t o f s u r v e y e d s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o j e c t s , by
s e l e c t e d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 ...............................................
2.
3.
4.
O n -site m a n -h ou r re q u ire m e n ts fo r sch ool co n stru ctio n p r o je c t s ,
b y s e l e c t e d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 ...............................................
10
O n - s i t e m a n - h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n
b y p r o p o r t i o n o f l o w e r s k i l l e d l a b o r e m p l o y e d and r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 . . .
11
P e r c e n t d istrib u tion of s ch o o l p r o je c t s , by n u m ber of o n -s ite m a n -h o u r s
r e q u i r e d f o r e a c h $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f c o n s t r u c t i o n c o n t r a c t , b y r e g i o n ,
1 964-65
5.
6.
7.
11
O n - s i t e m a n - h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 of s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n
c o n t r a c t , b y o c c u p a t i o n and r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 .........................................................
12
P e r c e n t o f a p p r e n t i c e s e m p l o y e d on s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o j e c t s
o c c u p a t i o n and by r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 .............................................................................
13
A v e r a g e n u m b er of c o n t r a c t o r s p e r s c h o o l co n s tr u c tio n p r o je c t ,
b y c o s t g r o u p and r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5
8.
.............................................................................
P e r c e n t o f t o ta l o n - s i t e m a n - h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n ,
b y typ e o f c o n t r a c t o r and r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5
9.
14
............................................................
14
A v e r a g e o n - s i t e e a r n i n g s on s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o j e c t s , by s e l e c t e d
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 ..........................................................................
IV
15
CONTEN1
-------C o n t i n u e d
Page
10.
11.
12.
A v e r a g e n u m ber of w eek s r e q u ir e d fo r co n s tr u c tio n of s ch o o l, by c o s t
g r o u p and r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 .............................................................................................
16
P e r c e n t o f o n - s i t e e m p l o y m e n t f o r s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n in e a c h tenth o f
t o t a l c o n s t r u c t i o n t i m e , b y r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 .........................................................
17
T o t a l m a n - h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s p e r $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n ,
1 9 6 4 - 6 5 ........................................................................................................................................
18
T o t a l c o s t o f m a t e r i a l c o m p o n e n t s f o r e a c h $ 1 ,0 0 0 of s c h o o l
c o n s t r u c t i o n c o n t r a c t , b y r e g i o n , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 ..........................................................
19
C harts:
1.
D i s t r i b u t i o n of 189 m a n - h o u r s f o r e a c h $ 1 ,0 0 0 o f s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n
c o n t r a c t , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 .................................................................................................................
2
13.
2.
P e r c e n t d i s t r i b u t i o n o f o n - s i t e w a g e s and m a t e r i a l s u s e d f o r e a c h
$ 1 ,0 0 0 o f s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n c o n t r a c t , 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 ...............................................
6
In trod u ction
L i m i t a t i o n s o f the Data
P u b li c s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n was c h o s e n as
the f i r s t in this s e r i e s of s tu dies b e c a u s e of
the p r e s s i n g n e e d f o r n ew c l a s s r o o m s at the
t i m e . It was s e l e c t e d f o r r e s t u d y b e c a u s e of
its con tin u in g i m p o r t a n c e in tota l e x p e n d i
t u r e s f o r n ew c o n s t r u c t i o n that ca n be
a f f e c t e d g r e a t l y b y g o v e r n m e n t a l a c tio n . The
ch a n g e s in tota l l a b o r r e q u i r e m e n t s and
o c c u p a t i o n a l m i x , as w e l l as ch a n g e s in m a
t e r i a l s u s e d in s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n d urin g
the 5 y e a r p e r i o d s in c e the f i r s t study, p r o
v i d e d add ed j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r the r e c e n t
s u r v e y . E x p e n d itu r e s f o r e d u c a t io n a l c o n
s t r u c t io n , b o t h p r i v a t e and p u b l ic , have r i s e n
s t e a d i ly f o r m a n y y e a r s and to ta le d o v e r $6
b il l i o n in 1966. It is s e c o n d o n ly to h ighways
in p u b lic c o n s t r u c t i o n o u tla y s .
The p la n nin g, d e v e lo p i n g , and building o f
s c h o o l s v a r y g r e a t l y a m o n g the v a r i o u s
s c h o o l s y s t e m s , and a s a m p le of p r o j e c t s
l a r g e en ou gh to r e f l e c t a ll of the p o te n tia l
f a c t o r s a f f e c t i n g s o m e o f the d e ta il p r e
sen ted w ou ld have b e e n p r o h i b i t i v e .
N atu re of S u r v e y
T h is study is b a s e d on a s u r v e y o f .s e le c t e d
e l e m e n t a r y and s e c o n d a r y p u b lic s c h o o l s
c o n s t r u c t e d p r i m a r i l y du rin g the p e r i o d
1 9 6 4 - 6 5 . Data w e r e c o l l e c t e d f r o m 1 03p r o j
e c t s , s e l e c t e d f r o m the f o u r b r o a d g e o
g r a p h i c a l r e g i o n s of the U.S.1_/
The study was d e s i g n e d p r i m a r i l y to
d e t e r m i n e the tota l m a n - h o u r s of e m p l o y
m e n t r e q u i r e d f o r a f i x e d d o ll a r v o lu m e
($1 ,00 0 ) o f s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n . M a n - h o u r s ,
as d e fin e d f o r the s u r v e y , in c lu d e both o n
s ite c o n s t r u c t i o n e m p l o y m e n t and o f f - s i t e
e m p l o y m e n t r e q u i r e d to p r o d u c e and d e l i v e r
the m a t e r i a l s u s e d in s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n .
In a d d ition to p r o v i d i n g i n f o r m a t i o n on
m a n - h o u r s , the study a l s o i n c lu d e s data on
the ty p es and va lu e o f m a t e r i a l s u s e d , w a g e s
p a id , o c c u p a t i o n a l d is t r i b u t io n , and u s e of
app ren tices.
R e s u l t s of the stu dies a r e b ein g u s e d to
eva lu a te ch a n g e s in c o s t s and to attem p t to
m e a s u r e the ch a n g e s in output p e r m a n - h o u r
f o r o n - s i t e c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k e r s b e tw e e n
the two s tu d ie s .
\J F o r a m o r e d e ta ile d d e s c r i p t i o n of
m e th o d , and f o r a l i s t of States in c lu d e d in
e a c h r e g i o n , s ee appendix.
T h e r e is no known b ia s in the s a m p l e s e
l e c t i o n , but the n u m b e r o f p r o j e c t s stu died
w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t to in s u r e a h igh d e g r e e of
a c c u r a c y f o r a ll of the e s t i m a t e s p u b lis h e d .
The e s t i m a t e s on tota l e m p l o y m e n t , o c c u
p a tio n a l d is t r i b u t io n , and tota l s h a r e s of
o n - s i t e w a g e s and m a t e r i a l s a r e b e l i e v e d
to be a c c u r a t e .
C e r t a in ty p es of e m p lo y m e n t p o s s i b l y
a f f e c t e d by s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n w e r e not
c o v e r e d b y the s u r v e y . N o e s t i m a t e s w e r e
m a d e o f the e m p lo y m e n t u s e d in plan nin g
and d e s ig n in g the s c h o o l s . Such e x p e n d i t u r e s
a l s o w e r e not in c lu d e d in the c o n t r a c t c o s t s
s t u d i e d . (See a pp en dix.) A l s o e x c lu d e d
f r o m the s u r v e y was the l a b o r i n v o lv e d in
i n s ta lla t io n s m a d e by p u b l i c - u t i l i t y e m
p l o y e e s as w e l l as any site p r e p a r a t i o n o r
la n d s c a p in g w o r k not c o v e r e d by the c o n
s t r u c t io n c o n t r a c t .
E m p lo y m e n t c r e a t e d by the r e s p e n d i n g o f
w a g e s and p r o f i t s - - c o m m o n l y c a l l e d the
m u l t i p l i e r e f f e c t - - a l s o w as not c o n s i d e r e d
within the s c o p e o f the study.
The p r i n c i p a l d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n this and
the e a r l i e r study was the i n c l u s i o n in this
study o f e s t i m a t e s o f the e m p l o y m e n t e f f e c t
o f c o n t r a c t o r s * o v e r h e a d . In p r e s e n t in g
c o m p a r i s o n s o f the two s tu d ie s , a d ju s tm e n ts
have b e e n m a d e to the e a r l i e r data to i n
clu d e th e s e e s t i m a t e s .
G e n e r a l S u rv e y F in d in g s
A p p r o x i m a t e l y 198 m a n - h o u r s of l a b o r
w e r e r e q u i r e d f o r e a c h $1,000 of s c h o o l
c o n s t r u c t i o n in 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 , r e p r e s e n t i n g a
d e c l in e of about 16 p e r c e n t f r o m the s i m -
Chart 1. Distribution of 189 Man-Hours for Each $1,000
of School Construction Contract, 1964-65
Off-site
Construction
22
PRIMARY
MAN-HOURS
Transportation,
Trade and Services
t
141
38
Last Manufacturing
Stage
27
6
SECONDARY
MAN-HOURS
Other
Manufacturing
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR .
Transportation,
Trade and Services
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
All Other
Industries
48
i l a r study c o n d u c te d in 1959. O n - s i t e e m
p l o y m e n t a l s o d e c r e a s e d 16 p e r c e n t , f r o m
86 to 72.3 m a n - h o u r s . 2 ]
s c h o o l s in a d d ition to c h a n g e s in l a b o r r e
q u i r e m e n t s p e r unit o f s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n .
U n fortu n a tely , a g ood d e f l a t o r to r e m o v e the
e f f e c t o f p r i c e ch a n ge f r o m valu e c h a n g e s is
not a v a ila b le f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n in d u s try .
A lth ou gh an a ttem p t is m a d e in the study to
p r o v i d e b oth a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a m p le of
s c h o o l s in both p e r i o d s and a l s o to m a t c h
the s a m p le of s c h o o l s f o r the two p e r i o d s ,
the l a tte r o b j e c t i v e co u ld not be r e a l i z e d
in a ll c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
A c o m p a r is o n of m a n -h ou r req u irem en ts
f o r the two s tu dies is shown b e lo w .
The c o m p a r i s o n o f m a n - h o u r s p e r $1,000
o f c o n s t r u c t i o n r e f l e c t s c h a n g e s in c o n
s t r u c t io n p r i c e s and shifts in ty p e s of
Man-hours Per $1,000 of Contract
1964 -65
Percent
Number
1959
Percent
Number
Total man-hours--------------
198
100
235
100
Construction------------- -
81
41
96
41
On-site -----------------
72
36
86
37
O f f - s i t e ---- -----------
9
5
10
4
Manufacturing -------------
65
33
74
31
services -------------
37
19
46
20
All other industries — ^---
15
7
10
4
Trade, transportation and
1/ Includes 1 hour of indirect construction employment.
A s a r e s u l t , the c o m p a r i s o n s o f s q u a re
f o o t a g e c o s t w h ic h f o l l o w d o r e f l e c t s o m e
d i f f e r e n c e s in c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . T h is d o e s
not ob via te the c o n c l u s i o n of the r e l a t i v e
s ta b ility in s q u a r e f o o t a g e c o s t o v e r the tw o
p e r i o d s s in c e to a v e r y a p p r e c i a b l e exten t
the s c h o o l s c o m p a r e d w e r e s i m i l a r . M o r e
o v e r , the fin d in g s n e e d not be i n c o n s i s t e n t
w ith the a p p e a r a n c e of p r i c e ch a n g e s f o r
s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n w h ich c o u ld a f f e c t c e r
tain ty p e s o f s c h o o l s in c e r t a i n l o c a l i t i e s
in s e l e c t e d r e g i o n s .
2 / A q u a lity c h e c k on the e a r l i e r study
i n d i c a t e s that the o r i g i n a l e s t im a t e o f 84
h o u r s w a s u n d e r s t a t e d b y about 2 h o u r s .
A d ju s t m e n t s a l s o w e r e m a d e f o r o f f - s i t e
h o u r s , as a r e s u l t o f a n e w in p u t-o u t study
(1958 in t e r i n d u s t r y data), and the i n c l u s i o n
o f an e s t im a t e c o v e r i n g the c o n t r a c t o r ’ s
o v e r h e a d e x p e n d i t u r e s . The r e v i s e d tota l
e m p l o y m e n t f o r the 1959 study w a s 235
h o u r s p e r $1,000 of c o n t r a c t . T h is c o m
p a r i s o n m u s t be q u a lif ie d as m u s t o th e r
c o m p a r i s o n s b e c a u s e o f the l a c k o f s t r i c t
m a tc h in g o f p r o j e c t with s i m i l i a r c h a r a c
t e r i s t i c s b e tw e e n the tw o s tu d ie s . N e v e r t h e
l e s s , th ey a r e u s e f u l as i n d i c a t o r s o f the
g e n e r a l ch a n ge w h ic h has taken p l a c e in this
tim e p e rio d .
C o m p a r i s o n o f S a m p le s
In g e n e r a l the s c h o o l s s u r v e y e d in the
m o r e r e c e n t p e r i o d w e r e l a r g e r and had
m o r e c la s s r o o m s . A lso a greater p r o p o r
tion o f th em had a ir c o n d it io n in g , a u d i t o
3
r i u m s and g y m n a s iu m s . H o w e v e r , the
s c h o o l s in both s u r v e y s sh ow ed the sam e
p r o p o r t i o n o f s p a c e u t i li z e d f o r n o n - c l a s s r o o m p u r p o s e s . The a c c o m p a n y in g table
i n d i c a t e s s o m e o f the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f the
s c h o o l s in e a c h study.
C h a r a c t e r i s t ic s
(Average)
1964-65
1959
In both stu d ies the l a r g e r p r o j e c t s w e r e
m o r e c o s t l y p e r s q u a re f o o t , but the d i f f e r
e n c e was s m a l l e r in the m o r e r e c e n t study.
T h e r e w e r e no s ig n ific a n t ch a n g e s in the
r e l a t io n s h ip of s q u a re fo o t c o s t s by typ es
o f s t r u c t u r e . In g e n e r a l , s q u a re fo o t c o s t
d i f f e r e n t i a l s tended to n a r r o w in a ll c o m
p a r i s o n s e x c e p t by r e g io n .
Floor space (1000
C h a n g es in O n - s i t e M a n -h o u r R e q u i r e m e n t s
60.0
51.4
Cost per square f o o t ---- $
14.16 $
14.16
Number o f cla ssroom s----
24.6
21.0
Cost per classroom -------- $ 34,500
$ 35,000
C on stru ction c o s t ---------- $850,000
$730,000
square f e e t ) ---------------
A lthough th e r e was no ch a n ge in c o s t f o r
the a v e r a g e s c h o o l f r o m the f i r s t to the
s e c o n d study, v a r i a t io n s in c o n s t r u c t i o n
c o s t s w e r e o b s e r v e d in c o m p a r i n g type of
s c h o o l and oth er building c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
(See table 1.)
Square f o o t and c l a s s r o o m c o s t s i n
c r e a s e d f o r e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l s and d e
c r e a s e d f o r s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s f r o m 1959 to
1964-65.
Square f o o t c o s t i n c r e a s e d in the N o r t h
e a s t and W e s t and r e m a i n e d about the s a m e
o r d e c r e a s e d in the N o rth C e n t r a l and South.
In the e a r l i e r study s q u a re f o o t c o s t s w e r e
h ig h e r in m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a s but in the
la t t e r study the d i f f e r e n c e s w e r e s m a l l and
not c o n s i s t e n t .
Square :f o o t c o s t s
1959
1964-65
1.
M a n -h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s p e r s q u a re
f o o t of s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n d e c r e a s e d f r o m
1.19 in 1959 to 1.02 in 1 96 4-65.
2. The tota l value of m a t e r i a l put in p la c e
p e r m a n - h o u r i n c r e a s e d about 16 p e r c e n t
d u r in g the s a m e p e r i o d . Som e of this gain
p o s s i b l y is due to the i n c r e a s e d u s e o f p r e fab rica ted m a terials.
3. M a n -h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s p e r $1,000 of
c o n t r a c t w e r e 16 p e r c e n t l o w e r , in d ica tin g
a r e d u c t io n of about 2.75 p e r c e n t a y e a r
(c o m p o u n d e d du rin g the 5 —1/ 2 y e a r p e r i o d . )
4. The p r o p o r t i o n o f o n - s i t e w a g es to
tota l c o n t r a c t c o s t s r e m a i n e d about the
s a m e (aroun d 26 p e r c e n t ) b e tw e e n the two
p e r i o d s , d e s p it e an i n c r e a s e of 16 p e r c e n t
in a v e r a g e h o u r l y e a r n in g s .
O n - s i t e la b o r r e q u i r e m e n t s in the 1 9 6 4 -6 5
study d e c l in e d in e a c h of the fo u r b ro a d
r e g i o n s , but c o s t s p e r s q u a re f o o t b etw een
the r e g io n s v a r i e d both in l e v e l and tren d .
Man-hour
requirements
per square f o o t
1959
1964-65
Decreases in
man-hour
requirements
( P e r c e n t)
N ortheast---- ------
16.99
18.98
1.291
1.192
8.3
North C en tra l----
13.67
13.55
1.129
.957
15.2
South-------------------
12.11
11.56
1.199
1.025
14.5
West--------------------
14.25
15.53
1.149
.955
16.9
A l l s c h o o l s --------
14.16
14.16
1.189
1.024
13.8
O n - s i t e M a n -h o u r R e q u i r e m e n t s
r e q u i r e m e n t s w e r e 60 p e r c e n t g r e a t e r f o r
p r o j e c t s h aving 45 p e r c e n t o r m o r e o f th e ir
to ta l m a n - h o u r s in l o w e r s k i l l o c c u p a t i o n s
than f o r p r o j e c t s with 25 p e r c e n t o r l e s s in
th o s e c a t e g o r i e s .
O n -site m a n -h ou r req u irem en ts v a rie d
c o n s i d e r a b l y b e t w e e n p r o j e c t s , but o v e r half
o f the p r o j e c t s stu died had m a n - h o u r r e
q u i r e m e n t s ( p e r $1,000 o f c o n s t r u c t i o n ) ,
ra n g in g f r o m 55 to 75. M o s t o f the p r o j e c t s
h av in g h ig h e r m a n - h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s w e r e
in the South and N orth C e n t r a l r e g i o n s .
R equ irem en ts by O ccupation
C h an ges in the o c c u p a t i o n a l d is t r i b u t io n
b e tw e e n the tw o stu d ies w e r e in s i g n if ic a n t
and m o r e o r l e s s p r e d i c t a b l e . D e c r e a s e s in
the p r o p o r t i o n of p l a s t e r e r s , l a t h e r s , and
o r n a m e n t a l i r o n w o r k e r s , and i n c r e a s e s in
o p e r a tin g e n g i n e e r s , s h eet m e t a l w o r k e r s ,
and tile s e t t e r s w e r e t y p i c a l o f o c c u p a t i o n a l
tr e n d s in b u ild in g c o n s t r u c t i o n .
In g e n e r a l , d i f f e r e n c e s in m a n - h o u r r e
q u i r e m e n t s b e tw e e n p r o j e c t s and s p e c i f i c
g r o u p s o f p r o j e c t s n a r r o w e d . The m o s t s i g
n if i c a n t ch a n ge in r e l a t io n s h ip s f r o m the
p r e v i o u s study o c c u r r e d in the s m a l l e r p r o j
e c t s . In the e a r l i e r study, s m a l l e r p r o j e c t s ,
in c lu d in g m o s t o f the e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l s ,
had m u c h h ig h e r l a b o r r e q u i r e m e n t s %p e r
$1,000 of c o n t r a c t . In the m o r e r e c e n t study,
s i z e o f p r o j e c t did not a p p e a r to be a s i g n i
f i c a n t f a c t o r , and e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l s as a
g r o u p a c t u a lly had l o w e r l a b o r r e q u i r e
m e n t s . It sh ould be n oted that on ly a f e w
v e r y s m a l l p r o j e c t s (under $20 0,0 0 0) w e r e
i n c lu d e d in the m o r e r e c e n t study.
The m o s t i m p o r t a n t j o b n u m e r i c a l l y c o n
tinued to be c a r p e n t e r s , in spite of a 12
p e r c e n t d e c r e a s e in th e ir s h a r e of the w o r k .
M any c a r p e n t e r s p e r f o r m e d j o b s not c o n
n e c t e d with l u m b e r as th ey have d e v e lo p e d
s k i l ls in m a t e r i a l s w h ich have r e p l a c e d
lum ber.
L o w e r s k i l le d -jobs c on tin u ed to r e p r e s e n t
about 30 p e r c e n t o f the o c c u p a t i o n a l w o r k
f o r c e . A lth ou gh the p r o p o r t i o n o f l o w e r
s k i l le d w o r k e r s d e c l i n e d in the N o r t h e a s t ,
N o r th C e n t r a l, and W e s t e r n r e g i o n s d u rin g
the i n t e r i m b e tw e e n the tw o s u r v e y s , the
S ou th ern r e g i o n e m p l o y e d a h ig h e r p e r c e n t
a ge of th e s e w o r k e r s in 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 (4 3 .4 p e r
cen t) than in 1959 (40.3 p e r c e n t ) .
The i n c r e a s e d e f f i c i e n c y in the s m a l l e r
p r o j e c t s w a s not e v id e n t in the n o n m e t r o
p o li t a n a r e a s . M a n -h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s in
n o n m e t r o p o l it a n a r e a s w e r e o v e r 15 p e r c e n t
h ig h e r than th o s e in m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a s . In
the e a r l i e r study, this d i f f e r e n c e , on the
a v e r a g e , w as l e s s than 6 p e r c e n t .
When o n - s i t e l a b o r r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e
c o m p a r e d on a s q u a re f o o t b a s i s , the d i f
f e r e n c e s b e tw e e n p r o j e c t s and s p e c i f i c
groups of p ro je cts are m uch sm a lle r. T w oth ir d s of the p r o j e c t s had l a b o r r e q u i r e
m e n ts b e tw e e n 0.8 and 1.2 m a n - h o u r s p e r
square foot.
F o r m a l appren tices rep resen ted 4 .1 p e r c e n t o f the w o r k f o r c e , an i n c r e a s e o v e r the
3 .7 p e r c e n t r e p o r t e d in 1959. E l e c t r i c i a n s
a c c o u n t e d f o r the l a r g e s t p r o p o r t i o n o f a p
p r e n t i c e s , 15.1 p e r c e n t . M o s t o f the t r a d e s
had h ig h er p r o p o r t i o n s o f a p p r e n t i c e s w o r k
ing than in the e a r l i e r study. A p p r e n t i c e s h i p
p r o g r a m s w e r e m o s t e v id e n t in the W e s t .
A s in the e a r l i e r study, o n - s i t e m a n - h o u r
r e q u i r e m e n t s w e r e r e l a t e d to t h r e e m a j o r
f a c t o r s : (1) a v a i la b il it y and u s e o f l a b o r sav in g e q u ip m e n t, s u ch as c r a n e s , e l e v a
t o r s , and c o n v e y o r s ; (2) a m ou n t o f p r e f a b
r i c a t e d c o m p o n e n t s ; and (3) p r o p o r t i o n of
skilled w o r k e r s .
C o n t r a c t o r s * S h a r es
The tr e n d t o w a r d s u b c o n t r a c t i n g c o n
tin u e s , and the g e n e r a l c o n t r a c t o r ' s sh a r e
o f tota l e m p lo y m e n t ( i n m a n - h o u r s) d e c l i n e d
f r o m 4 7 .4 p e r c e n t in 1959 to 42.0 p e r c e n t
in the l a t e r study. The l a r g e s t i n c r e a s e w as
in m a s o n r y s u b c o n t r a c t i n g ( s e e table 8).
S u b c o n tr a c t in g i n c r e a s e d in a ll r e g i o n s , but
T a b le 3 sh ow s the m a n - h o u r r e q u i r e
m e n ts o f p r o j e c t s a c c o r d i n g to the p r o p o r
tio n of l o w e r s k i l le d w o r k e r s u s e d . L a b o r
5
Chart 2. Percent Distribution off On-Site Wages
and Materials Used for Each $1,000
off School Construction C ontract,1964-65
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR • BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
the i n c r e a s e d u s e of s u b c o n t r a c t o r s was
m o s t p r o n o u n c e d in the N o rth C e n tr a l r e g io n .
The a v e r a g e n u m b e r o f s u b c o n t r a c t o r s
p e r p r o j e c t i n c r e a s e d f r o m 1 9 in 1959 to 26
in the 1 9 6 4 -6 5 study. P a r t o f this i n c r e a s e
w a s due to the g r e a t e r s iz e o f the p r o j e c t s ,
s in c e l a r g e r p r o j e c t s a l m o s t i n e v ita b ly i n
volve m o re su bcon tra ctors.
O n - s i t e W a g es
A v e r a g e w age r a te s f o r o n - s i t e l a b o r
a d v a n c e d o v e r 16 p e r c e n t b e tw e e n the two
s tu d ie s . T h is i n c r e a s e in w o r k e r e a r n in g s ,
h o w e v e r , did not a lte r the r e l a t io n s h ip of
w a ge p a y m e n t s to tota l c o n t r a c t c o s t s , 25.8
p e r c e n t in 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 c o m p a r e d with 25.7 p e r
c e n t in 1959. I n c r e a s e d w a g e s in the i n d u s tr y
h ave b e e n o f f s e t by l o w e r m a n - h o u r r e q u i r e
m e n t s , to the exten t that o n - s i t e w a g e s a r e a
s m a l l e r p r o p o r t i o n of the c o n t r a c t d o l l a r
than they w e r e 30 y e a r s a g o (31.1 p e r c e n t ) . 3 /
O n - s i t e w a g e s in m o r e than h alf of the p r o
j e c t s stu died in the m o r e r e c e n t s u r v e y (55.6
p e r c e n t ) f e l l into a v e r y n a r r o w r a n g e , b e
tw e e n 22.6 and 27.5 p e r c e n t o f the c o n t r a c t
d ollar.
The p r o p o r t i o n o f o n - s i t e w a g e s was
f a ir ly con sisten t am ong s p e c ific groups of
p r o j e c t s r e g a r d l e s s of w age l e v e l s . (See
ta ble 9.) P r o j e c t s with h ig h e r w a ge r a te s
r e q u i r e d l e s s m a n - h o u r s (p e r $1,000 of
contract).
c o n t r a c t to its c o m p l e t io n . A s ca n be e x
p e c t e d , c o n s t r u c t i o n tim e v a r i e d by s iz e o f
p r o j e c t and g e o g r a p h i c a l l o c a t io n . C o n
s t r u c t io n ti m e w as g e n e r a l l y c o m p a r a b l e to
the e a r l i e r study and no s ig n ific a n t r e d u c
tion was o b s e r v a b l e by p r o j e c t s iz e and
r e g i o n . (See table 10.)
When c o n s t r u c t i o n tim e f o r e a c h p r o j e c t
w a s d iv id e d into d e c i l e s , it was shown that
a m a j o r i t y of the w o r k f o r c e (53.5 p e r c e n t )
is e m p l o y e d f r o m the 4th th rou g h the 7th
d e c i l e s . F o r the ty p i c a l p r o j e c t , only 4.3
p e r c e n t of the e m p lo y m e n t o c c u r s in the
f i r s t 5 w e e k s and on ly 3.5 p e r c e n t in the
l a s t 5 w e e k s . P e a k e m p lo y m e n t is r e a c h e d
in the sixth 5 - w e e k p e r i o d , when 14.6 p e r
c e n t o f the tota l m a n - h o u r s a r e w o r k e d . (See
table 11.)
A f f e c t on O th er In d u s tr ie s
E m p lo y m e n t g e n e r a te d in m a n u fa ctu rin g
i n d u s t r i e s f r o m s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n runs a
c l o s e s e c o n d to the n u m b e r of jo b s o c c u r r i n g
in the c o n s t r u c t i o n in d u s tr y . L a b o r r e q u i r e m e n ts p e r $1,000 of s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n tota l
82 m a n - h o u r s in the c o n s t r u c t i o n in d u s tr y
and 65 in m a n u fa c tu r in g ; a l m o s t o n e - t h i r d
o f the tota l l a b o r r e q u i r e m e n t s is f u l f il le d
b y the m a n u fa c tu r in g s e c t o r . (See table 12.)
A bou t 38 of th e s e h o u r s w ould be in the la s t
stag e of m a n u fa c tu r in g , and the b a la n c e in
oth e r m a n u fa c tu r in g plants su pp ly in g th os e
m a n u f a c t u r e s , d i r e c t l y or i n d i r e c t l y .
It sh ou ld be n oted that the w a ge i n f o r m a
tion p r e s e n t e d in this r e p o r t d o e s not
i n c lu d e m a n y c o s t s w h ich m ig h t be c o n s i d
e r e d l a b o r c o s t s . F o r e x a m p le p a y r o l l t a x e s ,
w o r k m e n ’ s com pen sation , fringe b e n e f i t
c o s t s . T h e s e i t e m s w e r e not stu died, but it
c a n be a s s u m e d s a f e l y that su ch c o s t s have
i n c r e a s e d m o r e p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y , than wage
rates.
The tota l e m p l o y m e n t e f f e c t is f e lt in
a ll s e c t o r s of the e c o n o m y . The tra d e s e c t o r
a c c o u n ts f o r about 11 p e r c e n t of the total
h o u r s and t r a n s p o r t a t io n i n d u s t r i e s o v e r 4
p e rce n t. S erv ice indu stries are in cre a s in g
th e ir s h a r e o f e m p l o y m e n t p a r t ic ip a t io n and
in the la t e s t study a c c o u n t e d f o r o v e r 3 p e r
ce n t of a ll j o b s .
C on stru ction Tim e
M a t e r ia ls U sed
The a v e r a g e s c h o o l p r o j e c t studied r e
q u i r e d 52 w e e k s f r o m the b eg in n in g o f the
A little o v e r 54 p e r c e n t o f e a c h c o n t r a c t
d o l l a r was spen t f o r m a t e r i a l s , s u p p li e s ,
and eq u ip m e n t. N e a r l y h alf of this was f o r
two m a j o r g r o u p s o f m a t e r i a l s : s to n e , c l a y ,
and g la s s p r o d u c t s , $1 30 (out o f e v e r y $1,000
of c o n t r a c t ) ; and m e t a l p r o d u c t s , $134.60.
3 / A c c o r d i n g to an u n p u b lish ed study of
p u b lic w o r k s p r o j e c t s in the late 1 930’ s.
s ig n ific a n t gain s in c lu d e d the u s e of a c o u s
M a j o r i t e m s in th es e two g r o u p s w e r e
r e a d y - m i x c o n c r e t e , $32.90 ; b r i c k and
s t r u c t u r a l t i le , $ 19 .60 ; s t r u c t u r a l s t e e l,
$ 3 2 .7 0 ; and r e i n f o r c i n g b a r s and j o i s t s ,
$ 2 8 .30 . 4 /
t i c a l t ile , v in y l a s b e s t o s t i le , l a b o r a t o r y
eq u ip m e n t, k itc h e n eq u ip m e n t, and f o ld in g
p a r t i t i o n s . D e c r e a s e s w e r e n oted in the u s e
o f a sp h alt t i le , m e t a l w in d o w s , and o r n a
m ental iron .
L u m b e r and l u m b e r p r o d u c t s w e r e v a lu ed
at $ 5 0 .9 0 ; m i l l w o r k r e p r e s e n t s the m a j o r
i t e m in this g rou p .
The r e d u c t i o n in w in d ow g l a s s was p r o b
a b ly a ttrib u ta b le to a g r e a t e r u s e of p r e
g la z e d w in d o w s , p lu s a d e c r e a s e in the
n u m b e r and s i z e of w in d ow s g e n e r a l l y
a s s o c i a t e d with a ir co n d it io n in g . The
a p p a r e n t r e d u c t i o n in c o p p e r p r o d u c t s was
due to d e fin itio n a l c h a n g e s in the stan d ard
in d u s t r i a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , and the r e d u c t io n
in t e m p e r a t u r e c o n t r o l s was due to c l a s s i f i
c a t i o n in g r e a t e r d e ta il o f th e ir c o m p o n e n t s .
H eating and v e n tila tin g e q u ip m en t, i n
clu d in g a ir c o n d it io n in g , to ta le d $51.90 and
o th e r e l e c t r i c a l e q u ip m e n t and m a t e r i a l s ,
$ 5 2 .9 0 . P l u m b in g p r o d u c t s to ta le d $39.
The tota l m a t e r i a l e x p e n d itu re was about
2 p e r c e n t l o w e r than the e a r l i e r study. C o m
p a r i s o n s of in d ivid u a l t i m e s w e r e d if fi c u l t
b e c a u s e o f c h a n g e s in c l a s s i f i c a t i o n and
other r e a s o n s . 5 /
S o m e o f the c h a n g e s in m a t e r i a l r e q u i r e
m e n ts w e r e e v e n g r e a t e r when v i e w e d on a
r e g i o n a l b a s i s . N e a r ly a ll of the a i r - c o n d i
tio n e d s c h o o l s w e r e l o c a t e d in the South and
W e s t . A r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e e x p e n d itu r e f o r
shop e q u ip m e n t was m a d e in the N orth
C en tral reg ion . In cre a se d expenditures fo r
f i x e d s c h o o l e q u ip m e n t w e r e n oted in a ll
areas.
S o m e ch a n g e s in m a t e r i a l r e q u i r e m e n t s
w e r e n o ta b le . A i r co n d it io n in g , w h ich was
r a r e in the e a r l i e r study, was r e p o r t e d in
27 p e r c e n t o f the p r o j e c t s stu died and r e p r e
s e n te d $9.20 in m a t e r i a l p u r c h a s e s . U s e s of
p r e c a s t c o n c r e t e p r o d u c t s i n c r e a s e d . O th er
1. D i f f e r e n c e s in c l a s s i f i c a t i o n to a c
c o m m o d a t e the 1947 in p u t-ou tp u t m a t r i x
u s e d in the 1959 study, and the 1958 inp u toutput m a t r i x u s e d in the 1 9 6 4 -6 5 study,
4 / C u r r e n t l y , th e re is about $6 b il l i o n a
y e a r b e in g spent on e d u c a t io n a l c o n s t r u c
tion , both p u b lic and p r i v a t e . T h is i n d ic a t e s
e x p e n d i t u r e s f o r m a t e r i a l s in this a r e a is
$3.2 5 b i l l i o n (at the site va lu a tion ). The
$28 .30 e x p e n d itu r e f o r r e i n f o r c i n g b a r s and
jo is t s , fo r ex a m p le, re p re se n ts a cu rren t
annual r e q u i r e m e n t o f o v e r $100 m i l l i o n in
2. C h an ges in p r i c e s w h ich c a n m a k e it
a p p e a r that the v o lu m e o f a s p e c i f i c m a t e
r i a l has ch a n g e d w hen in f a c t the ch a n ge is
due to p r i c e i n c r e a s e s o r d e c r e a s e s .
th e s e i t e m s a lo n e .
3. In tr o d u c tio n of n e w m a t e r i a l s or
e q u ip m e n t, su ch as a ir co n d it io n in g , w h ich
tends to r e d u c e the r e l a t iv e d o l l a r va lu e o f
a ll oth er i t e m s .
5 / C om p a rison s of m a terial usage b e
tw e e n the tw o stu dies a r e d if fi c u l t and
f r e q u e n t l y m i s l e a d i n g . The m a j o r r e a s o n s
are:
8
Table 1.
Number and Cost of Surveyed School Construction Projects, by Selected Characteristics and Region, 1964-65
United States
Northeast
Cost per
Cost per
Cost per
South
North Central
West
Cost per
Cost per
Characteristic
Class
Number Square room
foot (thou
sands)
$14,16 $34,5
Class
Number Square room
foot (thou
sands)
$18.98 $43.7
27
$13.55 $34.9
Class
Number Square room
foot (thou
sands)
34
$11.56 $28.6
Class
Number Square room
foot (thou
sands)
24
$15.53 $35.9
All Schools......................
103
Elementary............ .......
Secondary.......... ..........
53
50
14,31
14.09
26.3
40.3
9
9
17.73
19.63
33.3
51.3
14
13
12.62
13.95
22.9
43.6
18
16
12.82
11.08
23.8
31.4
12
12
15.43
15.59
27.6
43.5
In a metropolitan area..... .
Not in a metropolitan area.....
62
41
14.56
13.68
33.8
35.5
12
6
18.69
19.44
44.8
42.0
15
12
13.20
13.89
28.6
43.5
21
13
11.76
11.40
28.0
29.1
14
10
15.89
14.48
37.1
32.7
Construction cost group
(In thousands):
$500,000 and under..........
$500,001 to $1,000,000......
$1,000,001 and over.........
43
28
32
• 12.61
14.22
14.69
23.6
31.2
42.2
3
6
9
14.56
17.86
19.81
20.3
35.2
52.0
11
8
8
13.18
11.51
14.66
22.3
28.1
47.3
21
5
o
11.71
12.49
11.31
24.3
27.8
31.7
8
9
7
14.02
15.59
16.12
24.5
33.1
46.3
Type of framing:
Steel.......................
Concrete.............. .
Load-bearing masonry.........
Wood.................... .
39
19
40
5
15.32
13.84
12.73
19.46
37.2
37.9
29.2
44.1
11
1
6
—
18.64
(1/)
17.44
-- —
46.1
<l/>
31.1
---
10
5
12
—
13.36
14.30
13.04
— ---
35.5
47.0
25.7
—
13
10
11
--
12.24
11.65
11.23
—
26.1
28.5
30.0
—
5
3
11
5
16.26
14.68
14.12
19.46
37.0
42.9
30.2
44.1
1 story.......................
2 to 4 stories................
84
19
13.87
14.86
32.4
40.6
13
5
18.91
19.07
39.0
51.6
20
7
13.36
13.89
32.4
40.1
29
5
11.34
12.32
28.1
30.1
22
2
15.83
(1/)
34.5
Full or partial basement.... .
No basement......... .........
11
92
14.80
14.07
42.2
33.6
1
17
(1 /)
18.39
(1/)
42.0
2
25
<I/>
13.78
(I/)
34.8
3
31
12.07
11.52
31.4
28.4
5
19
14.71
15.94
43.6
33.3
Exterior:
Masonry...................
Curtain wall........... .
Other........ ..............
89
8
6
13.90
16.48
17.38
34.9
26.4
39.3
15
3
18.99
18.83
45.9
30.8
26
1
13.62
a/>
36.4
(1/)
31
2
1
11.49
(1/)
28.8
17
2
5
14.52
34.2
1/ Too few projects to warrant presentation.
18
Class
Number Square room
foot (thou
sands)
<i/)
d /)
(1/)
(i/)
19.35
a /)
a /)
41.7
Table 2.
On-Site Man-Hour Requirements for School Construction Projects, by Selected Characterisitcs and Region, 1964-65
United States
Northeast
North Central
South
West
Man- hours per
Man -hours per
Man -hours per
Man--hours per
Man-hours per
Characteristics
$1,000 1,000
of
square Class
feet
room
cost
$1,000 1,000
$1,000 1,000
of
square Class
of
square Class
feet
cost
room
room
feet
cost
All schools...................
72.3
1,024
2,495
62.8
1,192
2,743
70.6
957
Elementary.................
Secondary..................
66.9
74.8
957
1,055
1,757
3,014
59.3
64.5
1,051
1,266
1,976
3,306
67.1
71.9
In a metropolitan area....
Not in a metropolitan area.
67.6
78.3
985
1,072
2.283
2,779
61.6
64.7
1,151
1,258
2,757
2,721
Construction cost group
(In thousands):
$500,000 and under.....
$500,001 to $1,000,000..
$1,000,001 and over....
73.5
66.6
74.1
926
946
1,089
1,730
2,076
3,126
64.0
60.1
63.7
932
1,073
1,263
Type of framing:
Steel...................
Concrete................
Load-bearing masonry....
W o o d ....................
67.1
77.5
76.6
58.7
1,028
1,073
979
1,143
2,495
2,940
2,239
2,588
63.9
61.7
58.9
1,192
1,563
1,028
—
...
1 story....................
2 to 4 stc^ies.............
71.1
75.1
987
1,117
2,301
3,051
60.6
65.6
Full or partial basement...
No basement................
69.0
72.8
1,021
1,025
2,908
2,445
Exterior:
Masonry.................
Curtain wall............
Other...................
73.7
59.9
61.2
1,025
987
1,064
2,573
1,584
2,403
$1,000 1,000
of
square Classfeet
cost
room
$1,000 1,000
of
square Class
cost
feet
room
88.7
1,025
2,535
61.5
955
2,209
847
1,003
80.1
1,539
3,137_ .__92.4
1,027
1,024
1,906
2,903
57.9
63.5
894
990
1,597
2,761
63.8
76.7
842
1,066
1,825
3,389
83.1
93.4
977
1,065
2,330
2,717
62.5
58.2
993
843
2,317
1,901
1,302
2,118
3,313
67.0
70.5
71.7
883
811
1,051
1,495
1,978
3,391
83.9
86.0
91.7
982
1,074
1,037
2,039
2,390
2,906
58.3
58.0
64.8
817
904
1,045
1,426
1,919
3,001
2,947
3,876
1,832
---
70.7
75.3
64.5
—
944
1,077
841
2,507
3,540
1,656
80.1
84.1
95.4
980
980
1,071
2,091
2,394
2,858
—
—
—
—
—
52.3
77.9
60.5
58.7
862
1,444
854
1,1^3
1,932
3,342
1,828
2,588
1,145
1,251
2,362
3,386
68.3
74.5
913
1,034
2,213
2,989
89.2
86.8
1,012
1,069
2,512
2,609
57.8
82.9
915
1,176
1,966
3,924
61.7
62.9
1,563
1,157
3,876
2,646
74.7
70.2
869
968
2,675
2,444
75.2
89.7
907
1,034
2,364
2,547
68.2
58.4
1,002
931
2,970
1,944
63.3
58.3
1,203
1,099
2,908
1,795
70.7
66.9
963
702
2,573
690
—
—
—
—
89.8
64.6
80.2
1,032
1,002
772
2,587
1,583
2,157
62.8
56.6
58.8
912
936
1,138
2,147
2,180
2,451
—
2,462
—
Table 3. On-Site Man-Hour Requirements Per $1,000 of School Construction
by Proportion of Lower Skilled Labor Employed 1/ and Region, 1964-65
P ercent o f lower
s k i l l e d workers
United
S ta tes
North
East
North
C entral
South
West
A ll o c c u p a tio n a l g r o u p s ..
72.3
62.8
70 .6
88.7
61.5
61 .8
71.9
86.3
9 9 .2
6 2 .0
64.3
6 6 .0
76.7
2 5 .0
25.1
35.1
45.1
and u n d e r . . . . . . . . .
t o 3 5 .0 ......................
t o 4 5 .0 ......................
and o v e r ....................
75.1
86.3
99 .2
5 7 .0
70 .8
— For purposes o f t h is com parison, la b o r e r s , h e lp e r s , and
ten d ers were co n sid e re d lower s k i l l e d .
Table 4. Percent D is t r ib u t io n o f School P r o je c t s , by Number o f O n-Site
Man-Hours Required f o r Each $1,000 o f C on stru ction C on tra ct,
by R egion, 1964-65
United
S tates
North
East
Average m an-hours................
72.3
62.8
Under 5 5 .0 ...........................
5 5 .0 t o 6 4 .9 ......................
6 5 .0 to 7 4 .9 ......................
7 5 .0 t o 8 4 .9 ......................
8 5 .0 t o 9 4 .9 ......................
9 5 .0 and o v e r ....................
10.1
31 .5
24.1
18.5
7 .4
8 .3
8 .5
57.6
33.9
P ercent group
NOTE:
—
—
---
North
C entral
South
West
70.6
88 .7
61.5
3 .3
36 .7
3 4 .4
22.2
3 .3
---
7 .8
14.7
34 .5
1 9.0
24.1
Because o f rounding, sums o f in d iv id u a l item s may
not equal 100.
11
36 .6
42.3
18.3
2 .8
—
---
Table 5.
On-Site Man-Hour Requirements Per $1,000 of School Construction Contract, by Occupation and Region, 1964-65
Wes t
South
North Central
Northeast
United States
Occupation — ^
Man-hours
worked
Percent
Man-hours
worked
Percent
Man-hours
worked
Percent
Man-hours
worked
Percent
Man-hours
worked
Percent
72.3
100.0
62.8
100.0
70.6
100.0
88.7
100.0
61.5
100.0
General supervisors........
Professional, technical,
and clerical.............
2.3
3.2
2.0
3.2
2.3
3.2
2.6
2.9
2.2
3.6
.3
.4
.8
1.2
.2
.3
.1
.2
Asbestos workers...........
Bricklayers.................
Carpenters..................
Cement finishers...........
Electricians................
Glaziers....................
Lathers.....................
Operating engineers........
Ornamental-iron workers....
Painters....................
Plasterers..................
Plumbers....................
Reinforcing iron workers....
Roofers.....................
Sheet-metal workers........
Soft floor layers..........
Structural-iron workers....
Terrazzo workers and
tile setters.............
Truck drivers..............
Laborers....................
Helpers and tenders........
Custodial workers..........
.6
6.7
11.9
1.4
5.3
.5
.7
2.0
.4
2.5
.7
7.0
.7
1.0
2.5
.4
1.2
.9
9.2
16.5
1.9
7.3
.6
1.0
2.7
.5
3.5
1.0
9.6
.9
1.4
3.4
.6
1.7
.6
6.5
10.1
1.1
5.4
.5
.8
1.7
.6
2.2
.7
6.9
.3
1.0
2.0
.4
1.8
1.0
10.3
16.1
1.8
8.7
.8
1.3
2.6
.9
3.5
1.0
11.0
.5
1.5
3.1
.6
2.8
.9
8.7
10.7
1.3
5.6
.6
.7
1.8
.5
2.5
.6
8.0
1.1
1.3
3.2
.4
1.4
1.3
12.3
15.2
1.9
7.9
.8
1.0
2.5
.6
3.5
.8
11.4
1.5
1.8
4.6
.6
2.0
.5
7.3
12.9
1.5
5.0
.5
.7
2.4
.2
2.8
.9
6.5
.6
.9
1.8
.4
.9
.6
8.2
14.6
1.7
5.6
.5
.8
2.7
.3
3.1
1.0
7.3
.7
1.0
2.0
.4
1.1
.5
3.3
14.0
1.4
5.2
.3
.7
2.2
.3
2.5
.8
6.4
.6
1.0
3.2
.5
.8'
.8
5.4
22.8
2.3
8.4
.5
1.2
3.5
.5
4.0
1.3
10.4
.9
1.7
5.3
.8
1.2
.9
.5
17.2
5.1
.1
1.3
.6
23.8
7.1
.2
1.2
.2
12.2
3.3
.2
1.9
.4
19.4
5.2
.3
1.1
.5
11.9
5.2
(2/)
1.6
.7
16.9
7.4
(2/)
.9
.5
30.2
7.6
.2
1.1
.5
34.1
8.6
.2
.4
.7
10.4
3.3
(2/)
.7
1.1
16.9
5.4
(2/)
Other.......................
.5
.7
.4
.6
.3
.5
.6
.6
.6
.9
All occupations................
---
•I^Working foremen and apprentices are included with journeymen.
.2/Less than 0.05 percent.
NOTE:
Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not add to totals.
...
Table 6.
Percent of Apprentices Employed on School Construction Projects
Occupation and by Region, 1964-65 1/
O ccupation
United
S ta tes
North
East
North
C entral
South
West
4 .1
3 .6
4 .4
3 .5
5 .6
S k ille d trad es o n ly .........
6 .6
5 .1
6 .2
6 .5
8 .1
B r ic k la y e r s .........................
C a rp 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 ..................
G la z ie r s .................................
L a th ers...................................
O rnam ental-iron w orkers.
P a in t e r s .................................
P l a s t e r e r s . ...........................
Plum bers.................................
R e in fo r c in g -ir o n
w orkers. •........... ...............
R o o f e r s ..................................
Sheet-m etal w ork ers.........
S o ft f l o o r la y e r s ..............
S t r u c t u r a l-ir o n w orkers.
T errazzo workers and
t i l e s e t t e r s ....................
5 .8
4 .6
1.5
15.1
5 .6
8 .0
.5
4 .8
7 .2
8.9
9 .6
3 .9
.6
14.3
9 .3
2 .0
6.1
1 .6
2.3
10.4
3 .0
4 .8
(2 /)
16.7
5 .5
8 .2
1 .4
2 .8
10.9
11.1
6 .7
6 .2
4 .1
16.8
6 .5
19.7
1 .7
3 .4
14.9
1 .8
.9
3 .7
2 .8
16.9
10.2
5 .0
A11 workers ••••................ •••
—
.8
—
3 .3
.4
2.3
1.6
4 .5
13.2
5 .9
—
—
9 .8
—
11.6
—
7 .5
2 .4
3 .4
1 .0
—
2 .8
---
5 .5
14.0
9 .0
—
4 .9
4 .4
U Based on data from f e d e r a lly aided s ch o o l p r o je c t s o n ly .
i=/Less than 0.05 p e r ce n t.
13
—
5 .0
8 .5
8 .6
———
Table 7.
Average Number of Contractors Per School Construction Project
by Cost Group and Region, 1964-65
Cost group
( in thousands)
United
S ta tes
North
East
North
C entral
South
West
A ll g rou p s......... .....................
26
27
27
21
33
$500,000 and u n d e r . , . . .
$500,001 to $ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 .
$ 1 ,000 ,0 01 and o v e r . . . .
22
25
33
22
23
34
23
24
36
19
23
23
28
30
49
Table 8. P ercent o f T o ta l O n-S ite Man-Hour Requirements f o r School
C o n stru ctio n , by Type o f C on tractor and R egion, 1964-65
Type o f c o n tr a c to r
United
S ta tes
North
East
North
C entral
South
West
A ll t y p e s .................................
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
4 2 .0
7 .8
9 .6
3 .2
3 .6
14.8
3 7 .6
8 .8
10.8
2 .7
3 .3
14.0
36 .7
8.3
10.5
4 .0
3 .0
17.1
45 .5
6 .9
10.7
2 .8
4 .1
13.5
42.3
8 .4
5 .9
3 .6
3 .0
16.2
3 .1
3 .0
2.9
3 .7
2 .2
2 .9
4 .2
2 .8
2 .4
2.9
2 .4
2 .4
8 .3
4 .4
2 .6
8 .5
3 .0
2 .8
8 .9
1.3
2 .3
6 .8
2 .6
1.9
10.9
G eneral. ...............................
E l e c t r i c a l ...................... .. •
Masonry.................................
P a in tin g ...............................
P la s te r in g and la th in g .
Plumbing and h e a t i n g ...
R oofin g and sheet
m e t a l................................
S it e p rep a ra tion and
e x c a v a tio n ......................
S tru ctu ra l and
ornamental w o r k . . . . . .
T ile and te r r a z z o work.
A ll oth er t y p e s ................
14
Table 9.
Average On-Site Earnings on School Construction Projects, by Selected Characteristics and Region, 1964-65
United States
Characteristics
Average Wages as a
percent of
hourly
earnings contract
Northeast
North Central
Average Wages as a Average Wages as a
percent of
percent of hourly
hourly
earnings contract
earnings contract
South
West
Average Wages as a
percent of
hourly
earnings contract
Average Wages as a
percent of
hourly
earnings contract
$3.57
25.8
$4.18
26.2
$3.86
27.2
$2.70
23.9
$4.27
26.3
Elementary.....................
Secondary......................
3.77
3.48
25.2
26.1
4.29
4.1-3
25.4
26.6
4.02
3.80
27.0
27.3
2.88
2.62
23.1
24.3
4.49
4.16
26.0
26.4
In a metropolitan area.;......
Not in a metropolitan area.....
3.87
3.23
26.2
25.3
4.41
3.83
27.2
24.8
4.16
3.63
26.5
27.9
2.87
2.56
23.8
24.0
4.32
4.10
27.0
23.9
Construction cost group
(In thousands)
$500,000 and under..........
$500,001 to $1,000,000......
$1,000,001 and over.........
3.40
3.79
3.54
25.0
25.2
26.3
3.93
4.23
4.17
25.2
25.4
26.6
4.09
3.76
3.83
27.4
26.5
27.5
2.79
2.70
2.65
23.4
23.3
24.3
4.41
4.32
4.20
25.7
25.1
27.2
Type of framing:
Steel......... ..............
Concrete.....................
Load-bearing masonry........
Wood.........................
3.82
3.49
3.24
4.74
25.7
27.1
24.8
27.8
4.03
(2/)
4.17
25.8
(2/)
24.6
--
3.87
3.66
4.14
27.3
27.5
26.7
--
2.95
2.84
2.52
23.7
23.9
24.0
4.60
3.90
4.11
4.74
24.0
30.4
24.9
27.8
All schools.... ..................
i./ Includes data on both federally aided and non-federally aided projects.
— I Insufficient data to warrant presentation.
Table 10.
Average Number of Weeks Required for Construction of School,
by Cost Group and Region, 1964-65
Cost group
A11 g rou p s•••••••••...........
$500,000 and u n d e r ,.•••
$500,001 t o $ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 .
$1,000,001 and o v e r . . . .
North
East
North
C entral
52
62
51
49
50
40
52
71
36
58
76
40
48
74
41
52
63
39
49
76
United
S ta tes
16
South
West
Table
11.
P ercen t o f O n -S ite Employment f o r S ch ool C o n stru ctio n in Each Tenth o f T o ta l
C on stru ction Time, by R eg ion , 1964-65
3rd
tenth
4th
ten th
5 th
tenth
6 th
ten th
7th
tenth
8 th
tenth
9 th
tenth
Last
tenth
8 .2
10.2
12.0
12.9
14.6
14.0
11.7
8 .6
3 .5
4 .9
8 .6
8 .8
9 .3
8 .0
9 .1
10.7
11.7
11.8
11.1
13.0
10.6
13.7
11.7
13.3
12.2
15 .5
13.1
14.5
15.0
14.9
14.4
14.0
13.0
13.1
13.8
11.0
10.5
10.7
9 .2
7 .5
8 .8
3 .7
3 .8
3 .1
4 .1
1st
tenth
2nd
tenth
U nited S t a t e s ....................
4 .3
N o rth e a s t......................
North C e n tr a l.............
S ou th ...............................
W est..................................
3 .6
5.1
4 .0
4 .9
R egion
1/ Based on data from fe d e r a lly a id ed s c h o o ls o n ly .
NOTE:
Because o f rounding, sums o f in d iv id u a l item s may n ot equal 1 00 .0.
Table 12.
Total Man-Hour Requirements Per $1,000 of School
Construction, 1964-65
T ota l
man-hours
Primary
man-hours
|
Secondary
man-hours
A ll s e c t o r s ...................................
198.0
144.2
j
53.7
O n -s ite c o n s t r u c t io n ...........
O f f - s i t e c o n s t r u c t io n .........
A g r i c u l t u r e ,. ............. ............
M ining..........................................
Manufactur in g ..........................
Lumber p r o d u c ts ..................
F u rn itu re ...............................
P aper.......................................
P r in t in g .................................
C hem ical.................................
S ton e, c la y , and g la s s
p r o d u c ts .............................
Primary m e ta ls ....................
F a b rica ted metal
p r o d u c ts .............................
M achinery...............................
E l e c t r i c a l p r o d u c ts .........
Instrum ents..........................
Other and u n a llo c a t e d ...
T r a n sp o r ta tio n ........................
Trade............................................
S e r v ic e s .....................................
O th er............................................
72.3
9 .8
2 .6
3 .2
64.9
5 .5
2 .3
2 .5
1.1
1.7
72.3
9 .0
.2
.7
37 .7
3 .0
2 .1
.9
In du stry s e c t o r
NOTE:
.2
.8
2 .4
2 .5
27.1
2 .4
.2
1.6
1.1
1 .5
11.7
9 .5
9 .3
2 .3
2 .4
7 .2
13.0
5 .2
5.1
1.8
5 .5
8 .3
22 .0
6 .5
8 .4
10.2
2 .7
3 .0
1 .4
2 .6
3 .8
17.3
1.1
2 .2
2 .8
2 .5
2 .1
.4
2 .9
4 .6
4 .7
5 .4
6 .2
—
Because of rounding, totals may not equal sums of individual
items.
18
Table 13.
Total Cost of Material Components for Each $1,'
of School Construction Contract, by Region, 1964-65
Northeast
North
Central
South
$542.00
$495.90
$569.30
$567.50
$523.90
$130.00
$113.20
$139.80
$154.00
$101.30
Cement, concrete, and gypsum products.........
Ready-mix concrete..........................
Concrete block..............................
Precast concrete products...................
Gypsum products.............................
Cement......................................
Concrete pipe...............................
Miscellaneous aggregate.....................
71.40
32.90
14.10
10.80
5.10
5.00
1.50
1.30
64.20
31.00
15.00
7.10
5.10
3.30
.40
1.80
70.90
30.00
19.30
9.30
3.70
4.80
2.50
.70
86.80
38.90
13.40
21.00
4.80
5.20
1.20
1.40
57.30
30.20
7.20
1.60
7.40
7.00
2.00
1.50
Structural clay products......................
Brick and structural tile...................
Ceramic tile................................
Clay sewer pipe.............................
Terrazzo....................................
27.50
19.60
5.00
1.50
1.30
24.60
17.30
6.20
.30
.80
31.20
20.50
4.50
3.40
2.70
35.40
26.90
5.90
1.20
1.00
14.00
9.80
2.60
1.20
.40
Other stone, clay, and glass products.........
Sand and grave1.............................
Accoustical tile 1 / .........................
Fiber glass products, except accoustical tile
Window glass................................
Cut stone...................................
Asphalt tile................................
31.20
8.40
7.80
6.00
3.70
2.20
1.70
24.30
4.70
5.90
5.20
3.00
2.70
.70
37.60
12.00
8.10
7.40
4.50
3.10
1.50
31.80
7.80
8.10
6.00
3.40
2.10
3.00
30.00
9.30
9.10
5.00
3.90
.40
1.10
Metal products (except plumbing and heating)....
134.60
119.60
147.70
149.20
113.70
Fabricated structural metal products..........
Structural steel............................
Reinforcing bars and joints.................
Fabricated sheet metal......................
Metal windows...............................
Metal doors.................................
Ornamental metal............................
Registers, grills, diffusers...............
Wire mesh...................................
100.70
32.70
28.30
19.00
7.70
7.60
2.10
1.90
1.10
90.40
35.80
20.50
15.60
8.30
4.40
3.50
.90
1.00
109.10
32.40
34.90
17.20
7.30
9.90
3.30
2.10
1.70
116.40
35.50
38.70
20.90
9.60
8.00
.40
2.00
.90
78.60
24.70
13.50
22.60
4.60
8.00
1.60
2.40
.70
Other fabricated metal products...............
Builder's hardware..........................
13.60
11.40
13.20
9.10
12.60
11.10
14.60
14.00
14.00
10.60
Other metal products..........................
Partitions, lockers, and shelves............
Copper products.............................
Aluminum sheet metal........................
Galvanized sheet metal......................
20.20
7.50
6.20
2.80
2.60
16.00
5.60
5.40
2.90
1.50
26.00
8 .5 0
7 .0 0
4 .9 0
4 .6 0
18.20
8.40
6.20
.70
1.80
21.10
7.40
6.30
3.00
2.90
Selected products and product groups
All products
Stone, clay, and glass products................
See footnote at end of table.
United
States
West
Table 13.
Total Cost of Material Components for Each $1,000 of
Selected products and product groups
United
States
Northeast
North
Central
1964-65 - continued
South
West
$ 39.00
11.20
10.20
6.90
6.00
1.70
1.10
$ 37.90
9.30
10.20
7.20
5.40
1.70
1.50
$ 40.00
12.40
8.70
7.20
1
6.50
2.50
1.10
$ 38.30
13.20
9.00
7.00
5.60
1.40
1.20
$ 39.80
8.90
13.70
6.20
6.70
1.00
.50
Heating and ventilating equipment......
Radiators, convectors, and boilers....
Unit heaters and ventilators.........
Air-conditioning equipment...........
Temperature controls.................
Blowers, exhaust, and ventilating fans
Oil burners..........................
51.90
17.70
11.40
9.20
7.30
4.20
1.40
48.80
19.30
12.40
2.40
7.40
3.10
3.40
54.00
22.70
6.40
8.30
9.20
5.60
.90
56.40
13.60
13.80
16.60
6.60
4.30
.90
46.40
15.60
13.10
7.40
5.70
3.60
.50
Electrical equipment, fixtures, and wire
Lighting fixtures....................
Switchboards and panelboards.........
Conduit............................ . .
Wire and cable.......................
Intercom and fire alarm and sound....
Current-carrying wiring devices......
Noncurrent-carrying wiring devices....
Clock system.........................
Transformers.........................
52.90
20.20
7.80
6.40
5.80
5.20
2.40
1.60
1.30
1.10
48.50
17.00
5.20
6.70
5.80
7.00
1.40
.90
1.40
1.20
51.20
20.10
7.60
5.70
5. 10
4.40
3.00
2.00
1.80
.80
51.60
21.20
8.00
6.20
5.70
3.80
2.00
1.70
1.00
1.50
62.40
22.90
10.90
7.30
7.00
6.10
3.30
1.70
.90
.60
Lumber and lumber products.............
Millwork.............................
Roughed dressed lumber...............
Wood fiber board.....................
Folding partitions and doors.........
Flooring.............................
Structural laminates.................
Plywood..............................
50.90
21.50
12.00
6.20
4.30
2.60
2.20
1.90
42.90
16.60
12.10
3.20
4.40
3.20
2.00
1.00
46.10
17.70
7.20
10.10
5.70
2.30
1.70
1.30
48.50
26.30
7.30
7.50
2.80
3.00
1.40
70.60
25.00
25.40
2.90
4.60
1.50
6.40
4.70
Petroleum products.....................
Asphalt paving.......................
Aspahlt and tar pitches..............
Asphalt felts........................
Gas, oil, grease, diesel fuel........
12.30
5.20
3.00
2.90
1.10
11.50
4.20
3.00
3.20
1.10
12.80
6.50
2.80
3.00
.40
12.70
4.20
3.60
2.90
2.00
11.90
6.20
2.60
2.60
.50
Fixed school equipment.................
Kitchen equipment....................
Laboratory equipment.................
Seats and built-in furniture.........
Chalkboards and tackboards...........
Shop equipment.......................
Metal cabinets.......................
36.60
12.70
6.60
5.00
4.40
2.60
2.10
40.00
14.20
10.70
3.50
4.10
1.90
1.20
50.20
18.30
7.60
9.30
4.80
6.40
1.80
26.80
10.60
4.10
2.30
4.70
29.90
6.80
3.70
5.40
4.00
1.80
3.70
Plumbing products......................
Plumbing fixtures....................
Steel and galvanized pipe............
Cast-iron pipe.......................
Valves and specialties...............
Pumps................................
Storage tanks........................
°
Construction Contract, by Region,
See footnote at end of table.
—
—
2.10
Table 13.
Total Cost of Material Components for Each $1,000 of School Construction Contract, by Region, 1964-65 - continued
Selected products and product groups
Paints and other chemical compounds................................
Paints...........................................................
All other..........................................................
Construction equipment...........................................
Vinyl asbestos tile..............................................
Skylights........................................................
i/ Includes all types of acoustical
NOTE:
tile
United
States
$
5.20
4.50
28.50
15.30
4.40
1.00
Northeast
$
4.70
4.00
28.90
15.20
4.50
1.20
North
Central
South
$
$
5.80
4.80
21.80
10.70
4.80
.70
some of which does not belong in this general classification.
Group totals include products not shown separately.
6.20
5.40
23.80
11.30
3.70
1.20
West
$
3.60
3.30
44.30
27.40
4.80
.90
A PPE N D IX:
SCOPE AND M ETHOD OF
S u rv e y C r i t e r ia
data w e r e ob tain ed by the BLS f ie l d r e p r e
s en tative f r o m the p r i m e c o n t r a c t o r and his
s u b c o n t r a c t o r s . F or a r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l n u m
b e r of s u b c o n t r a c t o r s who w e r e out of
b u s i n e s s or o t h e r w is e i n a c c e s s i b l e , u n c o
op era tiv e, or whose con tra cts w ere e x c e e d
in g ly s m a l l , e s t i m a t e s of m a t e r i a l s u s e d
w e r e p r e p a r e d on the b a s is of r e p o r t s f o r
s i m i l a r j o b s . A p p r o x i m a t e l y 3000 c o n t r a c
t o r s w e r e c o n t a c t e d to obtain the n e c e s s a r y
l a b o r and m a t e r i a l data.
This study is b a s e d on data c o v e r i n g 103
c o n t r a c t s f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n of s c h o o l s .
Of t h e s e , 58 w e r e f e d e r a l l y - a i d e d s c h o o l
p r o j e c t s f o r w h ich o n - s i t e p a y r o l l data w e r e
r e a d i l y a v a i la b le . The r e m a i n in g 45 s c h o o l s
w e r e s e l e c t e d th rou g hou t the 48 con tig u ou s
States to give an o p tim u m g e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i
bution. Both g r o u p s of s c h o o l s w e r e s e l e c t e d
to give p r o p e r r e p r e sen tation of fo u r f a c t o r s
w h ich w e r e c o n s i d e r e d s ig n ific a n t in m a n
h ou r r e q u i r e m e n t s . T h e s e w e r e r e g i o n a l
d is t r i b u t io n , type of s c h o o l ( e l e m e n t a r y o r
s e c o n d a r y ) , d e g r e e of u r b a n iz a tio n , and s iz e
of p r o j e c t .
The m a t e r i a l s l is tin g s thus ob tain ed w e r e
c l a s s i f i e d into c a t e g o r i e s ( c o n s is t e n t with
the 4 - d i g i t Standard In d u str ia l C l a s s i f i
ca tio n ) as found in the C e n s u s o f M a n u fa c
t u r e s p r o d u c t g r o u p s . F o r e a c h of th ese
g r o u p s , the a v e r a g e am ou nts r e q u i r e d f o r
$1,000 of c o n s t r u c t i o n w e r e c a l c u la t e d . E a c h
o f th ese a v e r a g e s was r e d u c e d by a r a t io
r e p r e s e n t i n g the d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n the
m a n u f a c t u r e r ’ s and c o n t r a c t o r ’ s va lu a tion .
The am ou nts thus r e d u c e d w e r e c o n s i s t e n t
with C en su s data p u b lis h e d f o r th es e v a r i o u s
com ponents.
The p r o j e c t s w e r e w eigh ted to give fa i r
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of the a bove f a c t o r s b a s e d
on the d is t r i b u t io n and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of
s c h o o l s c o n s t r u c t e d in 1963.
M a n -h o u r E s t im a t e s
E s t im a t e s o f tota l m a n - h o u r r e q u i r e
m e n ts f o r s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n a r e d e r i v e d
by c o m b i n in g e s t i m a t e s of o n - s i t e and o f f
site m a n - h o u r s .
P r i m a r y m a n - h o u r s f o r m a n u fa ctu rin g
m a t e r i a l s ( i . e . , the h ou rs r e q u i r e d in the
fin a l m a n u fa ctu rin g stage) w e r e d e v e lo p e d
by m u ltip ly in g th es e a v e r a g e a m ou nts by a
r a t i o of m a n u fa ctu rin g m a n - h o u r s to $1,000
of p r o d u c tio n . T h e s e r a t i o s w e r e c o m p u te d
f r o m the output and e m p lo y m e n t data in the
1964 S u rv ey of M a n u fa c tu r e s .
O n - s i t e m a n - h o u r s f o r the f e d e r a l l y a id ed p r o j e c t s w e r e obtained f r o m p a y r o l l s
s u b m itte d by the c o n t r a c t o r s u n der the p r o
v i s i o n s of the D a v i s - B a c o n A ct. T h e s e w e r e
c h e c k e d f o r c o m p l e t e n e s s by in t e r v i e w s with
the c o n t r a c t o r s and th eir s u b c o n t r a c t o r .
E s t im a t e s w e r e m ade f o r unobtainable
m i s s i n g data. M a n -h o u r s f o r the oth er p r o j e c t s w e r e obtained by i n t e r v i e w with the
p r i m e c o n t r a c t o r and his s u b c o n t r a c t o r s .
The c o n t r a c t o r s w e r e a l s o r e q u e s t e d to f u r
n is h o n - s i t e e m p lo y m e n t data f o r o c c u p a
tion s not c o v e r e d by the D a v i s - B a c o n A ct,
s u ch as s u p e r v i s o r y , t e c h n i c a l, and c l e r i c a l
p e r s o n n e l , and s e l f - e m p l o y e d s u b c o n t r a c
P r i m a r y m a n - h o u r s f o r trad e and t r a n s
p o r t a t io n w e r e d e r i v e d in a s i m i l a r m a n n e r .
H e r e , h o w e v e r , e m p lo y m e n t r a t i o s w e r e
a p p lie d to the d i f f e r e n c e betw een p r o d u c e r ’ s
and p u r c h a s e r ’ s va lu a tion , wh ich was taken
as the total of a ll d is t r i b u t io n c o s t s b etw een
the s ite s of fin a l m a n u f a c t u r e
and
c o n s tr u c t io n .
t o r s (w o rk in g p r o p r i e t o r s ) .
T o c o m p u te s e c o n d a r y m a n - h o u r s to
p r o d u c e the m a t e r i a l s ( i . e . , h ou rs r e q u i r e d
in all s ta g e s of p r o d u c t i o n oth er than fin a l
m a n u fa c tu r e and t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ) , the 1958
in t e r i n d u s t r y study by the O f f i c e of B u s i n e s s
E c o n o m i c s o f the U.S. D e p a r tm e n t of C o m
m e r c e was u s e d . Th is study in d i c a t e s the
a m ou n t o f s e c o n d a r y p r o d u c t o r s e r v i c e
O ff-s ite m a n -h ou r req u irem en ts r e p r e
sent c h i e f l y the h ou rs r e q u i r e d to p r o d u c e
and d is tr ib u t e the m a t e r i a l s , s u p p li e s , and
e q u ip m e n t u s e d in the c o n s t r u c t i o n . E s t i
m a tio n of th e s e h o u r s , t h e r e f o r e , b egan with
a l is tin g o f the va lu e o f a ll su ch item s. T h e s e
SURVEY
22
r e q u i r e d of e a c h of its 78 in d u s tr y s e c t o r s
to p r o d u c e the p r i m a r y p r o d u c t . Su m m in g
th e s e am ou nts and a pp lyin g the a p p r o p r i a t e
e m p l o y m e n t r a t i o s p r o d u c e d the n u m b e r of
s e c o n d a r y m a n - h o u r s r e q u i r e d in e a c h of
the s e c t o r s .
T w o oth e r m i n o r c o m p o n e n t s w e r e r e
q u i r e d to c o m p l e t e the c o m p i l a t i o n of total
o f f - s i t e h o u r s as d e fin e d f o r this s e r i e s o f
s tu d ie s . One o f th es e is the h o u rs r e q u i r e d
to p r o d u c e the c o n t r a c t o r s * p u r c h a s e s of
o v e r h e a d m a t e r i a l s and s e r v i c e s . The q u a n
tit ie s of th e s e i t e m s w e r e e s t im a t e d and
in c lu d e d in the m a n - h o u r c o n v e r s i o n s ju s t
d e s c r i b e d . The o th e r is the h ou rs w o r k e d
b y the o f f - s i t e e m p l o y e e s of the c o n s t r u c
tion in d u s try . The e s t im a t e f o r th e s e h ou rs
is b a s e d on the d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n the p r o
p o r t i o n of a ll n o n c o n s t r u c t io n w o r k e r s in the
c o n t r a c t c o n s t r u c t i o n i n d u s tr y as r e p o r t e d
in the B LS e m p l o y m e n t trend s e r i e s , and the
p r o p o r t i o n of o n - s i t e n o n c o n s t r u c t io n m a n
h o u r s as d e v e l o p e d in this study.
A r e a D efin ition
The study c o v e r e d on ly p u b lic s c h o o l
c o n s t r u c t i o n , e l e m e n t a r y and s e c o n d a r y , in
the 48 co n tig u o u s S tates. T h ey w e r e g r o u p e d
f o r r e g i o n a l c o m p a r i s o n s as f o l l o w s :
N o r t h e a s t - - C o n n e c t i c u t , M a in e, M a s s a
ch u s e tts , N ew H a m p s h i r e , N ew J e r s e y , N ew
Y o r k , P e n n s y lv a n ia , R h ode Is la n d , and V e r
m o n t; N orth C e n t r a l - - I l l i n o i s , Indiana, Iowa
K a n s a s , M ic h ig a n , M in n e so ta , M i s s o u r i ,
N e b r a s k a , N o r th Dakota, O h io, South Dakota
and W i s c o n s i n ; S o u t h - - A l a b a m a , A r k a n s a s ,
D e l a w a r e , D i s t r i c t of C o lu m b ia , F l o r i d a ,
G e o r g i a , K en tu c k y , L o u is ia n a , M a ry la n d ,
M i s s i s s i p p i , N orth C a r o li n a , O k la h o m a ,
South C a r o li n a , T e n n e s s e e , T e x a s , V ir g i n i a ,
and W est V ir g i n i a ; and We s t - - A r i z o n a ,
C a l i f o r n i a , C o l o r a d o , Idaho, M on tan a, N e
va d a , N ew M e x i c o , O r e g o n , Utah, W a s h
ington , and W y o m in g .
OTHER A V A I L A B L E BLS P U B L IC A T IO N S ON
C O N STRU C TIO N LA B O R R E Q U IR E M E N T S 1 /
B ulletin
num ber
1299
1331
1340
1390
1402
1404
1441
1490
P rice
L a b o r R e q u ir e m e n t s f o r S ch o o l C o n s t r u c t io n ,
50 p p .................................................................................................................
L a b o r R e q u ir e m e n t s f o r F e d e r a l O ffic e
Building C o n s t r u c t io n , 43 p p ..................................................
L a b o r R e q u ir e m e n t s f o r H os p ita l C o n s t r u c t io n ,
46 p p .................................................................................................................
L a b o r and M a t e r ia l R e q u ir e m e n t s f o r C iv il
W ork s C o n s t r u c t io n by the C o r p s of
E n g in e e r s , 28 p p ................................................................
L a b o r and M a t e r ia l R e q u ir e m e n t s f o r P u b lic
H ousing C o n s t r u c t io n , 42 p p ................................................................
L a b o r and M a t e r ia l R e q u ir e m e n t s f o r P r iv a t e
O n e - F a m i l y H ouse C o n s t r u c t io n , 37 p p ..................................
L a b o r and M a t e r ia l R e q u ir e m e n t s f o r C o l l e g e
H ousing C o n s t r u c t io n , 34 p p .................................................................
L a b o r and M a t e r ia l R e q u ir e m e n t s f o r S ew er
W ork s C o n s t r u c t io n , 31 p p ....................................................................
35£
35£
35£
30£
30£
30£
30£
BLS R e p o r t
n u m b er
29$
L a b o r and M a t e r ia l R e q u ir e m e n t s f o r
C o n s t r u c t io n of F e d e r a l l y A id ed H ighw a ys,
1958, 1961, and 1964, 17 p p ..........................................................
Free 2 j
1 / Sales p u b lica tio n s m a y be p u r c h a s e d f r o m the S uperintendent o f D o c u m e n t s ,
W ashington, D .C ., 20402, or f r o m r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s of the B ureau of L a b o r S ta tis tics
at the a d d r e s s e s shown b e lo w .
2 j F r o m Bureau of L a b o r S t a t is t ic s , W ashington, D .C ., 20212 or any of the
o f f i c e s lis t e d b e lo w .
R e g io n a l O f f i c e s
N ew England R e g io n
1 6 0 3 - A F e d e r a l Building
G o v e rn m e n t C e n te r
B oston , M a s s . 02203
M iddle Atlantic R e g io n
341 Ninth Avenue
New Y o r k , N .Y . 10001
N orth C e n tr a l R e g io n
219 South D e a r b o r n St.
C h ic a g o , 111. 60604
Southern R e g ion
1371 P e a c h t r e e
Suite 540
Atlanta, Ga. 30309
Mountain P la in s R e g io n
911 Walnut S treet
K a n sa s C ity, M o. 64106
W e s t e r n R e g io n
450 G olden Gate Avenue
B o x 36017
San F r a n c i s c o , C a lif. 94102
? U .S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1968 O - 299-908
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 30 cents