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DOE OSTI · 2588193

How the Modular Construction Industry Is Changing the Construction Workforce [Slides]

Truitt, Sarah [National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000300090926)·Sullivan, Julia [National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)]·Dlamini, Sletsy [National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)]·Day, Julia [Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)]·Ruiz, Shelby [Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)]·Laquidara-Carr, Donna [Dodge Construction Network, Boston, MA (United States)]·Gilmore, Dana [Dodge Construction Network, Boston, MA (United States)]
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Abstract

564,000 - that's the number of construction workers the United States lacked in 2023. This is not a new or unfamiliar problem, but high interest rates, housing shortages, and an aging workforce are amplifying the pressure to build faster and recruit new talent. Panelized and modular construction are often touted as a solution to this workforce challenge and have seen year over year increases in market share. While research confirms industrialized construction can increase building efficiencies, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), RMI, Washington State University, Dodge Construction Network and Guidehouse were curious how workers are being impacted both on construction sites, at factories, and all the stages in between.

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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATIONconstruction workforceindustrialized constructionmodular construction

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Truitt, Sarah [National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000300090926), Sullivan, Julia [National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)], Dlamini, Sletsy [National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)], Day, Julia [Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)], Ruiz, Shelby [Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)], Laquidara-Carr, Donna [Dodge Construction Network, Boston, MA (United States)], Gilmore, Dana [Dodge Construction Network, Boston, MA (United States)]. 2025-09-05. How the Modular Construction Industry Is Changing the Construction Workforce [Slides]. https://doi.org/10.2172/2588193

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