A Study of the Soft Skills Possessed and Required in the Construction Sector

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dc.citation.issue2
dc.citation.volume13
dc.contributor.authorvan Heerden AH
dc.contributor.authorJelodar MB
dc.contributor.authorChawynski G
dc.contributor.authorEllison S
dc.contributor.editorTummalapudi M
dc.contributor.editorHarper C
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-28T21:35:41Z
dc.date.available2024-07-28T21:35:41Z
dc.date.issued2023-02-14
dc.description.abstractSoft skills are essential to employability and retention; therefore, if obtained and observed, they can significantly reduce sector-wide turnover. This study aims to investigate and compare soft skills that industry professionals currently possess and soft skills the industry requires and needs to attain. A questionnaire was administered using the RICS database, and 741 respondents participated in this study. Initially, the soft skills possessed and the soft skills required were analysed and compared via descriptive statistics. Furthermore, principal component factor analysis was used to identify the underlying factors and classify the identified soft skills. It was found that there are alignments and evident discrepancies between the actual skills currently possessed and the skills required by these professionals. The soft skills currently possessed by the industry were classified into three groups: (a) Ethics and Professionalism Cluster; (b) Self-Effort Management Cluster; and (c) Management—Leadership and Power Cluster. This was different to the two clusters identified for the soft skills requirements, which were: (a) trait-based cluster—less controllable; (b) training-based cluster—more controllable. The study concludes that there are controllable and less-controllable skills, which need to be possessed and managed in building professionals. Controllable soft skills are easier to train, whereas trait-based soft skills are more difficult to train and possess. The findings of this research are significant as their understanding can be used to help mitigate turnover and guide construction sector professionals to plan for the appropriate skills they require.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionFebruary 2023
dc.identifier.citationvan Heerden A, Jelodar MB, Chawynski G, Ellison S. (2023). A Study of the Soft Skills Possessed and Required in the Construction Sector. Buildings. 13. 2.
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/buildings13020522
dc.identifier.eissn2075-5309
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.number522
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/71119
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherMDPI (Basel, Switzerland)
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/2/522
dc.relation.isPartOfBuildings
dc.rights(c) 2023 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectsoft skills
dc.subjectconstruction turnover
dc.subjectprincipal component factor analysis
dc.subjectemployability and retention
dc.titleA Study of the Soft Skills Possessed and Required in the Construction Sector
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id460204
pubs.organisational-groupCollege of Health
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