Skip to main content

Apprenticeship: A Narrative Review of Factors Influencing Career Choice of Young People

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
The Construction Industry in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (CIDB 2019)

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Tang, J., MacLeod, C.: Labour force ageing and productivity performance in Canada. Can. J. Econ. 39, 582–603 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. 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

  7. McNair, S., Flynn, M.: Managing an Ageing Workforce in Construction. Age Partnership Group, Department for Work and Pensions, London (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  8. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ho, P.H.K.: Labour and skill shortages in Hong Kong’s construction industry. Eng. Constr. Architectural Manag. 23, 533–550 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Construction Industry Development Board Construction Monitor - October 2017. Construction Industry Development Board, South Africa (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Darko, A., Zhang, C., Chan, A.P.C.: Drivers for green building: a review of empirical studies. Habitat Int. 60, 34–49 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Cronin, P., Coughlan, M., Smith, V.: Understanding Nursing and Healthcare Research. Sage, London (2015)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  16. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Yi, H., Yang, J.: Research trends of post disaster reconstruction: the past and the future. Habitat Int. 42, 21–29 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. 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)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bojuwoye, O., Mbanjwa, S.: Factors impacting on career choices of Technikon students from previously disadvantaged high schools. J. Psychol. Africa 16, 3–16 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Emmett, J.D., Minor, C.W.: Career decision-making factors in gifted young adults. Career Dev. Q. 41, 350–366 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. 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)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. 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)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Li, Z., Shen, G.Q., Xue, X.: Critical review of the research on the management of prefabricated construction. Habitat Int. 43, 240–249 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Runeson, G.: The methodology of building economics research. In: De Valence, G. (ed.) Modern Construction Economics. Spon Press, Oxon (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Grove, S.K., Gray, J.R., Burns, N.: Understanding Nursing Research: Building an Evidence-Based Practice, 6th edn. Elsevier, Missouri (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Fellows, R.: New research paradigms in the built environment. Constr. Innov. 10, 5–13 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olalekan Shamsideen Oshodi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

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)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics