SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Contractors’ use of smartphones while on the job jumped 35% from last year, according to new research from EMA Contractors, a specialty group at Eric Mower + Associates. While the use of tablets (i.e., iPad) rose nearly 54% over last year (overall, 22% of contractors are using tablets), most contractors (68%) said they use smartphones as part of their workday.

Of those surveyed, 40% of contractors said they use smartphones when making purchasing decisions, making it second to desktop computers back at the office. More than half (56%) of respondents think smartphones are the fastest growing technology device in the building and construction space, followed in second place by tablets (nearly 20%).

“Smartphone and tablet use among contractors on the jobsite continues its dramatic rise and marketers that are not focusing resources in this area are missing an important opportunity,” said John O’Hara, EMA partner and leader of EMA Contractors. “At a minimum, marketers should be looking at developing apps that help contractors do their job, websites that are optimized for mobile devices and product literature that can be properly used on tablets.”

According to the survey, increased technology device usage is being driven mostly by convenience, as smartphones and tablets allow contractors to stay connected with coworkers, distributors and vendors/subcontractors; increase productivity; and save time while on the job. Being able to check specifications, compare products and prices were also important. Another driver is the need for contractors to have more information available to them quickly.

At any given time, general contractors are the largest users of smartphones (82%) and tablets (30%). Of all contractors, electricians considered checking specs (34%) and gathering information for bids (26%) of greater value than the rest. Some general contractors (32%) said that they believe using technology devices will allow them to ultimately cut overall costs at work.

EMA conducted the Connecting with Contractors study among 200 U.S. general contractors, electricians, plumbers and HVAC specialists.

EMA Contractors, part of EMA Group B2B, includes experts from EMA Insight, Strategy + Planning; Creative Ideation; Design + Branding; Public Relations; and Social Media divisions. The group works with leading brands including Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, Gastite, TimberTech, Legrand/Pass & Seymour and Southwire.

About Eric Mower + Associates

EMA is an integrated marketing communications agency with specialized expertise in business-to-business marketing, public relations and public affairs, consumer advertising, shopper marketing and digital/direct/relationship marketing. With offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany, N.Y.; Cincinnati; Charlotte, N.C.; and Atlanta, EMA serves clients throughout the United States. EMA also serves many of its clients through thenetworkone, the world’s largest independent network of advertising, creative, digital, media and marketing agencies covering 65 countries. EMA belongs to the American Association of Advertising Agencies and IPREX, a worldwide partnership of independent public relations firms. Named #5 on Advertising Age’s Best Places to Work 2012 list, EMA has 250 professionals and $236 million in capitalized billings for 2012. Visit www.mower.com for more information.