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Buildings
Special Issues
Promoting Construction Worker Professionalization under Industry 4.0
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Promoting Construction Worker Professionalization under Industry 4.0

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 5189

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hongyang Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Business School, HoHai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Interests: construction management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Beibei Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Economics and Management, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230022, China
Interests: urban renewal; urban resilience; digital transformation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Su Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Economics and Management, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230009, China
Interests: construction management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yingmiao Qian

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Management Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Finance & Economics, Bengbu 233030, China
Interests: construction management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As a traditional labor-intensive industry, construction is facing severe challenges from workforce aging, high turnover, labor shortages, and low skill level among construction workers. Particularly under the background of industry 4.0, the present workforce market cannot meet the needs of the future transformation development of the construction industry. In addition, due to poor working conditions, low salaries, and high occupational safety and health risks, most young employees are unwilling to join this industry, even though many have majored in building, civil and construction engineering. That means the workforce market will constrain the construction industry for a long time in the future.

Construction worker professionalization means that construction workers should transform from unskilled pure manual laborers into skilled industrial workers. It requires various amounts of effort, including improving the workforce quality, improving construction workers' work conditions, providing corresponding social security, etc. Promoting construction worker professionalization is expected to address the above-mentioned problems, thus promoting sustainable development of the construction industry.

This Special Issue of Buildings offers a platform for promoting construction worker professionalization under industry 4.0. We encourage researchers, practitioners, and scientists to submit original research articles, case studies, reviews, critical perspectives, and viewpoint articles on topics including, but not limited to:

  • Advancements in construction worker professionalization;
  • Critical factors of construction worker professionalization;
  • Influence mechanisms of construction worker professionalization;
  • Strategic analysis and planning of construction worker professionalization;
  • Policy simulation of construction worker professionalization;
  • Data-driven methods for promoting construction worker professionalization.

Prof. Dr. Hongyang Li
Dr. Beibei Zhang
Dr. Su Yang
Dr. Yingmiao Qian
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 307 KiB  
Article
Exploring Perceptions toward Emotional Intelligence in Chilean Construction Using a Qualitative Approach
by Pedro Páez, Felipe Araya, Luis Arturo Salazar, Zulay Giménez, Omar Sánchez, Leonardo Sierra-Varela and Briguitte Neculman
Buildings 2024, 14(4), 905; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14040905 - 27 Mar 2024
Viewed by 505
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the perceptions of construction experts in the Chilean construction industry regarding emotional intelligence. This exploratory and qualitative study is based on data collected through semi-structured interviews with construction professionals. The collected data were analyzed using a qualitative content [...] Read more.
This study aims to analyze the perceptions of construction experts in the Chilean construction industry regarding emotional intelligence. This exploratory and qualitative study is based on data collected through semi-structured interviews with construction professionals. The collected data were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis (QCA) technique to leverage how emotional intelligence (EI) is perceived by professionals in Chilean construction projects. A review, coding, and categorization were carried out within each transcribed interview, which allowed the elaboration of coding dictionaries and corresponding frequency tables to identify emerging topics. Our main results indicate that interviewees perceived EI as a tool to help them face the problems in Chilean construction projects. According to the interviewees, the benefits of implementing EI training are mainly the socio-emotional development and the transfer of critical skills to confront the challenges related to workers’ interactions. The main barriers are related to the work culture, lack of awareness of EI among construction workers, economic interests, and gender factors. The literature points to limited studies on understanding emotional intelligence in the construction sector, particularly in South America. This study contributes to responding to the need to explore and provide knowledge on emotional intelligence in the construction sector in the context of a South American country. This study contributes to exploring and understanding how EI is understood among workers in Chilean construction projects. In practicality, construction managers may use our findings to design training programs that leverage EI to improve the management of construction projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Construction Worker Professionalization under Industry 4.0)
18 pages, 2371 KiB  
Article
Systematic Training to Improve the Transformation of Migrant Workers into Industrial Workers within the Construction Sector in China
by Yanyan Ke and Jing Bian
Buildings 2023, 13(8), 1948; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13081948 - 31 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 976
Abstract
The transformation and modernization of the construction industry in China has introduced higher knowledge, skill, literacy, and innovation ability requirements for construction workers. Subsequently, more than 53 million migrant workers, comprising the main workforce of China’s construction sector, require transitioning into the roles [...] Read more.
The transformation and modernization of the construction industry in China has introduced higher knowledge, skill, literacy, and innovation ability requirements for construction workers. Subsequently, more than 53 million migrant workers, comprising the main workforce of China’s construction sector, require transitioning into the roles of high-quality and highly skilled construction industry workers. As an important means to improve human capital, systematic training is the key method for the development of migrant workers into industrial workers within China’s construction industry. This paper constructs and verifies the theoretical model underlying the operating mechanism of the training system for migrant workers within the construction industry. As such, a structural equation model was established for the mechanism of transforming construction migrant workers into industrial workers. The results show that as the driving forces, the government and construction industry play important roles in promoting the operation of the training system for migrants in the construction industry as they provide internal vocational and social training. Construction enterprises have a direct role in promoting professional literacy training as one of the direct beneficiaries of construction workers’ training. Therefore, this paper provides a critical reference for policy promoting the transformation of migrant workers into industrial workers through appropriate training within China’s construction industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Construction Worker Professionalization under Industry 4.0)
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18 pages, 434 KiB  
Article
A Qualitative Investigation of Barriers and Facilitators Involved in the Implementation of Endowment Insurance in China’s Construction Industry
by Baoquan Cheng, Jianchang Li, Yang Han, Tianyi Zhang, Jianling Huang and Huihua Chen
Buildings 2023, 13(4), 1063; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13041063 - 18 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1124
Abstract
Given their occupation’s inherent income instability, the promotion of endowment insurance among construction workers is essential. This research reports the barriers and facilitators involved in promoting endowment insurance to construction workers, by contextualizing it in China. It adopts a qualitative research approach combining [...] Read more.
Given their occupation’s inherent income instability, the promotion of endowment insurance among construction workers is essential. This research reports the barriers and facilitators involved in promoting endowment insurance to construction workers, by contextualizing it in China. It adopts a qualitative research approach combining semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. It is discovered that the barriers include (1) construction workers’ low willingness to participate in insurance, caused by the low level of awareness and understanding of the benefits of endowment insurance, low income, unstable employment situation, and lack of trust in the insurance system, (2) companies’ irresponsibility, caused by cost pressure, lack of policy support, uncertain legal responsibilities, and (3) governments’ incomplete management, caused by insufficient funding, complex administrative procedures, weak regulation, and regional differences. A series of facilitating measures are also proposed, including (1) increasing awareness and understanding of the benefits of endowment insurance, (2) adjusting the design of the endowment insurance scheme, and (3) strengthening legislation and enforcement. This study presents an analysis of the promotion practices of endowment insurance in China’s construction industry, which can provide policymakers with valuable references for optimizing the endowment insurance system. The findings can have significant implications for China and other developing countries that may face similar challenges in promoting social security programs in aging societies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Construction Worker Professionalization under Industry 4.0)
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Review

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25 pages, 2176 KiB  
Review
Unpacking Demographics-Based Impediments to Professionalization in the South African Built Environment
by Molusiwa Ramabodu and Tholang David Nena
Buildings 2024, 14(2), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14020501 - 10 Feb 2024
Viewed by 737
Abstract
Despite South Africa’s unique demographics, shaped by a history of apartheid and ongoing inequality, its built environment has so far been unable to extricate itself from its inglorious past. This portends that the quality and impact of infrastructure developed concentrates on the few [...] Read more.
Despite South Africa’s unique demographics, shaped by a history of apartheid and ongoing inequality, its built environment has so far been unable to extricate itself from its inglorious past. This portends that the quality and impact of infrastructure developed concentrates on the few at the expense of the many. This study delves into the multifaceted challenges that impede the full realization of an inclusive built environment sector by reviewing extant studies on these issues through a mixed review and blending this with statistical evidence from document analysis on professional development in the South African built environment. We explore how diversity factors intersect to create structural impediments in the pursuit of professionalization. The findings underscore the critical importance of inclusion in the built environment profession, potential policy and institutional changes required to address these challenges, and the web of demographic factors influencing access, opportunities, and success within the built environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Construction Worker Professionalization under Industry 4.0)
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23 pages, 5460 KiB  
Review
Science Mapping the Knowledge Domain of Construction Workers’ Safety Behavior
by Baoquan Cheng, Yuhu Wei, Hujun Li, Jianling Huang and Huihua Chen
Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1365; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061365 - 23 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1257
Abstract
The examination of construction workers’ safety behavior (CWSB) is a critical factor in mitigating the occurrence of construction accidents. This study conducted a scientometric and critical review of 3280 CWSB-related articles indexed in the Web of Science database. Scientometric analyses (e.g., co-authorship, co-word, [...] Read more.
The examination of construction workers’ safety behavior (CWSB) is a critical factor in mitigating the occurrence of construction accidents. This study conducted a scientometric and critical review of 3280 CWSB-related articles indexed in the Web of Science database. Scientometric analyses (e.g., co-authorship, co-word, co-citation, citation-burst analysis, and clustering) objectively visualized the current research landscape, while the critical review identified key research topics and challenges within the CWSB research. The findings reveal that over half of CWSB research originates from three countries: the USA, China, and Australia. Concurrently, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the City University of Hong Kong, and the University of Michigan stand out as the most productive institutions in the CWSB domain. It is noteworthy that China shows a high burst strength in 2022–2023, indicating that the development of the CWSB field in China is gaining global attention. The terms ‘performance’, ‘model’, and ‘management’ appear with the highest frequency, while keywords such as ‘deep learning’ and ‘simulation’ have experienced an increase in citations in recent years. Furthermore, 13 co-citation clusters were identified, with cluster analysis and critical reviews converging on three principal research themes: ‘conception and dimension’, ‘critical influence factors’, and ‘emerging technologies’. This study also proposes three research gaps and potential avenues for future investigation, including a comprehensive understanding of CWSB impact mechanisms, the long-term efficacy of safety interventions, and the incorporation of novel technologies into safety programs. This review offers valuable insights into extant CWSB research and pinpoints emerging trends within this research area. It provides essential information for industry policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in the global CWSB context and assists stakeholders in identifying and comprehending trends and patterns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Construction Worker Professionalization under Industry 4.0)
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