When evaluating the impact of Indiana's Common Construction Wage law, it is important to understand the positive economic effects this law has on the State's economy, as well as the lives of Hoosier families in local communities. This topic has been studied for more than twenty years with similar results indicating common construction wage laws are a benefit to the state, the worker and the local economy.

 

Some of the key findings of the effects of common construction wage laws are:

 

• The Common Construction Wage keeps Hoosier jobs local and promotes an upwardly-mobile, high-road economy for working families.

 

• The Common Construction Wage maintains local jobs for Hoosiers. In Indiana, 90.5 percent of all construction work is completed by in-state contractors. CCW ensures wages on Indiana construction projects reflect those paid in each local community

 

• Where common construction wages are paid, apprenticeship training programs are more prevalent, including higher participation by minorities and disadvantaged workers.

 

• The Common Construction Wage supports almost 2,000 non-construction jobs and nearly $250 million in total worker income throughout the state.

 

• The Common Construction Wage boosts the Indiana economy by about $700 million

 

• The law does not increase total construction costs for public projects and instead produces a highly skilled, highly productive workforce.

 

• The payment of common construction wage reduces the project cost because of the increase in productivity and the decrease in job site injuries.

 

• The failure to pay common construction wage and benefits creates a direct cost to taxpayers because it shifts the cost of health care and pensions from employers to public health systems.

 

• The failure to pay common construction wage reduces tax revenues, lowers the general economy and forces skilled workers to migrate to other areas, further reducing local tax bases.