Escamilla, E; Ostadalimakhmalbaf, M and Bigelow, B F (2016) Factors impacting Hispanic high school students and how to best reach them for the careers in the construction industry. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 12(2), pp. 82-98. ISSN 1557-8771
Abstract
The shortage of skilled workers that the construction industry is currently experiencing can be attributed to the negative public perception of construction careers. This study describes the perceptions of Hispanic 11th grade high school students toward the construction industry based on elements such as demographics, family unit impact on decision-making, and information sources for decision-making. In particular, this study identifies and prioritizes barriers that prevent a student from pursuing a career in the construction industry. Data was collected through a survey administered to Hispanic high school juniors attending public high schools in five cities in Texas. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. It was found that low wages, dangerous and dirty conditions and family unit disapproval are the main perceived barrier that prevents students from pursuing careers in the construction industry, respectively. In addition, the study proposed efforts that would be effective in overcoming the perceived obstacles and increasing the awareness of construction careers.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | secondary school students; hispanic students; decision making; labor shortages; careers; perceptions; recruitment; construction industry |
| Index terms: | survey, wages, career, decision-making, skilled worker, recruitment, secondary school student, construction industry, statistics, demographics, labour shortage |
| Subjects: | mathematical modelling, data collection methods, professional development, economics, management, industry analysis, decision analysis, sociology, demography, business economics |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Risk Management, Information Management, Research Practice, Supply Chain Management, Human Resources, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here