Survey: Regional contractors to maintain employees, offer raises

Construction firms participating in an annual contractor survey say they have no plans to reduce employee numbers this year, while more than 50 percent expect additional hiring in 2017.

At the same time, most firms plan to give their employees raises this year.

That’s according to the results of the annual Upstate New York Contractors Compensation and Benefits Study that the Rochester–based Bonadio Group issued in mid-July.

The findings of the 2017 survey are based on the responses of 25 construction firms that had filled out an online survey. 

Most of the responding firms are located in upstate New York, says Mike Smith, partner in Bonadio Group and team leader in firm’s construction division. 

Two of the responding firms are located in Northern New Jersey and one is located in Western Massachusetts, he added.

Survey respondents included four small firms (under $10 million in revenue); 11 medium-sized companies ($10 million to $50 million in revenue) and 10 large-sized firms (over $50 million in revenue).

Respondents included a “mix of both” Bonadio clients and non-clients, says Smith. 

 “It was about 75 to 80 percent of our clients and the remaining 20 percent were non-clients,” says Smith.

He spoke to CNYBJ from his office in Albany on Aug. 17.

Findings

The survey found that about 90 percent of respondents planned to give their employees a raise in 2017, and of that figure, 67 percent said that raise would be a salary increase between 1 percent and 3 percent.

About “10 percent [of respondents] were going to hold the salaries about the same,” says Smith.

Health-care costs for employers have risen in 2017 for both single employees and family coverage. 

“It’s not as big of an increase as it has been in prior years but that’s something that’s been a concern for the construction industry over the last few years … the rising health-care costs,” says Smith.

The survey also found that the average monthly cost of a health-care plan for an individual rose from about $313 in 2009 to about $682 in 2017. Employers are handling “most” of that increase, says Smith. The average monthly company contribution rose from $234 in 2009 to $624 in 2017, according to the Bonadio report. 

The survey also found that most firms are offering health-care plans that include health-maintenance organizations and preferred-provider organizations.            

Construction firms participating in an annual contractor survey say they have no plans to reduce employee numbers this year, while more than 50 percent expect additional hiring in 2017.

At the same time, most firms plan to give their employees raises this year.

That’s according to the results of the annual Upstate New York Contractors Compensation and Benefits Study that the Rochester–based Bonadio Group issued in mid-July.

The findings of the 2017 survey are based on the responses of 25 construction firms that had filled out an online survey. 

Most of the responding firms are located in upstate New York, says Mike Smith, partner in Bonadio Group and team leader in firm’s construction division. 

Two of the responding firms are located in Northern New Jersey and one is located in Western Massachusetts, he added.

Survey respondents included four small firms (under $10 million in revenue); 11 medium-sized companies ($10 million to $50 million in revenue) and 10 large-sized firms (over $50 million in revenue).

Respondents included a “mix of both” Bonadio clients and non-clients, says Smith. 

 “It was about 75 to 80 percent of our clients and the remaining 20 percent were non-clients,” says Smith.

He spoke to CNYBJ from his office in Albany on Aug. 17.

Findings

The survey found that about 90 percent of respondents planned to give their employees a raise in 2017, and of that figure, 67 percent said that raise would be a salary increase between 1 percent and 3 percent.

About “10 percent [of respondents] were going to hold the salaries about the same,” says Smith.

Health-care costs for employers have risen in 2017 for both single employees and family coverage. 

“It’s not as big of an increase as it has been in prior years but that’s something that’s been a concern for the construction industry over the last few years … the rising health-care costs,” says Smith.

The survey also found that the average monthly cost of a health-care plan for an individual rose from about $313 in 2009 to about $682 in 2017. Employers are handling “most” of that increase, says Smith. The average monthly company contribution rose from $234 in 2009 to $624 in 2017, according to the Bonadio report. 

The survey also found that most firms are offering health-care plans that include health-maintenance organizations and preferred-provider organizations.