Dive Brief:

• Productivity in the nonresidential construction industry is vexing executives who seem unable to increase it, according to a report from consulting company FMI, which convened a panel of executives to discuss business conditions.
• Productivity was one negative area the panel cited in a recent report from FMI on its Fourth Quarter Nonresidential Construction Index.
• What productivity gains there are come from software or equipment because labor forces that shrank during the recession are stretched about as far as they can go.

Dive Insight:

The workers who were kept on during the recession – the best companies had – seem to be nearing burnout because of the load they have been maintaining. More overtime than workers may want, morale and attitude, and fatigue are among factors that the Mechanical Contractors Association of America says hurt productivity.