Burleson, R C; Haas, C T; Tucker, R L and Stanley, A (1998) Multiskilled labor utilization strategies in construction. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 124(6), pp. 480-489. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Construction industry craft divisions in the United States are currently based on narrowly defined skill groupings. The steady demand for improved productivity and the shortage of skilled craft workers call into question this traditionally accepted single-skilled strategy. While these craft patterns are prevalent throughout the union and nonunionized sectors of the industry, they are not necessarily responsive to construction sequence or the optimal use of worker skills. Alternative labor utilization strategies may provide increased project performance and may reduce craft shortages through better utilization of the existing workforce. An analysis model is developed in this study to measure the project impact of alternative labor utilization strategies. The model is used to assess four multiskilling strategies on the construction of a $70,000,000 project. Benefits of multiskilled labor utilization strategies were demonstrated including potentially a 5-20% labor cost savings, a 35% reduction in required workforce, a 47% increase in average employment duration, and an increase in earning potential for multiskilled construction workers.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | construction industry, duration, construction worker, labour cost, project performance, productivity, employment, savings, shortages, strategy, United States, labour utilization |
| Subjects: | project controls, cost management, industry analysis, management, project management theory and practice, Geography, economic analysis, practitioner |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Time Control, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Roles and Professions, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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