Abstract
The ageing workforce is a significant problem affecting the construction sector in many countries. The increase in the average age of workers reduces the predictability of the outcome of construction projects. Existing literature suggests that ageing construction workforce has a significant negative impact on labor productivity and safety at construction sites and could lead to poor outcomes of construction projects. A substantial body of knowledge indicates that young people need to be attracted to the construction sector as an effective replacement of its ageing workforce. However, a comprehensive review of the scientific literature focused on this problem is lacking. A narrative literature review was conducted to examine the current state of knowledge on factors influencing career choice of young people. The findings indicate that family, salary and quality of career advice are the most common factors influencing career choice among young people. The articles selected for review were those published in academic journals. Based on the review, the directions for future research were proposed.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Pietroforte, R., Bon, R., Gregori, T.: Regional development and construction in Italy: an input-output analysis, 1959–1992. Constr. Manag. Econ. 18, 151–159 (2000)
Chiang, Y.H., Tao, L., Wong, F.K.: Causal relationship between construction activities, employment and GDP: the case of Hong Kong. Habitat Int. 46, 1–12 (2015)
Tang, J., MacLeod, C.: Labour force ageing and productivity performance in Canada. Can. J. Econ. 39, 582–603 (2006)
Goodrum, P.M., Zhai, D., Yasin, M.F.: Relationship between changes in material technology and construction productivity. J. Constr. Eng. Manag. 135, 278–287 (2009)
Naoum, S.G.: Factors influencing labor productivity on construction sites: a state-of-the-art literature review and a survey. Int. J. Prod. Perform. Manag. 65, 401–421 (2016)
Hong Kong Construction Association: Hong Kong’s Construction Industry Vision 2020. Hong Kong Construction Association, Hong Kong (2013). http://www.hkca.com.hk/index.php. Accessed 20 Sept 2016
McNair, S., Flynn, M.: Managing an Ageing Workforce in Construction. Age Partnership Group, Department for Work and Pensions, London (2006)
Conen, W.S., van Dalen, H.P., Henkens, K.: Ageing and employers’ perceptions of labour costs and productivity: a survey among European employers. Int. J. Manpower 33, 629–647 (2012)
Dong, X.S., Wang, X., Largay, J.A., Platner, J.W., Stafford, E., Cain, C.T., et al.: Fatal falls in the U.S. residential construction industry. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57, 992–1000 (2014)
Jebens, E., Mamen, A., Medbø, J.I., Knudsen, O., Veiersted, K.B.: Are elderly construction workers sufficiently fit for heavy manual labour? Ergonomics 58, 450–462 (2015)
Ho, P.H.K.: Labour and skill shortages in Hong Kong’s construction industry. Eng. Constr. Architectural Manag. 23, 533–550 (2016)
Construction Industry Development Board Construction Monitor - October 2017. Construction Industry Development Board, South Africa (2017)
Darko, A., Zhang, C., Chan, A.P.C.: Drivers for green building: a review of empirical studies. Habitat Int. 60, 34–49 (2017)
Wong, J.M.W., Chan, A.P.C., Chiang, Y.H.: A critical review of forecasting models to predict manpower demand. Constr. Econs. Build. 4, 43–56 (2012)
Cronin, P., Coughlan, M., Smith, V.: Understanding Nursing and Healthcare Research. Sage, London (2015)
Ke, Y., Wang, S., Chan, A.P.C., Cheung, E.: Research trend of public-private partnership in construction journals. J. Constr. Eng. Manag. 135, 1076–1086 (2009)
Yi, H., Yang, J.: Research trends of post disaster reconstruction: the past and the future. Habitat Int. 42, 21–29 (2014)
Greene, C.K., Stitt-Gohdes, W.L.: Factors that influence women’s choices to work in the trades. J. Career Dev. 23, 265–278 (1997)
Haworth, G., Povey, R., Clift, S.: Girls and engineering: perceived influences on career choice amongst female craft and technician engineers and non-engineers. Br. J. Guidance Counselling 14, 196–204 (1986)
Singaravelu, H.D., White, L.J., Bringaze, T.B.: Factors influencing international students’ career choice: a comparative study. J. Career Dev. 32, 46–59 (2005)
Chileshe, N., Haupt, T.C.: An empirical analysis of factors impacting career decisions in South African construction industry: male and female high school students’ perspectives. J. Eng. Des. Technol. 8, 221–239 (2010)
Bojuwoye, O., Mbanjwa, S.: Factors impacting on career choices of Technikon students from previously disadvantaged high schools. J. Psychol. Africa 16, 3–16 (2006)
Berik, G., Bilginsoy, C.: Do unions help or hinder women in training? Apprenticeship programs in the United States. Ind. Relat. J. Econ. Soc. 39, 600–624 (2000)
Emmett, J.D., Minor, C.W.: Career decision-making factors in gifted young adults. Career Dev. Q. 41, 350–366 (1993)
Bronzini, M.S., Mason Jr., J.M., Tarris, J.P., Zaki, E.: Choosing a civil engineering career: some market research findings. J. Prof. Issues Eng. Educ. Pract. 121, 170–176 (1995)
Escamilla, E., Ostadalimakhmalbaf, M., Bigelow, B.F.: Factors impacting Hispanic high school students and how to best reach them for the careers in the construction industry. Int. J. Constr. Educ. Res. 12, 82–98 (2016)
Bigelow, B.F., Zarate, V., Soto, J., Arenas, J., Perrenoud, A.: Attracting and retaining tradespeople, an evaluation of influencers on construction workers in two different trades in texas. Int. J. Constr. Educ. Res., 1–16 (2017)
Li, Z., Shen, G.Q., Xue, X.: Critical review of the research on the management of prefabricated construction. Habitat Int. 43, 240–249 (2014)
Runeson, G.: The methodology of building economics research. In: De Valence, G. (ed.) Modern Construction Economics. Spon Press, Oxon (2011)
Grove, S.K., Gray, J.R., Burns, N.: Understanding Nursing Research: Building an Evidence-Based Practice, 6th edn. Elsevier, Missouri (2015)
Fellows, R.: New research paradigms in the built environment. Constr. Innov. 10, 5–13 (2010)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Oshodi, O.S., Aigbavboa, C., Babatunde, O.K., Arijeloye, B.T. (2020). Apprenticeship: A Narrative Review of Factors Influencing Career Choice of Young People. In: Aigbavboa, C., Thwala, W. (eds) The Construction Industry in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. CIDB 2019. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26528-1_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26528-1_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-26527-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-26528-1
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)