A literature review of common factors affecting labor productivity in Asia: 25 years of insight

Construction is one of the largest sectors of the Asian economy as it accounts for approximately 14.8% of Asia’s GDP. This, together with the fact that labor productivity is a key factor affecting project performance, makes enhancement of productivity a significant contributor to economic growth. Y...

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Main Authors: Søren M. Lindhard, Sanaz Sadeghi, Nazi Soltanmohammadlou, Simon Wyke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Civil Engineering and Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://mla.vilniustech.lt/index.php/JCEM/article/view/22811
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author Søren M. Lindhard
Sanaz Sadeghi
Nazi Soltanmohammadlou
Simon Wyke
author_facet Søren M. Lindhard
Sanaz Sadeghi
Nazi Soltanmohammadlou
Simon Wyke
author_sort Søren M. Lindhard
collection DOAJ
description Construction is one of the largest sectors of the Asian economy as it accounts for approximately 14.8% of Asia’s GDP. This, together with the fact that labor productivity is a key factor affecting project performance, makes enhancement of productivity a significant contributor to economic growth. Yet, previous studies have not provided a well-defined terminology together with an understanding of the prioritization of factors, which decision-makers need to take into consideration to enhance productivity in a structured manner. A structured literature review has been carried out, focusing on identifying factors affecting labor productivity in Asia, and calculating the aggregated rank. Hypothesis-testing revealed that the ranking could be generalized across the different regions in Asia. A full rank aggregation considering Asia as a whole reveals the five most important factors to be: “Incomplete design”, “Skill and experience (of laborers)”, “Competency of the project manager”, Materials”, and “Client and consultants”. Today’s research on factors affecting labor productivity is fragmented. By making a structured rank aggregation, and comparing findings between studies, a unifying understanding to the relative importance of factors affecting labor productivity has been established. The relative importance gives input to on-site mangers and helps enhancing managerial strategies to improve labor productivity.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
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spelling doaj-art-4be782efee4c4f41b9de1085a510d2562025-08-20T02:40:35ZengVilnius Gediminas Technical UniversityJournal of Civil Engineering and Management1392-37301822-36052025-03-0131310.3846/jcem.2025.22811A literature review of common factors affecting labor productivity in Asia: 25 years of insightSøren M. Lindhard0Sanaz Sadeghi1Nazi Soltanmohammadlou2Simon Wyke3Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Aalborg, DenmarkFaculty of Conservation and Restoration, University of Art, Tehran, IranFaculty of Conservation and Restoration, University of Art, Tehran, IranDepartment of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark Construction is one of the largest sectors of the Asian economy as it accounts for approximately 14.8% of Asia’s GDP. This, together with the fact that labor productivity is a key factor affecting project performance, makes enhancement of productivity a significant contributor to economic growth. Yet, previous studies have not provided a well-defined terminology together with an understanding of the prioritization of factors, which decision-makers need to take into consideration to enhance productivity in a structured manner. A structured literature review has been carried out, focusing on identifying factors affecting labor productivity in Asia, and calculating the aggregated rank. Hypothesis-testing revealed that the ranking could be generalized across the different regions in Asia. A full rank aggregation considering Asia as a whole reveals the five most important factors to be: “Incomplete design”, “Skill and experience (of laborers)”, “Competency of the project manager”, Materials”, and “Client and consultants”. Today’s research on factors affecting labor productivity is fragmented. By making a structured rank aggregation, and comparing findings between studies, a unifying understanding to the relative importance of factors affecting labor productivity has been established. The relative importance gives input to on-site mangers and helps enhancing managerial strategies to improve labor productivity. https://mla.vilniustech.lt/index.php/JCEM/article/view/22811labor productivityliterature reviewrank aggregationAsiaRRIconstruction management
spellingShingle Søren M. Lindhard
Sanaz Sadeghi
Nazi Soltanmohammadlou
Simon Wyke
A literature review of common factors affecting labor productivity in Asia: 25 years of insight
Journal of Civil Engineering and Management
labor productivity
literature review
rank aggregation
Asia
RRI
construction management
title A literature review of common factors affecting labor productivity in Asia: 25 years of insight
title_full A literature review of common factors affecting labor productivity in Asia: 25 years of insight
title_fullStr A literature review of common factors affecting labor productivity in Asia: 25 years of insight
title_full_unstemmed A literature review of common factors affecting labor productivity in Asia: 25 years of insight
title_short A literature review of common factors affecting labor productivity in Asia: 25 years of insight
title_sort literature review of common factors affecting labor productivity in asia 25 years of insight
topic labor productivity
literature review
rank aggregation
Asia
RRI
construction management
url https://mla.vilniustech.lt/index.php/JCEM/article/view/22811
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