New Jersey is not just prioritizing building major infrastructure; it is setting the national standard for how it should be built. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has made that clear through her commitment to expanding Project Labor Agreements across the state’s most critical infrastructure projects. Most recently, her administration recommended plans for the $6.7 billion Newark Bay Bridge project under a PLA, ensuring that one of the largest transportation investments in state history will be built by a highly skilled, well-trained workforce under clear, safe labor standards. That commitment extends to the Gateway Tunnel Project, one of the most significant infrastructure efforts in the entire country, which is also being built under a PLA framework that Governor Sherrill fought to secure.
These are not just large-scale infrastructure projects, but a reflection on New Jersey’s success in construction which ultimately comes from investing in the people who do the work. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees. A recently published op-ed mischaracterizes New Jersey’s construction workforce policies as restrictive, when in reality they are designed to ensure reliability, safety, and long-term value. That matters when you are building projects as complex as public buildings, bridges, tunnels, and transit systems. The evidence is clear. A 2025 study by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute examined over 2,500 bids across 773 public construction projects. It was found that PLAs increased bidding competition by an average of 14%, with each additional bid raising the likelihood that a project would come in under budget by 6%. The study ultimately concluded that PLA projects are no more expensive than non-PLA projects of comparable size and complexity.
PLAs and prevailing wage laws create a level playing field where contractors compete based on productivity, expertise, and performance, not by cutting wages or underinvesting in training. Without these standards, competition can quickly devolve into a race to the bottom, shifting the focus away from quality and toward the lowest possible labor cost. That approach may appear cheaper on paper, but it often leads to delays, rework, safety concerns, and ultimately higher total project costs.
Cost should be evaluated in terms of outcomes, not just hourly rates. Beyond the data on bids and costs, the real advantage is the workforce behind these projects. Skilled union labor improves productivity, enhances safety, and reduces costly mistakes. Projects that are built right the first time and completed on schedule deliver far greater value to taxpayers over the long term.
Union construction has built New Jersey’s working class, providing fair wages and benefits that allow workers to live, raise families, and retire in the communities they helped build. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, pro-union policies raise incomes, improve working conditions, and boost job satisfaction; all of which strengthens the economy as a whole.
Union contractors invest heavily in training and apprenticeship programs that often last three to five years so that workers are highly skilled. That investment creates a steady pipeline of talent and ensures projects are staffed with trained professionals ready to deliver high-quality work safely, on time and on budget. That reliability is reinforced through strong wages and benefits. Union workers typically earn higher wages than their non-union counterparts and have access to multi-employer-provided health insurance and retirement plans. These benefits are not just perks; they are the foundation of a stable workforce. Workers who are supported are more productive, more experienced, and more likely to stay in the industry long-term. In fact, AFL-CIO research shows union workers earn, on average, more than 11% higher wages than non-union workers. Additionally, the Economic Policy Institute has found that minimum wages are significantly higher in states with stronger union density, such as New Jersey, reflecting the broader impact unions have on raising standards across the national economy.
Union construction workers are the backbone of the infrastructure that keeps New Jersey running, whether it be public buildings, bridges and tunnels, transit systems, or emerging energy projects. The scale and complexity of these projects demand a workforce that is trained, stable, and accountable.
New Jersey’s approach is not about limiting opportunity; it is about ensuring accountability and performance. If the goal is to build infrastructure that lasts, strengthens the workforce, and delivers real value, the answer is not to lower standards, but to continue investing in the systems that have consistently produced results. By investing in union construction, New Jersey is delivering high-quality projects while strengthening its working class, and it’s a model for the rest of the country.
Jack Kocsis is the CEO of the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey
