Assessment of The Levels of Manpower Demand and Supply Among Skilled Trades in Construction Firms in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State

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@article{1724834,
      author = {Chukwualasu Ogwu, Agbonselobhor Osaze Akhere},
      title = {Assessment of The Levels of Manpower Demand and Supply Among Skilled Trades in Construction Firms in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {5},
      pages = {1247-1256},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1724834.pdf},
      abstract = {The availability of competent skilled trades people is central to the delivery of construction project. The continuous shortage of skilled manpower is complicated by occupational differences in labour requirements and the time needed to develop trade competence. This study assesses the levels of manpower demand and supply among skilled trades in construction firms in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, and tests whether the demand supply gap differs across occupations. A quantitative cross sectional analysis was conducted using 1,000 respondent records contained in the supplied questionnaire dataset. Demand and supply were measured separately on five-point ordinal scales for eleven trades. Respondent level demand–supply differences were calculated, compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with Holm adjustment, and examined through a repeated observation regression. The overall mean demand score was 3.943, compared with a mean supply score of 2.922, producing a mean demand gap of 1.022 scale points (95% CI: 0.998–1.045). Demand ratings exceeded supply in all eleven trades, with all skilled trade specific paired test remaining significant after multiplicity adjustment (adjusted p < .001). Electricians recorded the highest mean gap (1.574), followed by scaffolders (1.352), plumbers/pipefitters (1.302) and masons/bricklayers (1.222). The adjusted regression confirmed that gap magnitude varied significantly by trade (Wald χ²(10) = 765.85, p < .001). The study concludes that there is more demand for skilled trades than the availability of manpower across construction firms.},
      keywords = {Construction Manpower; skilled trade; labour demand and supply; skills shortage; Port Harcourt},
      month = {November},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/ire1724834}
  }