STRATEGIES TO ENCOURAGE LOCALS TO TAKE UP PROFESSIONAL JOBS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Abstract

As the society progress, the demand for newer and more advance infrastructure is also increasing. However, such demands are not met with adequate local manpower as construction jobs are not always viewed positively. Anecdotal evidence suggests that local undergraduates are not keen to take up jobs in the construction industry as compared to the other industries. This results in a shortage of local professional employment in the industry which in turns encourages employers to hire foreigners to meet the manpower demands. This research aims to identify the push and pull factors that are affecting the decisions of undergraduates in taking up professional level jobs and recommend ways to encourage more local undergraduates to join the industry. The research objectives are to: investigate the likelihood of undergraduates who major in construction-related courses to take up a job in the construction industry; examine the factors affecting undergraduates who major in construction-related courses’ decision to take up a job in the construction industry; compare the views of local and foreign undergraduates about the factors affecting their decision to take up a job in the construction industry in order to find out the reasons for the lack of local professionals in the construction industry; and recommend strategies and measures to increase the composition of locals employed as professionals in the construction industry. Questionnaire was formulated based on the literature review. Data was collected via an online survey from both the local and foreign undergraduates and analysed via the SPSS software. One sample t-test and one way ANOVA test were used for the data analysis. The findings of the first objective have shown that local undergraduates are more unlikely to take up a professional job in the industry as compared to a foreign undergraduate. As for the second and third objective, the findings have shown several significance factors that are affecting local undergraduates in their decisions. These factors are: salary level (B61), interest and passion towards the construction industry (B64), studied a construction related course (B65), low starting salary (B71), low salaries compared to other industries (B72), job security (B76), long working hours (B77), work-life balance (B78), flexible working hours (C94), family-related incentives (C96), sponsorship for future studies (C97) and accessibility of the workplace (C98). In regards to these factors, foreign undergraduates are less likely to be affected as compared to local undergraduates in their decision to take up a job in the construction industry. Recommendations were introduced to government authorities and private sectors to improve the current local composition of professionals and correct the negative perceptions of the industry.