A Meta-Analysis of Factors Affecting Construction Labour Productivity in the Middle East

Despite the importance of the construction sector to economic development, labour productivity in construction is lower than productivity in many sectors. Construction productivity has declined continuously for decades, particularly in developing countries. The challenges of low productivity in construction is considered a chronic problem. This has engendered the concern of construction stakeholders to address the myriad of challenges undermining labour productivity growth. This study conducted a meta-data analysis of factors affecting construction labour productivity growth in the Middle East. A systematic review of the existing construction labour productivity studies was presented. Ten Middle East studies were selected for a meta-data analysis. The key factors affecting construction labour productivity in the region were identified, and quantitative data of the selected studies were synthesized. Effect summaries derived from the analysis revealed delay in responding to requests for information, inadequate workers supervision, a shortage of skilled labour, extent of change orders, and clarity of technical specifications as the major factors affecting productivity. The study is limited to journal articles published from 2000-2020 in the Scopus database. Contractors in the Middle East can adopt the interventions of the study to evolve productivity growth policies for their organisations.