THE TRAINING NEEDS OF LABOURERS IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR OF THE NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WITHIN IDAH LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

This study investigates the training needs, challenges, and effectiveness of existing training initiatives among labourers in the informal construction sector. Data were collected from 171 respondents through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics presented in frequency tables. The demographic profile revealed that most respondents were male (83%), within the age range of 30–39 years (33.9%), with limited formal education—primarily at the primary level (35.1%). Bricklaying emerged as the dominant trade (33.9%), and a significant portion of the labourers (70.2%) had over four years of experience. Findings show that the most important skills identified by respondents were brick/block laying (31.6%) and health and safety (22.8%). While 70.7% expressed confidence in performing their tasks, 12.3% reported low confidence, underscoring the need for targeted skill enhancement. Major challenges to accessing training included lack of awareness (32.7%) and financial constraints (28.1%). Additionally, only 31% of respondents perceived training programs as accessible. Although 39.8% had participated in some form of training, 60.2% had never attended any, and opinions on the effectiveness of training were mixed—only 45% reported noticeable improvement in job performance. The study concludes that there is a pressing need for accessible, inclusive, and well-publicized training programs tailored to the needs and educational levels of informal construction workers. Improving awareness, funding mechanisms, and training relevance will be critical to enhancing productivity and safety in the sector.