The top 400 contractors: Focusing on processes

The market for major contractors has been growing slowly but steadily for the past few years. However, this has not resulted in contractors abandoning the lessons learned during the aftermath of the economic meltdown, in 2008. If anything, owner expectations that construction is still a bargain and the prospects of a growing worker shortage have left contractors continuing to search for ways to do more with less. While the markets in the U.S. are growing, many large contractors still are feeling competitive pressures. Client expectations that construction is still a bargain and competitors' tough bidding have many contractors shaking their heads. Although many contractors say margins are slowly creeping up, concerns about a lack of staffing and the expected resulting rise in labor costs have contractors wary. The biggest concern for contractors going forward is the expected shortage of workers.