Mitigating skills shortage in the south african construction industry

Constriction industry is multifaceted and multidisciphnary with the presence of diverse stakeholders including the skilled and unskilled workforce. Over the years, there has been a decrease m the number of skilled workforces in the South African industry due to such factors as emigration, poor education system etc. This study examines different remedies to the skills shortage in the construction industry with a view to maintaining excellence and enhancing the performance of construction projects. Usmg closed-ended questionnaires as the research instruments, necessary factors from the literature were compiled and examined by distributing the questionnaires to the skilled workforces in the construction industry, which are professionals and artisans. Analysis of the collected data revealed that the major remedy to skills shortage m the industry is through the organization of traming courses for a non-English speaking citizen from various regions of the country. There is also a need for training of the skilled workmen in the area of business skills, management skills, and job instruction. This study will be useful for construction education training agency (CETA), construction professional bodies, trade unions and other agencies that are tasked with the responsibilities of promoting, regulating and training of the skilled workforce in the construction industry m discharging their roles effectively and efficiently.