Understanding and mitigating the effects of shortage of skilled labour in the construction industry of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Skilled labourer is a key resource that has a direct impact on the success of any construction project. This study analyses the present situation of the construction industry in Sri Lanka with respect to skilled labourer by assessing the need to increase the number of skilled labourers and their skill level by identifying the causes and effects of the shortage of skilled labour. This paper summarises the results of a survey conducted in Sri Lanka and propose mitigation measures to rectify the problem. This is a timely and needful study in the present context of Sri Lanka with the expected rapid growth of the construction industry especially after the end of the civil war. The objectives of this study are to identify the causes for the shortage of skilled labour in the Sri Lankan construction industry, the resulting effects due to the shortage and to come up with effective mitigation measures. The research was conducted via two types of questionnaire surveys, namely; the individual surveys and the institutional surveys among contractors, consultants and clients represented by Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Technical Officers and other similar grades. A project wise analysis was carried out through the institutional questionnaire survey. To support the findings of this research, present salary scales of selected skilled labour types were compared with salary scales of similar overseas opportunities. Categories of skilled labour and professionals were based on International Standard of Classification of Occupations, Labour Market Information System (LMIS-1996) and past studies. In this research the “Significance Index” was used to rank causes and effects and the “Importance Index” was used to find out important mitigation measures. This study revealed that the most significant causal factor for skilled labour shortage is “inadequate number of trained personnel coming out from training institutions and joining with the labour market” and resulting effect is “time over-run” of construction project. This study also revealed that “Increasing the wages to minimize migration of skilled labour seeking foreign employment” as the most important mitigation measure to overcome this problem. According to the study, the current shortage for concrete workers and masons are 70% and 67% respectively.