Factors Affecting Labor Productivity in Government Housing Projects: Case of Ethiopian Condominium Housing Construction in

Abstract

Labor productivity is one of the most important factors that affect the physical progress of any construction project. Because construction is labor oriented industry, it heavily relies on the skills of its workforce. High productivity leads to lower unit costs to carry out a task or operation. It usually translates into superior profitability. Decreasing the productivity of projects has always been a major concern for the construction Industry. Therefore, the identification of critical factors impeding construction productivity to direct focused efforts towards productivity improvement in construction projects is the first step in the right direction. The objective of this study is to analyze factors affecting construction labor productivity, using experts’ opinions, in Ethiopian condominium house construction projects through IHDP in Addis Ababa, where the productivity of the construction phase has not been as efficient as planned during the program's implementation. To achieve this objective, the study is conducted based on a questionnaire survey designed to gather all necessary information; Reliability analysis and the Relative Importance Index (RII) technique were adopted. To collect Data from conveniently available population members, a convenience sampling method was used. 117 factors were sorted and grouped into 9, namely: (a) Manpower; (b) Motivation; (c) Management; (d) Material; (e) Technical; (f) Tools and equipment; (g) Financial; (h) Environmental; and (i) other group. The result of the analysis of 51 structured questionnaires shows that four independent groups have a significant effect on the construction labor productivity in Ethiopian condominium house construction projects through IHDP in Addis Ababa, and their ranking is: 1) Management group; 2) Material group; 3) Motivation group, and 4) Manpower group. The results obtained are compared and contrasted with the previous work done in different countries. It is also recommended to facilitate the workflow among all participants and ensure their coordination and lay down better communication. Besides, it is essential to organize the work on sites with a qualified construction foreman. Appropriate Construction planning/project schedule should also be in place, and it is also important to devise a better alternative for materials supply. Moreover, it is better to motivate labor through incentives, to inspire, encourage, and stimulate the workforce. Since the construction of condominium houses in IHDP differs from the conventional construction method; there shall be a mechanism to bridge the demand for experienced labor by opting for a different alternative.