The research was aimed at examining the availability and quality of some crafts skills in the Nigerian construction industry. The perception of contractors and consultants was sought via a structured questionnaire. Findings from the study indicate shortages and poor quality of craftsmen. About 91.8% of the respondents believed that there is shortage of skilled craftsmen in the Nigerian construction industry. According to consultants, tilers, interior decorators, glaziers and electricians were ranked as the most affected trades. Contractors also perceived tilers, interior decorators, glaziers, and electricians as the least available trades in the industry. The study concluded by affirming that, the issue of crafts-skill shortage is a challenge in the construction sector requiring concerted efforts from all stakeholders.

It is widely recognized that construction activity plays a vital role in the process of economic growth and development through its products (viz., infrastructure, buildings, etc.) and the employment opportunities created in the construction production process (Jha, 2002). Due to the industry-relative large investment requirement, construction is viewed as a convenient tool for regulating the economy in most countries (Ojo and Dada, 2005). The state of the construction industry is also believed to be a good indicator of a nation’s economy (Opoko and Ali, 2005). Meanwhile, it has been established in the literature that construction is a labor-intensive industry, requiring more human effort (Owor, 1989; Ubenyi, 1999; English, 2002; Loosemore et al., 2003; and Muya et al., 2006). In Nigeria, for example, the industry was acclaimed to be the highest employer of the nation’s workforce (Fagbenle et al., 2004). The labor-intensive nature of construction activities in Nigeria was attributed to the predominance of large number of small-scale construction firms that rely solely on skilled and unskilled labor for their operations (Owor, 1989; and Ubenyi, 1999). Thus, the quality and availability of skilled workforce is considered an important factor in the effectiveness of the construction sector. However, various reports and headlines have indicated the existence of shortages and poor quality of craftsmen in the Nigerian construction industry (Obiegbu, 2002; and Njoku, 2007). The reasons attributed for such shortages include aging of skilled craft workers in the industry, decline in the number of new entrants into skilled trades, poor funding and ineffective state of vocational education and training system in the country, others include poor image associated with construction labor as work done by less intelligent people, lack of commitment by government and the construction industry toward training and development and the introduction of new technologies and materials requiring higher skills among others (Kolawole and Frank, 1999; Obiegbu, 2002; Bokinni, 2005; Nwagu, 2006; and Awe, 2007). Meanwhile, the effect of skilled craft availability has been well reported in the literature (Olomolaiye et al., 1987; Kaming et al., 1997 and 1998; and Kazaz et al., 2008). With the ever increasing pressure on construction contractors to deliver projects of desired quality on scheduled time, the importance of more skilled craftsmen in the industry cannot be under-rated as the skilled craftsmen have the potential of eliminating inefficiencies arising from poorly skilled craft availability. Hence, poor workmanship normally result in rework and decline in productivity among other factors.

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