Human resource development in construction

The construction industry has demonstrated unique and complex linkages to other sectors of a nation’s economy. It can generate employment and has the potential to generate income in the location of the construction project and thus alleviate poverty (Ofori, 2002). The industry goes beyond the provision of shelter and infrastructure and provides human and local material resources for the development and maintenance of buildings, housing and physical infrastructure. The attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) is intrinsically linked to infrastructure development. As most developing countries clamour for FDI, rapid infrastructure development has become prevalent, but most of these countries lack the requisite complement of professional and technical expertise and skills required to construct modern and complex infrastructure. Given this, huge and complex infrastructural projects in developing countries are predominantly handled by foreign firms with minimum or no involvement of local professionals. This adversely affects the development of local capacity for the construction and maintenance of such infrastructure, with consequent inability of local professionals to adequately maintain or repair such infrastructure.