Building a Sustainable Construction Workforce

Abstract

The average U.S. construction worker is aged 42.6 years, and will not be eligible for full Social Security retirement benefits until age 67. Delayed retirement is largely driven by economic need, but construction workers face considerable challenges in remaining on the job. This study explores trade-specific age trends within the construction industry, and the experiences of building trade unions with aging membership. A mixed-methods approach used trade-specific age statistics from the Current Population Survey and key informant interviews with labor leaders, in order to identify union experiences and interventions. Mean and median ages for all subgroups in construction increased from 2003 to 2017. Immigrant construction workers were significantly younger than workers who were born in the U.S. (41 vs. 43, p < 0.001). Union workers were older than non-union workers (42 vs. 39 in 2017, p < 0.001); the age differential between self-employed and wage-and-salary workers was wide (49 vs. 40, p < 0.001). Union leaders described barriers, such as age discrimination and the loss of previously available light tasks, as well as current and potential solutions through union contract language requiring the inclusion of older workers, or establishing limits for lifting. Other solutions included career pathways for training and safety, with their attendant limitations; mentoring/pairing opportunities with apprentices; and the potential opportunities and training needs for site management positions.

Effect of Occupational Health and Safety Training for Chinese Construction Workers Based on the CHAID Decision Tree

“…The research on the intervention effect of risk awareness training in the construction industry shows that the knowledge and attitudes of construction workers after a one-hour safety course can be improved within 3 months (10). In particular, the post guidance training of apprentices has significantly improved the effect of on-site management (11). At the same time, the ownermanager is the key to ensuring the safe working conditions of apprentices.…”

Prescription opioid use and associated factors among US construction workers

“…33,56,57 In addition to aging, job exposures in construction could worsen health conditions among workers whose long-term job was in construction. [58][59][60] Given the increasingly aging workforce trends in construction, 61 the higher opioid prescription rates among older construction workers is particularly worrisome since older workers are more likely to have an adverse event, possibly death, from taking opioid medications. 62 This study also indicates that prescription opioid use among women construction workers was significantly higher than their male counterparts despite women accounting for a small proportion of the construction workforce.…”

Construction Accidents in Spain: Implications for an Aging Workforce

“…Work in construction is among the most physically demanding [ 18 ], with frequent lifting, carrying heavy materials and static work [ 23 ], and repetitive manual tasks in awkward and cramped positions [ 26 ]. Physical activities in construction may be a challenge particularly for older workers [ 27 – 29 ].…”

“…In the USA, the proportion of construction workers aged 55 and older increased from 12% to more than 20% between 1985 and 2015 [ 27 ]. In the European Union, between 2011 and 2018, the percentage of construction workers over 50 years rose from 24.7% to 31.5% [ 30 ], in the UK rose from 26.9% in 2009 to 32.3% in 2018 [ 31 ], and in Spain rose from 17.5% in 2008 to 29.8% in 2018 [ 32 ].…”