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Workforce Retention and Employee Attrition in Private Construction Firms in Delta State, Nigeria
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Construction
Abstract
Workforce continuity is important to construction productivity, workmanship, occupational safety and project delivery, yet project-based employment can expose workers to unstable earnings and uncertain continuity. This study examined workforce retention and employee attrition in private construction firms in Delta State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 93 firms. Of 930 questionnaires distributed, 889 were returned and retained (response rate 95.6%). In the respondent-record aggregates, voluntary-exit ratios were highest among unskilled/casual workers (16.54%), followed by skilled craftsmen (11.69%) and professional/management personnel (5.02%); attrition ratios were 17.04%, 12.27% and 5.11%, and retention ratios 77.37%, 85.47% and 94.28%. Perceived causes of attrition were not rated equally (Friedman χ²(15) = 1,297.73, p < 0.001). Low wages (mean = 3.86) and project-related job insecurity (3.79) formed a leading tier that did not differ significantly from each other, and both were rated above late or irregular wage payment (3.65), limited promotion (3.64) and better offers elsewhere (3.58). The 14 reported retention practices were moderately present (means 3.12–3.21) and could not be statistically distinguished from one another (χ²(13) = 11.75, p = 0.548). Retention-practice ratings did not differ by firm size or firm age (Kruskal-Wallis, all adjusted p = 1.00). Because respondents were nested within firms and the coded records contain no firm identifier, workforce ratios are respondent-record aggregates and test results are indicative; they must not be read as firm-level or state-wide estimates. The study provides descriptive and exploratory evidence on workforce management and identifies priorities for firm-linked longitudinal research.
Keywords
Workforce retention, employee attrition, construction firms, workforce stability, Delta State, Nigeria
References
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How to cite this paper
@article{1725106,
author = {Chukwualasu Ogwu, Agbonselobhor Osaze Akhere},
title = {Workforce Retention and Employee Attrition in Private Construction Firms in Delta State, Nigeria},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {5},
pages = {2540-2555},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1725106.pdf},
abstract = {Workforce continuity is important to construction productivity, workmanship, occupational safety and project delivery, yet project-based employment can expose workers to unstable earnings and uncertain continuity. This study examined workforce retention and employee attrition in private construction firms in Delta State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 93 firms. Of 930 questionnaires distributed, 889 were returned and retained (response rate 95.6%). In the respondent-record aggregates, voluntary-exit ratios were highest among unskilled/casual workers (16.54%), followed by skilled craftsmen (11.69%) and professional/management personnel (5.02%); attrition ratios were 17.04%, 12.27% and 5.11%, and retention ratios 77.37%, 85.47% and 94.28%. Perceived causes of attrition were not rated equally (Friedman χ²(15) = 1,297.73, p < 0.001). Low wages (mean = 3.86) and project-related job insecurity (3.79) formed a leading tier that did not differ significantly from each other, and both were rated above late or irregular wage payment (3.65), limited promotion (3.64) and better offers elsewhere (3.58). The 14 reported retention practices were moderately present (means 3.12–3.21) and could not be statistically distinguished from one another (χ²(13) = 11.75, p = 0.548). Retention-practice ratings did not differ by firm size or firm age (Kruskal-Wallis, all adjusted p = 1.00). Because respondents were nested within firms and the coded records contain no firm identifier, workforce ratios are respondent-record aggregates and test results are indicative; they must not be read as firm-level or state-wide estimates. The study provides descriptive and exploratory evidence on workforce management and identifies priorities for firm-linked longitudinal research.},
keywords = {Workforce retention, employee attrition, construction firms, workforce stability, Delta State, Nigeria},
month = {November},
}