PPB September 2021

Market Snapshot Construction is literally a brick-and -mortar industry, requiring on-site interactio ns and activities. However, the pande mic has revealed that many construction jo bs can successfully start online. Just as te lehealth allowed patients to see doctors from the comfort and safety of home, telebu ilding works in much the same way. By u sing digital tools and technology like dro nes, planners, inspectors and project m anagers can view job sites and collaborate r emotely. This reduces in-person visits, helpi ng to boost productivity and increase wo rker safety in a post-COVID-19 world. Telebuilding also allows constructio n firms to manage workers’ concerns about masks and vaccines. More than ha lf (57 percent) of adults believe all emplo yees— those vaccinated and unvaccinated — should be required to wear a mask when working on-site, according to a Jun e survey from the American Staffing Associa tion. And while most workers (60 percen t) don’t want to reveal their own vaccinatio n status, 66 percent say they have a right to know if their colleagues have been vaccina ted. Whether workers conduct their jobs on-site or remotely, constructi on companies can use promotional pr oducts to give employees a better experien ce. Logoed items such as backpacks a nd travel mugs allow construction man agers to transition from their home office to job sites. And branded products such as tape measures and labels are always us eful on construction sites. Cons t ruc t i on A Post-COVID Construction Boom The residential construction market is hot almost everywhere, but especially in the cities at right. Here, spending has spiked for residential building permits. See the percentage change in value from 2020 to 2021. 1 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania up 128% 2 San Antonio, Texas up 81% 3 Milwaukee, Wisconsin up 69% 4 Raleigh, North Carolina up 53% 5 Kansas City, Missouri up 48% 6 Buffalo, New York up 47% 7 Richmond, Virginia up 47% 8 Indianapolis, Indiana up 47% 9 Minneapolis, Minnesota up 46% 10 Detroit, Michigan up 44% Sources: Construction Coverage and Home Advisor Road Work Ahead President Biden’s roughly $1 trillion infrastructure plan, the American Jobs Plan, will reportedly create millions of jobs—many in the construction sector. The president’s plan calls for more than 20,000 miles of roads to be modernized and 10,000 bridges to be repaired. Promotional products distributors can work with construction companies to recruit and retain workers who will be needed as projects begin to roll out. Help Wanted Construction workers are in short supply. Construction companies report the greatest need for these positions specifically, which opens huge opportunities for distributors to help companies promote themselves to job seekers: Laborers .......................... 43% Carpenters: ...................... 35% Heavy equipment workers: .. 29% Truck drivers: ................... 25% Concrete workers: ............ 23% Cement masons: .............. 12% Mechanics: ...................... 12% Iron workers: .................... 10% Electricians: ........................ 9% Pipelayers: .......................... 9% Sources: Associated General Contractors and Autodesk 60 | SEPTEMBER 2021 | GROW