Elbashbishy, T and El-Adaway, I H (2026) Assessing the criticality of construction trades: Skilled labor shortages and their cost and schedule impacts. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 152(1): 04025230, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Skilled labor shortages are a pressing issue in the construction industry. Existing research has primarily focused on the effects of labor shortages at the project or industry level, but there is limited exploration of how these shortages vary across specific trades and their distinct impacts on project outcomes. Evidence indicates that labor shortages vary significantly among trades. This paper addresses this knowledge gap through quantitatively assessing the criticality of key construction trades based on the (1) extent of skilled labor shortages currently witnessed in each trade, (2) impact of these shortages on cost and schedule performance, and (3) degree of industry reliance on each trade. To this end, the cost and schedule criticalities of 10 key construction trades were determined based on a risk assessment using data collected from 106 industry experts. Further, the correlation between labor shortages and project performance was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient test. Last, trade criticalities were assessed in relation to the level of reliance of the construction industry on each of the examined trades using Monte Carlo simulation. Results indicate that skilled labor shortages vary across trades, with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) trades (electrical and plumbing) facing the most severe shortages, while finishes trades experience relatively lower impacts. Despite moderate shortages, concreting and ironworking significantly affect project cost and schedule performance. Schedule criticality generally surpasses cost criticality, except in electrical and plumbing trades. Furthermore, concreting, ironworking, electrical, plumbing, and masonry were identified as the most critical trades, posing the highest risks to project outcomes. Ultimately, this study provides project stakeholders an integrated assessment of the criticality of the skilled labor shortage in relation to project cost and schedule performance. The latter allows for prioritizing critical trades and as such developing trade-specific strategies to address shortages and mitigate their effects on project outcomes.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | construction industry, plumbing, project performance, labour shortage, risk assessment, project outcome, Monte Carlo simulation, prioritizing, shortages, evidence, project stakeholder, finishes, concreting, exploration, project cost, strategy, schedule performance, skilled labour |
| Subjects: | mechanical systems, building materials, modelling and simulation, project management theory and practice, management, economics, industry analysis, project controls, sociology, decision analysis, evaluation and assessment methods, project completion, economic analysis, environmental resource management, financial risk, building construction |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Stakeholder Management, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Time Control, Design Practice, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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