Construction Employment Is At Its Lowest Level Since 1946

I don't think this is "depressing". I see a post-WWII boom that was followed by a long downward trend that was temporarily broken by the housing bubble and is now continuing. In other words, for the last 50 years we have been figuring out how to build things with fewer people, freeing them up to do other things, and I see no reason why that will not continue or why we should wish that it should not.

Re: Construction Employment Is At Its Lowest Level Since 1946

#5

Post by WalterBright » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 6:10 PM UTC

When I watch crews build a house, I am struck by how resistant this activity has been to automation and mass production techniques.

A truck will drive up to the site with a stack of lumber on it. Workers will individual measure, cut, and fit the pieces together. Wiring is all eyeballed by the electrian, and custom fit. The same for plumbing. Finish carpentry is all done piece by piece, by skilled craftsmen, and all hand fitted (and are a huge component of the expense of a house).

It all seems ripe for a revolution.

I'm not suggesting that houses be all cookie-cutter identical. But a custom design could largely be built in a factory, trucked in, and then you'd just have final assembly done on site. The result would be higher quality and lower cost (and less labor).

You can see some of this with roof trusses today, which are custom built in a factory and then trucked to the site.

Re: Construction Employment Is At Its Lowest Level Since 1946

#6

Post by bitwize » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 6:27 PM UTC

WalterBright wrote: post #5

When I watch crews build a house, I am struck by how resistant this activity has been to automation and mass production techniques. A truck will drive up to the site with a stack of lumber on it. Workers will individual measure, cut, and fit the pieces together. Wiring is all eyeballed by the electrian, and custom fit. The same for plumbing. Finish carpentry is all done piece by piece, by skilled craftsmen, and all h…

Unions probably have a lot to do with this in the United States.

I seem to recall footage of a building-erecting robot in Japan. Basically it was a frame that went up and down on four pillars, with an armature that could move in two dimensions on the frame, almost like a "UFO catcher" or crane game machine.

Re: Construction Employment Is At Its Lowest Level Since 1946

#7

Post by cgh » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 6:27 PM UTC

minwcnt5 wrote: post #3

Curiously, in Canada the construction industry is experiencing the exact opposite effect and is at an all-time high: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-31/canadian-building-j...

Construction employment in Canada is high for the same reason it was high in the US in 2006. Can you guess what that is? Hint: it eventually goes "pop".

Re: Construction Employment Is At Its Lowest Level Since 1946

#8

Post by gigawhat » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 6:33 PM UTC

bitwize wrote: post #6

WalterBright wrote: post #5

When I watch crews build a house, I am struck by how resistant this activity has been to automation and mass production techniques. A truck will drive up to the site with a stack of lumber on it. Workers will individual measure, cut, and fit the pieces together. Wiring is all eyeballed by the electrian, and custom fit. The same for plumbing. Finish carpentry is all done piece by piece, by skilled craftsmen, and all h…

Unions probably have a lot to do with this in the United States. I seem to recall footage of a building-erecting robot in Japan. Basically it was a frame that went up and down on four pillars, with an armature that could move in two dimensions on the frame, almost like a "UFO catcher" or crane game machine.

I am Bender. Please insert girder.

Re: Construction Employment Is At Its Lowest Level Since 1946

#9

Post by camiller » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 6:34 PM UTC

While I can't say for sure with regards to residential construction, but the amount of NEW never leased business/retail space around here is staggering. I've seen several small to medium strip centers go up in the last five years just along routes I drive daily (or at least a few times a week) and much if it is sitting vacant having never had a tenant. Several have a single tenant with 3-7 empty bays.

Re: Construction Employment Is At Its Lowest Level Since 1946

#10

Post by notaddicted » Fri, Jun 01, 2012, 6:37 PM UTC

WalterBright wrote: post #5

When I watch crews build a house, I am struck by how resistant this activity has been to automation and mass production techniques. A truck will drive up to the site with a stack of lumber on it. Workers will individual measure, cut, and fit the pieces together. Wiring is all eyeballed by the electrian, and custom fit. The same for plumbing. Finish carpentry is all done piece by piece, by skilled craftsmen, and all h…

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=manufactured+homes&l=1

less snarky answer: mobile/prefab homes are more common where the land is cheap, and places where a lot of people live, the land isn't cheap. I've never seen one where you can't tell (or have I?!? but seriously, probably not,) but I've been living in the city for years.