Kappia, J G; Dainty, A R J and Price, A D F (2007) Prioritising career development in relation to recruitment and retention: A trade and craft perspective. Construction Management and Economics, 25(3), pp. 239-253. ISSN 1466433X
Abstract
Individuals attach a certain priority to key extrinsic and intrinsic work-related factors, namely: career development, financial incentives, work conditions, job content, job security and social relations. These factors have variously been described as influencing career choice and also determining what causes individuals to remain or leave careers. In particular, the ongoing skills crisis faced by the UK construction sector has raised the profile of career development as a factor to recruiting and retaining an appropriately skilled workforce. The priorities attached to career development and other work-related factors were explored via a questionnaire survey of over 550 craft trainees. Their relative priorities were validated through a set of focused discussions in which informants disclosed the reasons underlying their preference, and their wider perceptions of the industry. Results reveal that, contrary to anecdotal suggestions, craft workers are not purely motivated by monetary reward. Trainees aspired to develop their career beyond the confines of their specific craft specialization. However, further results suggest that available career development opportunities do not provide suitable transitional routes towards managerial and professional positions. This raises questions as to whether the industry will be able to attract and retain workers in the future without improving career pathways.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction sector; security; skills; workforce; career development; careers; recruitment; specialization; professional; UK; questionnaire survey |
| Index terms: | recruitment, retention, prioritizing, questionnaire, career, construction sector, preference, specialization, financial incentive, survey |
| Subjects: | economic analysis, business, data collection methods, decision analysis, industry analysis, decision-making and reasoning, management, professional development |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Risk Management, Human Resources |
| 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