Sustainable employability assessment of construction workers in Hong Kong: challenges and improvement strategies

Abstract

The construction industry in Hong Kong faces significant labour challenges, including an ageing workforce, declining work ability, and difficulty attracting and retaining talent. A literature review of 25 relevant publications revealed few empirical studies on factors affecting the sustainable employability of construction workers, though some research has addressed issues like physical strain and job satisfaction. This study aims to explore the key factors influencing long-term employability in the industry. Using a qualitative approach, it involved site observations and semi-structured interviews with nine frontline workers across three projects. The results identified three main factors: physical, psychological, and organisational/industry-level. Key findings include: 1) musculoskeletal disorders and age-related physical decline are common but underreported due to wage models and site culture; 2) psychological factors like job control and social support are crucial for maintaining motivation and wellbeing; and 3) organisational factors, such as payment structures and safety practices, impact work ability and retention. The study suggests that sustainable employability cannot be improved through isolated interventions and proposes strategies like monthly wage systems, mentoring programs, agesensitive task allocations, and wellness measures. Despite its limited sample size, the study provides valuable insights for developing labour policies to enhance sustainable employability in Hong Kong’s construction sector.