An Investigation Into the Impacts of the Technicians’ Skills Gap on the Development of the Nigerian Construction Industry (original) (raw)
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TRAINING OF CONTRACTORS CRAFTSMEN FOR PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT IN THE NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Most construction projects in Nigeria fail due to poor contractors' performance. Firms are concentrating on financial gains and forgetting the people that make the job and money. The problem of the industry is how to reconcile the need for a supply of manpower capable of high productivity in carrying out simplified sequential operations and retains a substantial number of craftsmen capable of highly skilled work. The study aimed at investigating the level and the hindrances to training, and to identify the best training types/methods that will optimize the productivity of construction craftsmen in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The study uses descriptive survey method; two sets of questionnaires were randomly distributed in four north-central states of Nigeria and Abuja to construction professionals and craftsmen. Percentages, severity and importance index were used for the analysis. The chi-square statistics used at 5% level of significance to test the research proposition formulated for the study shows an agreement within the respondent. The study revealed that: level of training among the four trades is very low, with an average training level of 37.21% and an average untrained level among the trades being very high at 62.79%. The older age groups had more training experience than the younger groups. Lack of standard type/method of training adopted for the Nigerian construction craftsmen and lack of encouragement and support for construction craftsmen are the most severe hindrances to training. Vestibule Schools and time release training are the most efficient types/method of training. The study recommend that construction craftsmen should be encouraged and supported for training and as well, vestibule schools and time release training methods should be adopted for training craftsmen in the Nigerian construction industry.
Remodularising technical institution in Nigeria is an inevitable task, this is necessary in the view of the fact that training and skill acquisition in term of strategy and procedure is a key factor to producing high skill labour in construction sector. The phenomenon of unavailability of highly skilled labour, however, is gradually taken its toll on construction products delivery in Nigerian construction sector. This is evident in poor work output being discovered in sites. The unavailability of highly skilled artisans has affected the quality of work delivery and workmanship which calls to question the robustness of their skill training modules. This has led to artisans and skill labor performing below expectation in their job delivery particularly in jobs outside their area of specialization which is unhealthy for the progress of the sector. The study therefore presents strategies and procedure to mitigate this trend in order to enhance quality of work delivery. One hundred and fifty (100) questionnaires were administered on selected technical-based training institution in Lagos State (Nigeria) to examine their training modules and framework. Some of the reasons adduced as responsible for this trend includes: poor apprenticeship program modules, poor recruitment strategy, poor motivation, non-participation of employers in recruitment and personnel selection, government policy among others. It was discovered that in order to mitigate the menace, strategy to be applied includes; adequate funding, education policy reform, value reorientation and good incentive scheme among others. Implementing the suggested strategy is considered a panacea to solving the skill shortage problem in Nigerian construction sector.
Training of Contractors Craftsmen for Produvtivity Improvement in the Nigerian Construction Industry
Most construction projects in Nigeria fail due to poor contractors' performance. Firms are concentrating on financial gains and forgetting the people that make the job and money. The problem of the industry is how to reconcile the need for a supply of manpower capable of high productivity in carrying out simplified sequential operations and retains a substantial number of craftsmen capable of highly skilled work. The study aimed at investigating the level and the hindrances to training, and to identify the best training types/methods that will optimize the productivity of construction craftsmen in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The study uses descriptive survey method; two sets of questionnaires were randomly distributed in four north-central states of Nigeria and Abuja to construction professionals and craftsmen. Percentages, severity and importance index were used for the analysis. The chi-square statistics used at 5% level of significance to test the research proposition formulated for the study shows an agreement within the respondent. The study revealed that: level of training among the four trades is very low, with an average training level of 37.21% and an average untrained level among the trades being very high at 62.79%. The older age groups had more training experience than the younger groups. Lack of standard type/method of training adopted for the Nigerian construction craftsmen and lack of encouragement and support for construction craftsmen are the most severe hindrances to training. Vestibule Schools and time release training are the most efficient types/method of training. The study recommend that construction craftsmen should be encouraged and supported for training and as well, vestibule schools and time release training methods should be adopted for training craftsmen in the Nigerian construction industry.
Building construction Technician Training: its relevance to modern construction industry in Nigeria
This paper analyzed the results of a survey that aims to explore the relevance of construction technician training in modern construction industry in Nigeria. The exploratory research highlights a specific set of objectives that determine the relevance of construction technician training and explore the factors militating against construction technicians training. The spearman correlation coefficient analysis shows that there is a statistically significant and positive agreement between each of the construction professionals. Consistent with theory and practice, the most predominant relevance of construction technician training is: its help organization to plan and meet its future manpower requirement while the most prominent factors militating against construction technician training is lack of adequate planning and poor regulation. The finding contributes to the relevance of construction technician training literature by encouraging intellectual property right and an effective regulatory body in the construction industry. The construction industry should strengthen its staff development programme through the establishment of a working policy for staff training.
Impact of Vocational Training on Skilled Labour shortage within the Nigerian Construction Sector
W089-Special Track 18th CIB …, 2010
All over the world, large-scale construction R&D programs are undertaken that aim for structural performance enhancement of the sector, innovation, industry reform, process improvement and/or strengthening the sector's knowledge infrastructure. These programs all have to cope with finding the appropriate balance amongst others between: topdown steering and bottom-up innovation concepts, business and sector-wide demands and academic-driven interests, public and private interests and focus on frontrunners or a sector-wide approach. Against this background the Task Group will establish a learning communitybyreflecting,monitoringanddesigningbestwaystomanagesuchprogramsand will -discuss and disseminate lessons learnt, develop an overview of current practice and program management approaches, review major collaborative programs of the past and developasustainablenetworkofacademicsandotherstosupportnewinitiativesforsuch programs.
Investigation into Contractors Craftsmen Training in the Nigerian Construction Industry
Despite the strategic importance of the construction industry, projects fail in Nigeria due to poor contractors' performance. In strategic terms, the understanding of the customer's needs and values is crucial where organisations seek to differentiate themselves from their competitors. In accomplishing his roles the contractor coordinates and directs his craftsmen who contribute skillfully with their hands in the practical realization of a project. The study therefore aims at investigating the contractors' craftsmen training trends base on age groups and trades in the Nigerian construction industry. The study uses contextual and descriptive survey method, a total of 400 structured questionnaires were distributed randomly in four stratified sample locations in the north-central geopolitical zone of Nigeria to Contractors' craftsmen and attain a response rate of 55.25%. The chi-square statistics used at 5% level of significance to test the research proposition shows an agreement within the respondent. The data collected were analyzed and presented on a line graph and bar chart. Findings revealed that training of craftsmen in the Nigerian construction industry has never been adequate; moreover it is falling among the younger age-groups. The study recommends that: contractors should invest more on craftsmen training to attain high return on investment and; government, a major client to the industry should invest more on training; make policies that will address training needs and; enforce the use of trained craftsmen in the industry and, all should be geared towards attaining international best practices.
TECHNICAL AND SKILLED MANPOWER AS PREQUISITE FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTIVIY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
IAEME, 2019
The present difficulties, in getting competent and seasoned craftsmen, to work on construction sites, calls for great concern. Nigeria, being a developing country with the potentials for a geometric population growth that would culminate to an attendant rise in the quest for shelter. would require the services of adequate and competent skilled workmen to meet these need. Presently, the construction industry is experiencing skill shortage, the experienced hands are ageing and retiring, the apprenticeship scheme is outmoded and unstructured while many youths prefer other quick money making ventures than learning skills. The emphasis on skill instruction in technical colleges has become secondary. An appreciable percentage of the available hands seem to be incompetent and half-baked. This study, therefore aims at analyzing how technical skilled manpower serves as prerequisite for enhanced productivity in the Nigerian construction. The methodology involves survey design, review of related literatures, structured questionnaires. The sample techniques involved purposive sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using mean and rank order; while Chisquare was employed in testing the hypothesis. The findings revealed that there are basically these categories of skills which are: Professionals, eg. Architects, Builders, Crafts and Tradesmen, e.g. Tilers, Machines/Equipment Operators, etc. Among the factors responsible for skill shortage are: low wages, high cost of training, etc. The impacts of such shortages are: increase in cost of construction and delay in time of project delivery/completion. This study therefore, recommends improved technological awareness, improved incentives for skilled personnel in the construction industry in order to encourage them for improved productivity and also reduce attrition.
An Evaluation of Skilled Labour shortage in selected construction firms in Edo state, Nigeria
The study investigated skilled labour requirement in the construction industry of Edo State. The study aimed at assessing the current state of the construction industry's skilled workforce, causes and prevalence of skilled labour shortage and the effect of skilled labour shortage in construction project delivery. The method employed for collection of data includes distribution of structured questionnaires. The data collected were analyzed using Frequency tables, percentages, mean response analysis, relative importance index and cross tabulation. The research identified the most severe factors responsible for labour shortage to include; no clear carrier path, high mobility of construction workers and low wages. The study found that construction firms are not sending their skilled workforce for training, and that the skilled workers are unwilling to recommend the profession to their children. The research revealed that the construction firms were paying extra money for labour, and Schedule delay in their construction programmes as a result of skilled labour shortage. The study found aging workforce in the construction trades sampled, and that the entrance of young people into the construction trades was very low.
Factors affecting performance of construction professionals in Nigeria
The construction industry is made up of professionals whose various disciplines are to ensure that construction work can be completed. This study evaluates the effects of the performance of construction professionals on construction project success in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design with the use of a well structured questionnaire which was administered on construction professionals, 68 copies were retrieved and used for the analysis out of the administered 139. Frequency and percentiles was used to analyse the distribution of demographic descriptors of construction professionals while mean score and mean difference was used to analyse the roles of construction professionals and factors influencing the performance of construction professional. The findings revealed that the major role of an architect is to translate the user’s needs into builders requirement, engineer is most concerned with the calculation of load and grade requirements, liquid flow rates and materials stress points to ensure that the structure can withstand stress, the quantity surveyor is mostly concerned with management and control of costs within the construction projects while a builders major role is building production management. The performances of construction professionals are, however, affected mostly by remuneration, motivation and incentives and promotion opportunities and least affected by supervision and co-worker. The demographic factors which mostly affect the professionals are experience, gender and age. Based on the findings of the research, the majority of the construction professionals are male therefore; better friendly work environment should be created by the managements of the construction industry so as to attract female professionals. Also, construction industries should focus its efforts on improving the performance of young and newly employed construction professionals by developing management training programs, workshops, financial incentives, and other non–work-related activities that would encourage and support them to stay and grow with the industry, since there are relatively few young professional in the industry.
The study investigated the causes of construction industry skilled labor shortage and training programs in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It identified and examined the skilled labor shortage in selected trades, factors responsible for the skilled labor shortage, and factors affecting apprenticeship enrolment in the various training programs in Benin City. Data were sourced through the administration of 180 structured questionnaires on construction professionals, craftsmen, and trainee providers. The information elicited from the returned 146 questionnaires (81% return rate) were analyzed using percentages, frequency, mean score, and relative severity index. Findings revealed a shortage of skilled labor in the study area (85.7% of craftsmen, 60.8% of professionals) especially among tillers and POP plasterers. This was due majorly to diminishing craftsperson training program (Manager's RSI=0.796, Craftsmen RSI=0.756), the desire of workmen to make quick money (Manager's RSI=0.674, Craftsmen RSI=0.836), and low wage (Manager's RSI=0.738, Craftsmen RSI=0.862). Also, low apprentice enrolment was a predominant challenge (Craftsmen MS=4.10, Benin Technical College MS=3.78), majorly due to the quest to make quick money through Motorcycle (okada) riding as means of transportation and internet fraud (Craftsmen MS=4.80, Technical college MS=4.48), traveling abroad (Craftsmen MS=4.76, Technical college MS=4.43) and low wages (Craftsmen MS=4.39, Technical college MS=3.91). The study concluded that there was a shortage of skilled labor (especially among tillers) because most potential workmen are impatient to learn a trade; eager to make quick money. The study thus recommends that the government should initiate more crafts persons training programs and subcontractors should improve on the current wage paid to apprentices working or training under them.