IDENTIFING FACTORS AFFECTING LABOR PRODUCTIVITY: CASES OF BUILDING PROJECTS IN ARBAMINCH, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Employees are company‟s livelihood. An organizations performance and its effectiveness directly affected on how workers feel about their work and productivity. Productivity is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the construction industry. This paper aims to identify, analyze and rank factors affecting labor productivity in Arba Minch town, with respect to their rate of occurrence and significances. To achieve these goals a desk study was prepared. Observation, interviews, desk study and Questionnaire were designed based on the objectives. Using a selected set of ten factors, a structured questionnaire survey was utilized as a method to collect data from selected building projects. The completed questionnaires were processed and analyzed using relative important index (RII) method. Target population was comprised by purposive representative samples of three parties (client, contractor and consultant) related with the Arba Minch construction industry. Random sampling method was used to identify labor respondents. Findings reveal the top five ranked factors are: weak site management, lack of periodic meeting with labor, delay in material delivery, quality inspection delay and payment delay. The study also ascertained. Age, Skill and experience of labor highly affect the productivity of construction projects. Also Clarity of Drawings and Tender Documents minimize the number of omission, unclear feature or conflicts on building projects. This research also puts comprehensive recommendations so that all (client, contractor, consultants and labors) could play their role for effective management of construction labor to be productive.