Contractors perspective toward factors affecting labor productivity in building construction

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims at identifying the factors affecting labor productivity in building construction projects in the West Bank in Palestine from contractors’ viewpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

To do so, 59 contractors working in building construction completed a structured questionnaire survey and the factors were ranked according to their levels of influence. In all, 31 factors were identified through literature review. These factors were grouped into five groups: labor, managerial, materials and equipments, environmental, and financial.

Findings

The analysis of the identified 31 factors indicates that the top-five factors negatively affecting labor productivity in building construction are: rework, lack of cooperation and communication between construction parties, financial status of the owner, lack of labor experience, and lack in materials.

Originality/value

This study is original and has not been published before. The findings and recommendations of this study are very useful and helpful for the local firms and the international firms who are planning to do works in the West Bank

Citation

Mahamid, I. (2013), "Contractors perspective toward factors affecting labor productivity in building construction", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 20 No. 5, pp. 446-460. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-08-2011-0074