How Construction Employment Can Create Social Value and Assist Recovery from COVID-19

Denny-Smith, G; Sunindijo, RY; Loosemore, M; Williams, M; Piggott, L

How Construction Employment Can Create Social Value and Assist Recovery from COVID-19

Denny-Smith, G

Sunindijo, RY Loosemore, M

Williams, M

Piggott, L

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Publisher:: MDPI AG
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sustainability, 2021, 13, (2)
Issue Date:: 2021-01-19

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Denny-Smith, G https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9079-653X
dc.contributor.author	Sunindijo, RY
dc.contributor.author	Loosemore, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3189-4655
dc.contributor.author	Williams, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0969-2619
dc.contributor.author	Piggott, L
dc.date.accessioned	2021-10-15T03:21:46Z
dc.date.available	2021-10-15T03:21:46Z
dc.date.issued	2021-01-19
dc.identifier.citation	Sustainability, 2021, 13, (2)
dc.identifier.issn	2071-1050
dc.identifier.issn	2071-1050
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151107
dc.description.abstract	COVID-19 has created or amplified economic and social crises internationally. Australia entered its first recession in 30 years and saw a significant rise in unemployment. In response, Australian governments have increased their commitments to infrastructure construction to stimulate the national economy and combined this with new social procurement policies that aim to create social value for targeted populations like Indigenous peoples and unemployed youth. However, emerging social procurement research in construction shows a disconnect between policymakers and the practitioners who must implement them. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide theoretical and practical insights on creating social value in the context of construction employment created by new social procurement policies. Reporting a survey of 107 construction workers in Australia, it is shown that social procurement policies and construction employers can create social value when they provide work benefits like adequate pay and training and development and cultural benefits like inclusive workplaces. Recommendations are made to demonstrate how the results presented in this article can be used by contractors to create social value. This research is significant for advising how increased infrastructure spending commitments in Australia can create social and economic outcomes for workers, ensuring a sustainable recovery from COVID-19 crises.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	MDPI AG
dc.relation.ispartof	Sustainability
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/su13020988
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	12 Built Environment and Design
dc.title	How Construction Employment Can Create Social Value and Assist Recovery from COVID-19
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	13
utslib.for	12 Built Environment and Design
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Built Environment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2021-10-15T03:21:45Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	13
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

COVID-19 has created or amplified economic and social crises internationally. Australia entered its first recession in 30 years and saw a significant rise in unemployment. In response, Australian governments have increased their commitments to infrastructure construction to stimulate the national economy and combined this with new social procurement policies that aim to create social value for targeted populations like Indigenous peoples and unemployed youth. However, emerging social procurement research in construction shows a disconnect between policymakers and the practitioners who must implement them. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide theoretical and practical insights on creating social value in the context of construction employment created by new social procurement policies. Reporting a survey of 107 construction workers in Australia, it is shown that social procurement policies and construction employers can create social value when they provide work benefits like adequate pay and training and development and cultural benefits like inclusive workplaces. Recommendations are made to demonstrate how the results presented in this article can be used by contractors to create social value. This research is significant for advising how increased infrastructure spending commitments in Australia can create social and economic outcomes for workers, ensuring a sustainable recovery from COVID-19 crises.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151107