Lee, T Y; Ahmad, F and Sarijari, M A (2025) Exploring labor presence in work zone and tiling trade labor productivity: The moderating role of skilled-labor proportion. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 151(1): 04024188, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Labor-tracking technologies, including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), have been studied extensively for their applicability in labor presence detection within the construction industry. Although prior research has utilized labor presence time in work zones (LPTWZ) to measure productive time on construction sites, its direct link to labor productivity (LP) has remained unexplored. Hence, this research investigated the LPTWZ-LP relationship and the moderating effect of skilled labor proportion (SLP) in five tiling projects at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). This research involved three variables: LPTWZ, SLP, and LP. LPTWZ data were collected using BLE technology, whereas SLP and LP data were collected using manual recordings. Hierarchical regression analysis explored the direct impact of LPTWZ on LP and the potential moderating role of SLP. The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between LPTWZ and LP, indicating that increased LPTWZ corresponds to heightened LP. Moreover, the study establishes that SLP positively moderates the relationship between LPTWZ and LP, accentuating the importance of skill development in optimizing LP outcomes. This research provides a novel perspective on the intricate LPTWZ-LP relationship and highlights the SLP's crucial moderating influence in the tiling trade. In addition to offering practical insights into labor management strategies, this research demonstrates the applicability of BLE technology for LP monitoring in the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | labor productivity; labor tracking; presence time; skill; work zone |
| Index terms: | skills development, construction site, skilled labour, construction industry, regression analysis, monitoring, presence, labour productivity, management strategy, Malaysia, low energy |
| Subjects: | energy systems, work location, control systems, industry analysis, statistical analysis, personnel development, management, environmental science, Geography |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Business Strategy, Human Resources, Site Management, Geographical Context, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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