Pilot study of the recruitment and retention practices used by construction companies
Geoffrey H. Brown, Spring 2004
Brief:
This thesis examines current perceptions among construction managers about effective recruitment and retention practices for skilled construction laborers. This is the first of several studies in an overall research effort designed to identify if there is a shortage of skilled labor in the construction industry and what is being done about it. Background information from the literature is presented supporting the industry perception that there is a skilled labor shortage, and some of the probable causes that have contributed to this shortage. A comparison is made between perceptions of skilled labor in the manufacturing and construction industries. A pilot survey was developed and briefly presented on the internet. The survey was presented to management personnel in the construction industry. The pilot survey was used to test the effectiveness of questions and the data collection methods used for the internet survey. The pilot survey is used to develop an alpha survey that will gather data concerning manager!s perception of effective recruitment and retention practices. This thesis is the first part of a three part experimental design developed to research the perceived labor shortage in the construction industry from both a management and labor perspective. The data helps determine effective recruitment and retention practices of construction labor in the construction industry.