Stud Framing, Drywall, and Tape and Finishing trade-work is a major component of every building project. Labor productivity is the largest single variable affecting of the Framing and Drywall contractors' cost of performance. In spite of these facts, no major study of labor productivity in this major construction trade has previously been done. This study was undertaken to fill this gap in the literature; specifically to investigate external impacts to labor productivity in this construction sector. The study measured the impact of thirty-eight (38) variables on 226 separate projects. The study found that poor quality design documents, unexpected labor congestion, fragmentation, and overtime and added shift work negatively impacted labor productivity. © 2016 Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, Inc.