How the Aptitude of Workers Affects Construction Labor Productivity

Aptitude is the potential to demonstrate the ability to perform a certain kind of work at a certain level. While several studies have highlighted the relationship between aptitude and employee performance, very few have tested such a relationship using empirical data, especially in the construction domain. Therefore, to address this gap, this study attempts to establish the relationship between construction workers’ aptitudes and their productivity. To achieve this aim, first the aptitude of the workers was measured using a general aptitude test battery (GATB). Second, the productivity of the same workers was measured via direct observation at construction sites. Subsequently, by applying various regression models to the data collected on 112 workers, best-fit curves were developed between aptitude and observed productivity. The results revealed that the physical aptitude of the workers impacts performance more than mental aptitude. Moreover, spatial and clerical perception have a negative impact on performance. The study concludes that aptitude is an important performance indicator of any construction worker, and thus, to enhance labor productivity, contractors must ensure the availability of high-aptitude workers on site.