As the state of the economy remains stagnant and with predictions of even more hard times ahead, the construction industry continues to take a hit. Revenues are down and competition for work is stiffer than ever, which means many contractors are looking at ways to minimize operating costs—including the option of reducing their workforce. Short-term gain versus long-term value We’ve been through tough times before, and we know things will eventually turn around. While Colorado lost more than 31,000 construction jobs last year (almost a quarter of the state’s construction employment), as a small business owner, I know I can’t