EFFECT OF SKILLED LABOUR AVAILABILITY ON THE DELIVERY OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN ADO-EKITI, EKITI STATE

Abstract

Road construction is a labour-intensive and technically demanding activity that requires the coordinated efforts of adequately skilled workers to achieve successful delivery. This study examined the effect of skilled labour availability on the delivery of road construction projects in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. This study adopted a survey research design, using a structured questionnaire as the primary instrument for data collection. The study population comprised construction stakeholders involved in road construction projects in Ado-Ekiti, including civil engineers, project managers, site supervisors, foremen, quantity surveyors, skilled artisans, and officials of relevant government agencies. Based on an estimated population of 500, a sample size of 217 respondents was derived. Purposive sampling was employed to select respondents with direct experience in road construction projects. Skilled labour variables used are availability of skilled labour, technical competence, and labour deployment and utilization, while road construction project delivery was assessed based on time, cost, and quality performance. The data collected were analysed using multiple regression analysis on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to determine the individual and combined contributions of the skilled labour variables to the delivery of road construction projects in the study area. Findings revealed that technical competence had positive and significant effect on the delivery of road construction projects (β = 0.431, p < 0.05), labour deployment and utilisation had a positive and significant effect on the delivery of road construction projects (β = 0.389, p < 0.05), and availability of skilled labour had a positively significant effect on project accomplishment (β = 0.294, p < 0.05). The study found that technical competence was the biggest driver of the delivery of road construction projects. The study concludes that all three skilled labour indicators, which include availability of skilled labour, technical competence, and labour deployment and utilization have positive significant effect on the delivery of road construction projects. Hence, the study recommends construction companies should develop human resource strategies focused on retaining their scarce skilled workforce and addressing the persistent shortage of technical expertise.