Perceptions of Skilled Trade Students on Factors Impacting the Decision to Pursue a Construction Career

Ostadalimakhmalbaf, Mohammadreza; Escamilla, Edelmiro; Pariafsai, Fatemeh; Saseendran, Anusree; Dixit, Manish

doi:10.29007/x52h

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…One of the other major issues facing the construction industry lies in the lack of skilled workers, which has digressed over time (Haupt & Harinarain, 2016;Ostadalimakhmalbaf et al, 2021;Windapo, 2016). Research shows that the South African education system does not produce the required graduates with the desired demographics to implement employment equity; moreover, the sector and the country are experiencing a loss of critical developmental skills (Akinradewo et al, 2022;SAFCEC, 2019).…”

Section: Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

High school learners’ perceptions of careers in the built environment sector

Dube,

Makola,

Saliwe

et al. 2023

African Journal of Career Development

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Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of learners on careers in the built environment. The industry is confronted with a critical shortage of skilled workers, which significantly hampers its growth and labour productivity. This workforce scarcity mainly stems from a lack of effective strategies for recruiting and retaining learners in construction programmes.Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the perceptions of learners on careers in the built environment.Method: This study examined the perceptions of 43 previously disadvantaged black high school learners, regarding careers in the built environment sector. Using the planned behaviour theory, qualitative questionnaires investigating learners’ perceptions of careers in the built environment were used to collect data. The data were thematically analysed using the Braun and Clarke’s six phases of analysis.Results: The findings indicate that a learner’s attitude towards a career influences their decision in selecting it or not. The career perceptions of the community and significant others affect the career choice of a learner.Conclusion: The built industry must ensure that it attracts new career entrants; there is thus, a need for the built environment to conduct career talks and disseminate information about the different careers in the industry. Adequate career information allows learner to choose careers confidently.Contribution: This study contributes towards assisting the built environment sector in creating an attractive value proposition for learners to join the sector. It will also assist the sector to know which kind of information they need to disseminate to attract learners in choosing careers.

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Section: Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

High school learners’ perceptions of careers in the built environment sector

Dube,

Makola,

Saliwe

et al. 2023

African Journal of Career Development

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A recent study found that only 66% of people had a well-founded understanding of compensation rates in construction career pathways and 32% of high-school students have a negative opinion of the construction industry (Ostadalimakhmalbaf, et al, 2021). The same study also reported that "improved family-unit perception of the construction-related programs and careers" is a top issue to be addressed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parents’ Motivation for their Child’s Participation in Construct My Future Summer Camp

Clinefelter,

Bigelow

EPiC Series in Built Environment

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An ongoing concern in the construction industry is the lack of trained skilled workers. Attracting young people to the industry will be vital as the current workforce ages out of the industry. Understanding the younger population’s motivation regarding career choice is important in developing opportunities to expose them to the field. One element to be considered is how parents or guardians might influence their children’s choice to learn about careers in construction. This study used surveys and a grounded theory design to identify reasons or motivations why a parent or guardian chose to send their child to a summer camp focusing on the construction industry. A three- step coding process was used. Open coding identified the reasons the parents/guardians registered their children for the camp. Axial coding identified three themes with two specifically related to the construction industry. Selective coding further identified the parent/guardian’s specific reasons within those two areas of motivation. These were identified directly related to a career in construction: 1) “Spark Interest in Construction Career Option” with an introduction to the construction industry and 2) to provide a better understanding of the “Specific Construction Field and Trades.”

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Perceptions of Skilled Trade Students on Factors Impacting the Decision to Pursue a Construction Career

Cited by 2 publications

References 7 publications

High school learners’ perceptions of careers in the built environment sector

High school learners’ perceptions of careers in the built environment sector

Parents’ Motivation for their Child’s Participation in Construct My Future Summer Camp

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