Factors affecting workforce turnover in the construction sector: A systematic review

There is a high labor turnover rate in the construction industry, which negatively impacts the productivity and performance of construction businesses. Although various theories and workforce retention mechanisms have been used to reduce labor turnover, a consensus has yet to be reached as to what factors contribute to high employee turnover among construction companies. By using a systematic review approach and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, this study identifies factors affecting construction workforce turnover. Findings from 53 studies were analyzed and included in this study after the search protocol was applied. In total, 26 factors were identified, and these fall into four categories, namely, (1) factors related to the nature of the job; (2) factors related to the external industry environment; (3) factors related to the construction company itself; and (4) factors associated with the individual workforce. An improved understanding of these factors will inform targeted workforce development approaches within construction organizations and prepare them as businesses, as sectors, and as partners with government agencies to combat the odds of labor turnover. The review reported in this paper serves as a starting point for future research to understand the labor turnover issue faced by the construction sector and the measures companies can take to mitigate its effects.