Apprenticeship for Craftspeople in the Construction Industry: A state-of-the-art Review

Purpose
Ageing workforce is one of the factors responsible for low labour productivity observed in the construction sector. Apprenticeship programs are designed to provide young trainees with essential broad-based skills for replacing ageing workforce. However, the completion rates of apprenticeship training programs in the construction sector remains low in several countries across the globe. The purpose of the study is to review the published research on apprenticeship training specifically focused on the construction sector so as to determine the current status quo and suggest future research direction.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review approach was adopted. Based on a comprehensive search using SCOPUS databases, 33 relevant journal articles were identified and analysed.
Findings
It was found that monitoring and control is the most mentioned factor responsible for improvements in the completion rates of apprenticeship training. In contrast, the time required for conducting training is the most common factor responsible for low completion rates. Three research gaps were identified among which, is the dearth of studies that focused on apprenticeship training in developing countries.


Research limitations/implications
The gaps identified in the current knowledge on apprenticeship training would serve as a justification for future investigations. However, the scope of the review is limited to papers published in academic journals.
Practical implications
The outcomes of the study provide researchers and other relevant stakeholders with a concise report on the findings of previous studies. It also provides insight into strategies for improving the completion rates of apprenticeship training in the construction sector.
Originality/value
This study is the first time, studies on apprenticeship training in the construction sector has been reviewed systematically.