Effects of Skill Gap on Labour Productivity on Construction Sites in Abuja

Abstract

Human resources in many developing countries are of insufficient quantity and quality to encourage high rate of fiscal and infrastructural development. The manpower mostly needed in large quantity in Building construction industry globally and in Nigeria are artisans and skilled labour. This research work aimed to evaluate the effects of skill gap on labour productivity on construction site in Abuja in order to improve their productivity. To achieve this, a quantitative research was carried out via a disseminated 36 structured questionnaires to construction practitioners in Abuja. 30 questionnaires out of 36 sent out were retrieved giving a return rate of 87.71%. The data analysis was carried out descriptively using percentage analysis, mean ranking and RII of the SPSS version 20.0. The results revealed out of the relevant skills needed for construction work, technical skills are the major skill required in construction production process. Also on the effect of skill gap, the study discovered that poor workmanship has the highest effect on construction industry follow by increased in project labour cost which affect the overall budget of the project. The research recommends that necessary trainings such as apprenticeship training and on the – job should come to fore by construction firms and be made important among the other training within construction industry. Also, construction firms should ensure recruitment of workers who are highly skill technically, supervisory wise and have multi skilling. The research concluded that there exist skill gap which affects labour productivity which can be curbed with adequate implementation of the training method from the research outcome and ensuring that the major construction skills are employed from the onset.