Industry-specific data: 21.4% avg turnover | $55,000 avg salary | 40% replacement cost
"In construction, benefits are your #1 recruiting tool after wages. The skilled trades shortage means top electricians, plumbers, and operators can choose their employer. Companies offering medical, dental, disability, and retirement consistently win the talent war. The PEO advantage is especially strong here — you get Fortune 500-level benefits at small business prices, plus workers' comp savings that often exceed the PEO cost entirely."
— BENEFITRA Benefits Strategy Team
Medical coverage tops the list, followed by disability insurance, retirement plans (401k with match), and workers' compensation quality. Construction workers also highly value dental coverage, accident insurance, and life coverage given the physical demands of the job.
Construction firms typically see 25-55% savings on workers' compensation premiums through a PEO. The savings come from better classification codes, master policy rates, safety programs that reduce experience modification rates, and claims management expertise.
Absolutely. Even crews of 5-15 employees benefit significantly. Small construction companies often pay the highest per-employee rates for coverage. A PEO gives you access to large-group pricing, often saving $200-$400 per employee per month compared to small group market rates.
Construction companies typically see 250-500% ROI on benefits investments. The biggest drivers are reduced turnover in a tight labor market (saving $22,000+ per retained worker), workers' comp savings, and faster time-to-hire for skilled positions.
Industry data sourced from BLS JOLTS, KFF 2024, SHRM Human Capital Benchmarking, and industry association reports.
This calculator is educational. Consult with a licensed benefits advisor for plan-specific projections.
Construction runs on skilled crews, and skilled crews are the hardest thing to keep. Turnover here is among the highest of any industry, and every departure means lost productivity on an active project plus the cost of finding and ramping a replacement who is safe and competent. A benefits package that keeps a crew intact protects both the schedule and the margin on the job.
Benefits in construction also touch risk directly. Healthier, more stable crews tend to have fewer incidents, which feeds into workers compensation costs and your experience modifier. This calculator puts the retention and productivity value in dollars against your actual labor and turnover numbers, so the case for a stronger package is grounded in your jobs, not averages.
What drives the benefits case in this industry:
For broader context on employer benefits and workforce costs, see OSHA's fall protection standards.
Run the numbers here, then compare funding options in the Health Plan Cost Projector or pressure-test next year with the Premium Renewal Stress Test. For the cross-industry view, see the general Benefits ROI Calculator.
Because a departure on an active project costs more than the hire. You lose output on the schedule, you carry the recruiting and ramp time, and a less experienced replacement raises safety risk. Benefits that improve retention recover all of that.
Indirectly. Stable, healthier crews tend to have fewer and less severe incidents, which improves your claims history and experience modifier over time. The savings compound.
Crew headcount, average wage, current benefits spend, and a rough turnover rate. The calculator models the return on those, so estimates are fine to start.
Reviewed by Sam Newland, CFP, Founder of Benefitra. Last updated June 2026.