Critical review of labor productivity research in construction journals

Abstract

A significant body of literature has been dedicated to research studies on construction labor productivity (CLP) and related issues, and a plethora of underlying theories and industrial practices on CLP application has been reported. However, research topics under CLP are highly diversified, and there is a lack of systematic analysis in CLP-related issues. Through a systematic review of selected papers from the well-known academic journals in construction management, major research areas such as factors affecting CLP, CLP modeling and evaluation, method and technology for CLP improvement, CLP trends and comparisons, effect of change/variation on CLP, and baseline/benchmarking CLP are identified. Critical reviews on these areas are presented by focusing on industry, project and activity levels to investigate the state of the art and trends of CLP research. Gaps in research and practices are discussed and future research directions are proposed. The outcomes of this paper may provide a platform for both researchers and industrial practitioners to appreciate the latest development and trend in productivity research.