Construction Executive Publishes Article by Meghan Douris on Managing Labor Shortage Risks

Construction Executive featured an article by Construction Law partner Meghan Douris, “Labor Shortages in Construction: Managing Legal and Operational Risks.” The piece, published on March 24, 2026, examines how persistent workforce shortages are creating heightened legal, contractual, and operational exposure for construction industry stakeholders.

The article highlights how labor constraints can act as a risk multiplier—driving wage and hour violations, worker misclassification issues, safety incidents, and cascading contractual disputes. Douris outlines proactive strategies for contractors and developers, including stronger contract drafting, enhanced compliance audits, workforce planning during bid preparation, and reinforced safety and training programs.

Douris underscores the importance of anticipating and planning for these risks, noting:

"Labor shortages in the construction market are not going away. They are a legal exposure point that can ripple through every layer of a construction project. By anticipating these risks and embedding compliance measures into contracts, project planning and regular project documentation, construction teams can mitigate disputes and regulatory penalties, and position themselves as reliable partners in a volatile market."

The full article is available here.