US Construction worker productivity has dropped 40% in the last 50 years

Re:US Construction worker productivity has dropped 40% in th... by taeric on Monday January 23, 2023 @01:35PM (#34492980)

I'm inclined to take your side on this. By virtue of being undocumented, they should be boosting the perceived productivity, not dampening it.

If I was to steelman the idea, though; I would guess that removing incentives in the form of higher pay will lower the contributions of everyone involved?

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Re:US Construction worker productivity has dropped 40% in th... by michaelmrose on Monday January 23, 2023 @01:40PM (#34493038)

If your labor hours are billable why on Earth should undocumented in this context mean unaccounted for?

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Re:US Construction worker productivity has dropped 40% in th... by taeric on Monday January 23, 2023 @01:54PM (#34493240)

I think I understand the question. The disagreement seems to be what "undocumented worker" here means.

If you think it means the worker is on the books, but is not a citizen, then you get to your question. It should be roughly the same.

If you think it means that the worker was off the books, regardless of citizenship, then you arrive at the other.

My consideration is if I am a cleaner and get my child to help out on a few jobs, my child will not be a documented worker and it will be a transparent boost to my productivity. Indeed, many subcontractors and migrant workers will use family as a cheap way to boost productivity so that they can take more jobs.

I grant that construction may land on the other interpretation. There are usually more rules for that kind of work. (Though, in rural areas? Not sure.)

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