Career Choice of Graduating Students in Built Environment Courses in Nigeria: A Mixed-Method Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT An aging workforce and labor shortage are some of the challenges confronting the built environment sector globally. The career choice decision of graduating students studying built environment courses is an integral part of the workforce replacement process that has not been explored by extant studies in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the career choice decisions of graduating students studying built environment courses in Nigeria. Survey responses were collected from 55 graduating students along with 4 responses from semi-structured interviews conducted at two Nigerian universities. Findings indicated that the percentage of graduating students who intend to pursue a career in the built environment is higher than that of those who intend to pursue a career outside the built environment. However, career decisions are often influenced by exigent factors. These factors were categorized into three groups: “job characteristics and career opportunities/prospects,” “career mentorship,” and “family and friends’ influence.” The most prevalent factors were interest in the construction industry, career/job opportunities, personal interest in a career/job, and job security. The findings of this study will assist policymakers and organizations in enacting and promulgating laws that will improve the construction industry’s image and also make it attractive to young people.