Timely Construction: The Effect of Project Labor Agreements on Time to Completion for Public Works Construction in Sacramento County, California.

This article examines the impact of project labor agreements (PLAs)—pre-hire labor contracts between construction project owners and unions—on the time to completion of public works projects in Sacramento County, California. Analyzing 313 projects from 2019 to 2023, the study finds that PLA projects are completed 15 to 17% faster than comparable non-PLA projects and are 43% more likely to finish within the following year, controlling for project cost, type, and awarding agency. These results suggest that PLAs may reduce construction delays by ensuring stable access to skilled union labor and harmonizing work arrangements across trades, particularly during labor shortages such as those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the study focuses on a single county and cannot isolate the effects of union contractor supervision, it contributes novel evidence supporting PLAs' role in promoting timely completion of public infrastructure projects without significantly increasing costs or reducing bid competition.