SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OF

SRI LANKA

BASNAYAKE L.K. (E/10/057)PREMATHILAKA R.P.M.M. (E/10/264)

SUPERVISED BY: DR. P.B.G. DISSANAYAKE

Investigate the causes for the shortage of skilled labour in construction industry of Sri Lanka.

To investigate the extend of shortage of skilled labour in Sri Lanka.

Find out the consequent effects due to the shortage of Skilled Labour.

Propose suitable mitigation methods to overcome the shortage of skilled labour.

OBJECTIVES

SCOPE The Scope of this Research is the construction of buildings,

roads and irrigation projects in Sri Lanka It is expected to carry out the research among the Skilled

Labour categories of Bar benders, Masons, Riggers, Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers, Equipment Operators, Welders, Concrete Finishers etc.

Client, Consultant, Contractor parties are considered. Government, Semi Government and Private sectors are

considered.

METHODOLOGY Two questionnaire surveys are currently being conducted (

Questionnaire.pdf) Targeting the Engineer and Managerial level which is

expected to be filled by themselves (Questionnaire 1) Targeting the laboures which will be filled by our self after

having face to face interviews with them. Pilot Survey was conducted to fine tune the questionnaires. Questionnaires were send through post, email and distributed

by hand to hand

COLLECTION OF CONTACT DETAILS

Directories Company Websites Industrial Training and Career Guidance Unit Websites of Professional bodies like IESL, ICA NAITA Training sites of batch mates. Current work places of previous undergraduates

PILOT SURVEY A Pilot Survey was conducted among 8 professional engineers

in the industry to fine tune the questionnaire 5 responds were obtained Content and the structure of the questionnaire was satisfactory

according to the Pilot Survey Most of the feedbacks were regarding how to conduct the

questionnaire and how to interpret the analyzed data.

QUESTIONNAIRE 1

This questionnaire targets four employment categories namely Engineer, QS, Architect, TO

Consists of four main sub section

I. Background Information

II. Identification Casual Factors

III.Identification of Effects

IV. Identification of Mitigation Measures 150 questionnaires were sent and 71 responds were obtained with a

respond percentage of 48% which is above the avg. percentage respond rate of 44%

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS

Involvement Typeno. percent. no. Percent. no. Percent. No. Percent.

Engineer 48 67.61 Client 13 18.31 Pvt. 29 40.85 C1 26 36.62QS 8 11.27 Consultant 28 39.44 Govt. 18 25.35 C2 4 5.63TO 11 15.49 Contractor 30 42.25 Semi Govt. 24 33.80 C3 8 11.27Archetect 4 5.63 Others 33 46.48

Employment type Category ICTAD Grade

Client 13

Consultant 28

Contractor 30ClientConsultantContractorEn-

gi-neer 48

QS 8

TO 11 Architect 4

EngineerQSTO Archetect

Pvt 29

Govt. 18

Semi Govt. 24

Pvt.Govt.Semi Govt.

C1 26

C2 4

C3 8

Others 33C1C2C3Others

ANALYSIS Frequency Index, Severity Index and Importance Index were

be used to rank the causes, effects and countermeasures. Collected data were analyzed and processed manually as well

as using a spreadsheet (Data Sheet.xlsx) Respondents between different categories will be compared

using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient method. The software package SBSS can be used to carry out the

calculations.

CASUAL FACTORS

1 Inadequate supply of skilled labour from training institues 78.46 1 76.54 1 60.05 12 Inadequacy of skills in the available labour force 78.08 2.5 73.85 3 57.66 33 People's unwillingness to engage in construction industry

as labourers 66.92 5 61.92 6 41.44 64 Management policy of the organisations (Can manage with

lesser no. of skilled labours and a higher no.killed labour) 60.38 7 60.38 7 36.46 75 After training shifting their carrers to another field 64.62 6 68.85 5 44.49 56 Contractors do not provide training for employees 73.85 4 72.69 4 53.68 47 Seeking foreign employment with higher salary 78.08 2.5 74.23 2 57.96 2

Relative Important Rank

Frequency Index RankFrequency Index Rank

EFFECTS1 Delay in project duration/Slow construction 81.54 1 79.62 2 64.92 12 Inability to understand drawings 72.31 5.5 66.15 9 47.83 73 Inability to manage unforseen site conditions 71.54 7 64.23 10 45.95 94 Poor Quality of work 72.69 4 80.38 1 58.43 25 Errors during constructions 70.38 8 69.62 6.5 49.00 66 Improper construction method 72.31 5.5 75.38 4 54.51 47 Less labour productivity 75.00 2 75.77 3 56.83 38 Material Wastage 73.46 3 73.85 5 54.25 59 Additional cost of removing bad works 67.31 9 69.62 6.5 46.86 8

10 Safety issues 66.92 10 68.46 8 45.82 10

Relative Important Rank

Frequency Index Rank Frequency Index Rank

MITIGATIONAL MEASURES1 Increase the supply of skilled labour 88.46 42 Improve the skills of the labours at the company level

through proper in house training 83.46 83 Increase salary/ Wages 88.08 54 Establishment of minimum salary level 76.92 125 Arranging seminar/training programmes through ICTAD/IESL 95.38 16 Creating a healthy and safe working environment 91.54 27 Assess the level of skills of labourers and provide a grading

system to motivate them mentally to acquire skills 87.69 68 Conduct annual surveys on trends of labour market,

understand the competencies required by the labours in current industry and restructure the format of training programmes accordingly 81.92 10

9 Better coordination and communication between traininginstitutes 82.69 9

10 Conduct Awareness Programmes for contractors to recruit suffi cient number of skilled labour illustrating the advantagess associated with 84.62 7

11 Provide a proper certificate of service at the end of theend of termination of service evaluating the level of competencies such that they can present it somewhere else as a valid certificate about his skills 89.23 3

12 Conduct annual survey to monitor the demand and supply of skilled labour 78.85 11

13 Making regulations on the minimum number of skilled labour and their competencies employed in a construction project based on the size of the project 73.08 14

14 Defining a minimum ratio of skilled labour to unskilled labour depending on the nature of the work 76.15 13

Important Index Rank

CORRELATION AMONG RESPONDENTS

Causes Effects Mitigation MeasuresClient vs Consultant 0.65 0.25 0.59Client vs Contractor 0.82 0.18 0.45Consultant vs Contractor 0.67 0.51 0.31Engineer vs Architect 0.87 0.62 0.79Engineer vs QS 0.68 -0.03 0.74Engineer vs TO 0.54 0.18 0.55Architect vs QS 0.85 0.41 0.80Architect vs TO 0.73 0.30 0.53QS vs TO 0.61 0.54 0.36

Correlation Coeffi cientType

SUMMARY OF FINDINGSIdentified Casual Factors

Inadequate supply of skilled labour from training institutesSeeking foreign employment with higher salaryInadequacy of skills in the available labour force

Identified Effects

Delay in project duration/Slow constructionPoor Quality of workLess labour productivity

Identified Mitigation Measures

Arranging seminar/training programmes through ICTAD/IESLCreating a healthy and safe working environmentProvide a proper certificate of service at the end of the end of

termination of service evaluating the level of competencies such that they can present it somewhere else as a valid certificate about his skills

QUESTIONNAIRE 2

ANALYZING CATEGORIES

1. Basic Details2. Work Experience3. Satisfaction4. Salary Comparison5. Training Experience6. About Migration

01.BASIC DETAILSLabour category Skilled 50 (90.9%)

unskilled 5 (9.1%)gender male 100%

female 0%Age group Bellow 35 42%

Above 35 58%Education level 0-8 10%

GCE O/L 88%GCE A/L 2%

LABOUR CATEGORIESLABOUR CATOGORY NO OF RESPONSES PERCENTAGE(%)

Heavy Equipment Operators 6 10.9Masons 10 18.2Carpenter 9 16.4Bar bender 8 14.5Rigger 5 9.1Electrician 3 5.5Signalman 1 1.8Plumbers 3 5.5Concrete Workers 5 9.1Tillers 1 1.8Unskilled Labour 5 9.1

10.90%

18.20%

16.40%

14.50%

9.10%

5.50%1.80%5.50%

9.10%

1.80%9.10%

LABOUR CATEGORY

Heavy Equipment OperatorsMasonsCarpenterBar BenderRiggerElectricianSignalmanPlumbersConcrete WorkersTillersUnskilled Labour

02.WORK EXPERIENCELABOUR CATEGORY

WORK EXPERIENCE

0-5 yrs. 5-10 yrs. More than 10yrs.

Heavy Equipment Operators 33% 50% 17%Masons 10% 40% 50%Carpenter 22% 33% 44%Bar bender 38% 50% 13%Rigger 80% 0% 20%Electrician 67% 33% 0%Signalman 100% 0% 0%Plumbers 0% 67% 33%Concrete Workers 20% 60% 20%Tillers 0% 100% 0%Total 30% 42% 28%

Unskilled Labour 100% 0% 0%

0

20

40

60

80

100

120 WORK EXPERIENCE

More Than 10 Yrs.5-10y0-5

labour category

perc

enta

ge

30%

42%

28%

WORK EXPERIENCE

0-5 yrs5 to 10 yrsmore than10

03.SATISFACTIONLABOUR CATOGORY JOB SATISFACTION WORK LOAD SALORY SATISFACTION

Heavy Equipment Operators 83% 100% 50%Masons 100% 100% 100%Carpenter 78% 100% 11%Bar Bender 75% 100% 25%Rigger 80% 60% 20%Electrician 67% 100% 0%Signalman 100% 100% 100%Plumbers 67% 100% 33%Concrete Workers 60% 40% 20%Tillers 100% 100% 100%Satisfaction From Total 40 46 21Skilled Labours 80% 92% 42%Unskilled Labour 40% 80% 40%

Heavy

Equip

ment O

pera.

..

Masons

Carpen

ter

Bar Ben

der

Rigger

Electr

ician

Signa

lman

Plumbe

rs

Concre

te Work

ersTill

ers0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%SATISFACTION

JobSalaryWork Load

labour category

perc

enta

ge

Wish to continue the same job…..LABOUR CATEGORY PERCENTAGE

heavy equipment operators 83%masons 100%carpenter 56%bar bender 75%rigger 60%electrician 67%signalman 100%plumbers 67%concrete workers 60%tillers 0%unskilled labour 60%

Heavy Equipment Operators

Masons Carpenter Bar Bender

Rigger Electrician Signalman Plumbers Concrete Workers

Tillers0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120% CONTINUING SAME OCCUPATION

labour category

perc

enta

ge

04.SALORY COMPARISON

Labour category PRESENT SALORY

EXPECTED SALORY

(monthly) (monthly) LKR LKR

heavy equipment operators 41750 48750masons 41250 41850carpenter 42000 49167bar bender 43500 50500rigger 38400 45600electrician 35000 44000signalman 34500 34500plumbers 43000 53000concrete workers 40800 46800tillers 45000 51000Unskilled labours 28500 33900

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000SALARY COMPARISON

present salaryexpected salary

labour catogaory

perc

enta

ge

Labour Category  Responses

Work Experience Satisfaction Wish To Continue

Same Occupati

on

Present

Salary

Expected

Salary0-5Years

5-10Years

More Than 10

Yrs.

Job Salary

Work

Load

Number

Percentage (Monthly)LKR

Heavy Equipment Operators6 10.9

%33% 50% 17% 83% 50% 100

%83% 41750 48750

Masons 10 18.2%

10% 40% 50% 100%

100%

100%

100% 41250 41850

Carpenter 9 16.4%

22% 33% 44% 78% 11% 100%

56% 42000 49167

Bar Bender 8 14.5%

38% 50% 13% 75% 25% 100%

75% 43500 50500

Rigger 5 9.1% 80% 0% 20% 80% 20% 60% 60% 38400 45600

Electrician 3 5.5% 67% 33% 0% 67% 0% 100%

67% 35000 44000

Signalman 1 1.8% 100%

0% 0% 100%

100%

100%

100% 34500 34500

Plumbers 3 5.5% 0% 67% 33% 67% 33% 100%

67% 43000 53000

Concrete Workers 5 9.1% 20% 60% 20% 60% 20% 40% 60% 40800 46800

Tillers 1 1.8% 0% 100% 0% 100%

100%

100%

0% 45000 51000

Total Skilled Labour Responses

50 90.9%

30% 42% 28% 80% 42% 92% 74%  

Unskilled Labour 5 9.1% 100%

0% 0% 40% 40% 80% 60% 28500 33900

05.TRAINING EXPERIENCES

Training institutes 1.Small Industry Development Board 2.Sri Lankan Youth Service Council 3.NAITA 4.Sri Lankan Army 5.Foreign Training at UAE 6.ICTAD 7.German Tech 8.Dudly Senanayake Multi Task Training Institue 9.VTA 10.Galkulama Construction Training

NEED FURTHER TRAINING

NOT NEED TRAINING

TOTAL PERCENTAGE

TRAINED BEFORE 11 10 42%NOT TRAINED BEFORE 13 16 58%TOTAL PERCENTAGE 48% 52%

skill

ed la

bour

s in

cons

truc

tion

indu

stry trained - 42%

need further training - 52%

no need - 48%

non trained - 58%

need further training -45%

no need training -55%

06.ABOUT MIGRATIONWISH TO GO ABROAD

NOT WISH TO GO

TOTAL PERCENTAGE

WORKED IN ABROAD 5 4 18%NOT WORKED IN ABROAD 22 19 82%TOTAL PERCENTAGE 54% 46%

skille

d la

bour

s in

cons

truct

ion

indu

stry

worked in abroad - 18%

wish to go - 56%

not - 44%

not - 82%

wish to go abroad -54%

not -46%

 Item Percentage

01. Gender Male 100%Female 0%

02. Age Group Bellow 35 Yrs. 42%Above 35 Yrs. 58%

03. Work Experience

0-5 Years 30%5-10 Years 42%

More Than 10 Yrs. 28%

04. Satisfaction

Salary 42%Job 80%No Of Leaves 100%Work Load 92%

05. TrainingTrained Before 42%

Need Further Training 48%

06. Wish To Work In Abroad 54%

07. Wish To Continue The Same Occupation 74%

CONCLUSIONReasons for skills shortage within Sri Lanka…. less wage relative to other countries inadequate training skills drain less work experience shift the carrier after working some years negative social attitude towards the skilled labours wastage of female skills without contributing

Thank You!