What Predicts the Job Choice of Prospective Transportation Construction Workers: Literature Review

Hiring and recruitment of transportation construction workers has not kept pace with demand. Organizations must find a way to improve their recruitment and hiring processes. The best place to look to make improvements is to understand what it is that young applicants focus on when selecting a job or career. The current study provides a review and synthesis of all empirical studies of job choice. Factors identified as important to job choice include type of work and work setting, flexibility/autonomy, financial compensation/benefits, perceptions of recruitment process, advancement potential, level of similarity/fit, interest in additional training/education, and influence of parents, peers, and culture. In the discussion section, the paper provides advice for recruiters and decision-makers as they revise procedures and policy to better attract and recruit transportation construction workers.