Dive Brief:
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An increasing number of large U.S. manufacturers with operations in China are planning to build facilities here within five years, according to a survey by Boston Consulting Group.
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In an interview with industry news site Manufacturing.net, Dan Parkinson, industrial market sector leader at construction giant Brasfield & Gorrie, pointed to the movement as one of the top commercial construction trends of 2015.
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Other trends: More major manufacturing companies will build in Southern states with right-to-work laws, state tax incentives, a more available work force than in the North, and low utility rates, Parkinson said. And the average age of construction workers is getting higher as interest in those industries among students wanes, he noted.
Dive Insight:
Parkinson predicted that the cost-conscious manufacturing clients of construction firms will continue to demand value at lower prices, even as the economy improves. One result, he said, is that contractors could work longer on each project in an effort to save money.
That’s a change from the traditional practice of finishing a project as soon as possible so clients can get their products on the market before their competitors. Still, Parkinson told the news site, “General contractors are adapting quickly in an effort to remain competitive in this high-growth [manufacturing] sector.”