Wage investigations on the rise

Wage investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor are increasing, and that’s good news for contractors who play by the rules.

However, the Department of Labor alone can’t keep watch on every project based on the sheer magnitude of work taking place. For example, in 2016, the U.S. federal government spent $289.6 billion on construction contracts via 543,627 transactions, according to USASpending.gov.

The DOL works diligently to ensure wage laws are followed, but initiatives such as Spotlighting Cheating Contractors are essential to identifying potential wage violations.

The graphs showcase the federal statistics on Davis Bacon wage investigations provided by Tim Helm, Chief of the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Division of Enforcement Policy and Procedures, Branch of Government Contracts Enforcement.

The data was provided during a special enforcement update held April 23, 2013, in Washington, D.C.