Guess which type of crew works faster and costs less

Successful contractors adopt new approaches to stay ahead of the competition. This week, we share insights on how to use partnerships and promote union ties to build your book of business, and review the reasons you might want to accelerate technology integration. 

But first, she wasn’t just an entertainment superstar and visionary humanitarian —Dolly Parton was a force in the built environment, too.

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It’s time to change how you look at hiring subs, asserts Joycelyn Yue, national director of subcontractor engagement at Skanska USA Building. The marketplace favors contractors who shift from “reactive problem-solving in the field to proactive planning at the outset, creating stronger alignment across the project team and better outcomes for both the project and the participating firms.” Partnering early with local subs and specialty contractors gives you more visibility into crucial factors like trades and labor availability, logistics and sequencing. 

Why it matters: “This approach allows smaller firms to better prepare for upcoming opportunities, invest in workforce development and scale their operations more sustainably over time,” she notes. You can also flip the script and use these same benefits to pitch your firm to larger companies seeking to partner with local or historically under-utilized businesses. (Texas Contractor)

Research shows that union construction crews are more productive and produce better safety outcomes on public work projects, boosting cost control and avoiding delays. The study, by Larissa Petrucci of NorCal Construction Industry Compliance and Matthew Hinkel of Alma College, found that completion was 38 to 60 days faster on average-duration union-built projects and that cost increases were up to 6.3 percentage points smaller than on comparable non-union builds. “These are not marginal differences,” Hinkel notes.

Why it matters: Add these findings to your marketing materials. They combat the myth that union labor costs more, and they reinforce the case for partnering with your firm. (Governing)

Contractors continue looking to innovative technology solutions like AI, BIM, robotics and 3D printing to stem labor shortage impacts. Sam Fertik, CEO and founder of Carbon Custom Builders, believes the key is “adopting AI tools to handle laborious administrative work and using digital plans and 3D visualizations to make the day-to-day work more tangible and engaging.” The hope is that these advanced tools will not only take on some tasks that previously required a person, but also attract younger workers seeking high-tech jobs.

Why it matters: National Center for Construction Education and Research data show that 88% of companies have openings for key positions and 45% have experienced project delays because of the hiring gap. Strategic technology adoption is an effective way to modernize your business, recruit workers and deliver projects on time. (Forbes)

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Electrical incidents are a risk for anyone on your crew, not just the electricians. According to Electrical Safety Foundation International data, 1,654 electrical fatalities occurred at workplaces from 2011 through 2024—and more than two-thirds (70%) involved workers in non-electrical occupations. McManigal, a risk engineer with Zurich, says a big part of the problem is a mismatch between best practice and field execution caused by “assumptions replacing verification, schedule pressures, incomplete planning and not verifying electrically safe work conditions.” (CPWR)

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The Level is curated and written by Margot Lester and edited by Bianca Prieto