That is very interesting if it is a worldwide phenomenon. I have not studied it but let me give you my layman's views. The industries you mention as being open to marketing are characterized by high levels of innovation. As far as I am aware, the way to build a bridge/house/dam/road has not changed much. If it had, companies would be forced to market their innovations in that regard. Construction companies then compete largely on price, which does not give much room to maneuver. Imagine "specials" on house construction!

There has been some innovation as far as building technologies are concerned though. Those innovations are already being vigorously marketed by building technology companies as opposed to construction companies. In South Africa, especially in the years leading up to the hosting of the World Cup in 2010, construction companies had their order books full for three or so years ahead. There was enough work for the competent big companies such that they did not have to market their services. That did not stop them from colluding though.

Now that the construction bubble has burst, one would then expect the companies to market themselves aggressively. Instead, they go for the lower hanging fruit and retrench their labour force. I guess like in most short sighted businesses, during hard times, the first budget to cut is the marketing one when in fact they ought to consider that only vigorous marketing will get them out of trouble. I guess I am back where I started because this does not answer the question.

This is just a brief and not terribly well considered answer, but three of the four industries you listed (lets conveniently exclude ship building as it undoubtedly makes my response redundant) 'push' their standardised product solutions onto the mass marketplace. There are opportunities to produce high volumes of such product output, by using repetitive production processes with minimal variations in their product design. Because of this, like for like exchanges and returns with defective products are fairly easy. These industries respond to 'well defined' customer problems and needs. Also, the markets in which these industries compete appear (as an outsider) to be fairly rational in behaviour. They fostering long term supply chains and negotiate favourable business rates as reward for awarding repeat business to their suppliers. Those are just some of the areas where unfavourable comparisons can be made against how the building sector performs in relation to the production of its construction products.

There are of course many other reasons why but I would be typing all day long..