Date Approved

2023

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School

Visual and Built Environments

Committee Member

Raed T. El Jarrah, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Suleiman Ashur, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Kasim Korkmaz, Ph.D.

Abstract

The construction industry has been facing a decline in skilled trade labor for decades. This study asks three overarching questions: (a) What are the causes and influencing factors of Michigan’s skilled construction laborer shortage? (b) How are Michigan stakeholders in the Great Lakes Region remedying the shortage? (c) What new solutions can be implemented to remedy Michigan’s skilled construction laborer shortage? A literature review was conducted to identify causes, influencing factors, and research gaps. Closed surveys questioning 69 construction project managers and 101 skilled trade laborers in Michigan were conducted online and on construction sites. A quantitative analysis of the data was conducted utilizing various statistical methods, including the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc tests. Significant results were detected in questions related to the following factors: demographics, work environments, education, and employment which then generated ideas for remedies and future research.

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