Survey shows higher sales for concrete pavers

While experiencing growth, four of every five contractors still reported difficulty in recruiting and hiring quality employees.

CHANTILLY, Va. – According to survey results recently released by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), gross sales for concrete paver contractors in the United States and Canada increased by 8 percent during 2018. While experiencing growth, four of every five contractors still reported difficulty in recruiting and hiring quality employees.

The 2019 ICPI Contractor Industry Report tracked business trends from 206 segmental concrete pavement installation contractors. Survey respondents included ICPI members and non-members. Industry Insights of Columbus, Ohio, conducted the survey in February for ICPI.

“Segmental concrete pavement contractors are experiencing significant growth in sales,” said Kendall Anderegg, ICPI Board Chair. “However, this report also confirms an ongoing challenge for our industry: a large shortage of skilled installers. That’s why ICPI has launched a workforce development program to attract more people into the industry and better train existing employees."

Other key findings include:
• The residential market remains strong representing 72.7 percent of sales, while commercial/ government projects comprised 27.3% of sales (a decrease of 3.2% from the previous year).
• 75.6 percent require crew members to review and participate in a formal, documented safety program with notable increases in the use of the Safety Manual template and Safety Meeting outlines available to contractor members from ICPI.

• A 5.4 percent average wage/salary increase occurred in 2018, while a similar 5.2% average rise is forecasted for 2019.

The study includes information on technologies contractors use to monitor and reduce exposure of crews to respirable silica, as well as on company promotion and certification trends. The survey results provide insight into gross sales and number of employees during the construction season. The 66-page report is available for purchase at www.icpi.org/shop.