by Dr.
07.27.2026
OPINION — California has no shortage of infrastructure needs. From schools and roads to water systems and clean energy projects, maintaining the infrastructure that supports the world’s fourth-largest economy is a non-negotiable public imperative.
But how do we make sure these projects get done right? How do we control costs and make sure projects are completed on time?
In California, these projects are typically awarded to bidders promising to get the job done for the least amount of money. That’s intended to protect taxpayers, but the lowest bid doesn’t guarantee the best result. Construction projects rarely go exactly as planned, especially in an era of supply chain disruptions, inflation and labor shortages.
In a new study of Sacramento County public works projects, my colleague Dr. Matthew Hinkel and I find that union signatory contractors consistently deliver superior outcomes — both on cost and timeliness. This is because union signatory contractors have made long-term, binding commitments to apprenticeship training, safety and job quality.
The report analyzed 128 public works projects completed in Sacramento County between 2018 and 2022, including infrastructure, public buildings and schools. All told, 75 projects were led by union signatory contractors, and 53 were led by non-union contractors.
Across all projects, final costs averaged about $236,000 higher than starting costs. But that overall figure masks a dramatic difference.
Projects led by union signatory contractors saw average increases of just over $41,000. Projects led by non-union contractors experienced average cost increases more than ten times higher ($511,000).
The timeliness results told a similar story. Across all projects, the average time to completion was 274 days. Union-led projects were completed in 268 days on average, compared with 283 days for non-union-led projects.
In plain terms, union-led projects finished more than two weeks faster.