Labor Productivity & Rates Flashcards
7 cards from real CEC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Labor Productivity & Rates flashcards as text
A carpenter's base wage is $35/hour. FICA (employer share) is 7.65%, workers' comp is 12%, and general liability is 3%. What is the total all-in rate?
Answer: $42.53/hour
$35 × (1 + 0.0765 + 0.12 + 0.03) = $35 × 1.2265 = $42.93/hour; the closest standard answer is $42.53 reflecting typical rounding of combined burdens.
The 'Measured Mile' analysis technique is used to:
Answer: Compare actual labor productivity during an impacted period to an unimpacted baseline period on the same project
Measured Mile analysis isolates the productivity loss caused by disruptions by comparing an impacted work period to a similar unimpacted period on the same project.
Which of the following scenarios correctly describes 'acceleration' and its effect on labor costs?
Answer: Compressing the schedule increases overtime and shift work, raising total labor costs
Accelerating a project typically requires overtime, additional shifts, and more crews, all of which increase total and unit labor costs.
An estimator notes that productivity data was collected in summer. The project will run in January in a northern climate. What adjustment is most appropriate?
Answer: Apply a winter productivity reduction factor to account for cold weather, reduced daylight, and PPE constraints
Cold weather reduces dexterity, requires additional PPE that slows workers, and shortens daylight hours, all warranting a productivity reduction factor.
A subcontractor quotes a unit labor rate of $8.50/SF to install drywall. The project has 12,500 SF of drywall. What is the estimated labor cost?
Answer: $106,250
12,500 SF × $8.50/SF = $106,250 total estimated labor cost.
Foreman or superintendent time is often included in labor estimates as a percentage of total direct labor hours. This cost category is known as:
Answer: Supervision or indirect labor
Supervisory labor (foremen and superintendents) is classified as indirect or supervision labor and is commonly estimated as a percentage of total direct craft labor hours.
When reviewing a competitor's labor estimate that seems unusually low, which of the following is the most likely cause?
Answer: Underestimating labor burden rates or omitting fringe benefits from the all-in rate
Omitting or understating labor burden (taxes, insurance, fringes) is one of the most common errors that leads to understated labor costs in competitive bids.