Building a Sustainable Construction Workforce, 2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to invite contributions to our upcoming Topic "Building a Sustainable Construction Workforce, 2nd Edition". The construction industry, integral to the development of our built environment and a significant contributor to the global economy, faces significant challenges regarding labor sustainability. In recent years, issues such as occupational health and safety, worker welfare, professionalization, and an aging workforce have emerged as critical areas of concern. These issues, if left unaddressed, could hamper the industry's growth and, more importantly, affect the lives of millions of workers globally. Against this backdrop, our Topic aims to foster scholarly dialog and explore innovative approaches for building a more sustainable construction workforce. This involves not only mitigating the challenges but also proactively shaping a workforce that is resilient, skilled, and prepared for future industry demands. We invite submissions addressing a wide variety of topics, including but not limited to the following areas:

• Enhancing the welfare of construction workers: strategies and best practices.
• The management of occupational health and safety in construction: comprehensive approaches and case studies.
• Professionalization of the construction workforce: challenges and opportunities.
• Aging workforce in construction: understanding implications and developing strategies.
• The role of policy and regulatory frameworks in enhancing construction workforce sustainability.
• Leveraging digital technology to promote health, safety, and productivity in construction.
• Mental health in the construction industry: current scenario and strategies for improvement.
• Skill development, training, and lifelong learning for sustainability in the construction workforce.

We welcome both empirical and theoretical contributions. Submissions that propose novel insights, challenge conventional understandings, and are grounded in rigorous research are particularly encouraged. We look forward to receiving your insightful contributions to advance the discourse and enrich our understanding of how to build a sustainable construction workforce.

Prof. Dr. Hongyang Li
Dr. Beibei Zhang
Dr. Yingmiao Qian
Dr. Su Yang
Dr. Baoquan Cheng
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Administrative Sciences admsci	3.1	6.6	2011	21.3 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Buildings buildings	3.1	5.6	2011	15.1 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Safety safety	1.7	3.9	2015	34 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	8.9	2009	17.9 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
World world	1.9	-	2020	24.7 Days	CHF 1200	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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All Buildings Safety Sustainability World Administrative Sciences

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26 pages, 1745 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Impact Assessment of Urban Underground Pipeline Projects Based on LCA

by Kaicheng Shen, Jun Liu, Juncheng Zhu, Yangyi Lai, Su Yang and Hongyang Li

Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4743; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104743 - 9 May 2026

Viewed by 816

Abstract

As the global urbanization process continues to accelerate the implementation of the “dual carbon” strategy, urban underground pipelines, as important infrastructure and urban lifelines, have generated significant resource consumption and ecological environmental impacts throughout their entire life cycle. This paper is based on [...] Read more.

As the global urbanization process continues to accelerate the implementation of the “dual carbon” strategy, urban underground pipelines, as important infrastructure and urban lifelines, have generated significant resource consumption and ecological environmental impacts throughout their entire life cycle. This paper is based on lifecycle assessment (LCA) theoretical framework and systematically defines the scope of lifecycle assessment for underground pipeline projects, covering the stages of raw material production and processing, raw material transportation, construction, operation and maintenance, and disposal. Then, a comprehensive lifecycle inventory database has been established through inventory analysis. A lifecycle environmental impact assessment model for underground pipeline projects has been developed utilizing categorization, characterization, standardization, and weight determination, enabling quantitative evaluation of environmental impacts at each stage. At last, an urban underground pipeline project was selected as a case and the emission inventory data were integrated with the environmental impact assessment model to conduct a systematic analysis across all the lifecycle stages. The results indicate that the photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), atmospheric particulate matters potential (APMP), and solid waste potential (SWP) have the most significant environmental impacts, and the total environmental impact values are 70, 104 and 83.9 capita equivalent, respectively. Moreover, the raw material production and processing, operation and maintenance, and construction stages are identified as the primary contributors to these environmental impacts, and the values are 17.5, 10.6 and 1.8 capita equivalent, respectively. Based on these findings, targeted improvement measures have been proposed for each stage, providing valuable references for optimizing engineering practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building a Sustainable Construction Workforce, 2nd Edition)

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34 pages, 2022 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Building a Greener Digital Future: How HRM Shapes IT Professionals’ Sustainability Beliefs

by Ishta Arora, Ali Ahsan, Leela Waheed and Ritu Sharma

Adm. Sci. 2026, 16(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci16010041 - 15 Jan 2026

Viewed by 891

Abstract

As sustainability becomes a strategic priority, the Information Technology (IT) sector faces pressure on both reducing its environmental impact and leading in innovation. This study examines how Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices influence employees’ Green IT Attitudes (GITA) and beliefs within the [...] Read more.

As sustainability becomes a strategic priority, the Information Technology (IT) sector faces pressure on both reducing its environmental impact and leading in innovation. This study examines how Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices influence employees’ Green IT Attitudes (GITA) and beliefs within the IT industry. Guided by the Belief–Action–Outcome (BAO) framework, it explores how HR strategies can foster eco-conscious mindsets that support sustainable behaviour. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used, collecting data through a validated questionnaire. The study was conducted in Australia, focusing on IT professionals employed. Responses from 112 IT professionals, determined through G*Power sample estimation, were analysed using SPSS 28.0.1 with regression techniques to assess the relationship between GHRM practices and environmental attitudes and beliefs. Results indicate that GHRM practices have a modest but significant positive effect on employees’ green IT attitudes and beliefs, supporting the view that structured HR initiatives can shape sustainability-driven mindsets. The findings emphasize the strategic role of HR in embedding sustainability within organizational culture, particularly in technology-driven environments. The study offers practical guidance for IT organizations aiming to integrate sustainability into internal systems by leveraging HRM. Future research should examine moderating variables and long-term behavioural effects, enhancing our understanding of sustainability-focused HRM in the digital era. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building a Sustainable Construction Workforce, 2nd Edition)

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32 pages, 8747 KB  

Open AccessReview

From Profit to Preservation: A Review of Digital Technology Enabling Sustainable Prefabricated Building Supply Chain Management

by Yuelin Wang, Hongyang Li, Kaicheng Shen and Su Yang

Buildings 2025, 15(12), 2004; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15122004 - 10 Jun 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1487

Abstract

In the face of evolving digital technologies, all industries have undergone radical changes. Similarly, the construction industry needs to apply digital technology to improve the existing Supply Chain (SC), which has problems such as the inefficient collaboration among various links, the poor ability [...] Read more.

In the face of evolving digital technologies, all industries have undergone radical changes. Similarly, the construction industry needs to apply digital technology to improve the existing Supply Chain (SC), which has problems such as the inefficient collaboration among various links, the poor ability to cope with risks, the higher costs, the waste of resources and pollution, etc., and to adapt to the development of the digital era. Prefabricated Construction (PC), with their advantages of having a high efficiency and being energy-saving, can help improve the above problems and promote the sustainable development of the construction industry. Therefore, this review uses a combination of scientific bibliometrics and a qualitative analysis to search a total of 129 works of literature on the application of digital technologies in Prefabricated Construction Supply Chain Management (PCSCM) for the period of 2015–2024 included in the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases. After visualization and analysis in Citespace v6.3.1.0 and VOSviewer v1.6.20.0, it was found that most of the literature focuses on the economic benefits of cost reduction and efficiency, while there are fewer studies on the topic of sustainable development. Therefore, this study summarizes the current status of the application of digital technologies in PCSCM, addressing the lack of attention to environmental benefits in the existing studies and the limitations of the current research. Creatively, it proposes recommendations that will help PCSCM achieve sustainable development in the future, and points out that the construction industry must break through the limitation of focusing only on its own economic interests to realize the vision of a harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building a Sustainable Construction Workforce, 2nd Edition)

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27 pages, 1905 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Project Staff Scheduling Optimization Considering Employee Welfare in Construction Projects

by Junlong Peng and Fei Zhou

Buildings 2025, 15(10), 1706; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15101706 - 18 May 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3042

Abstract

Multi-project staff scheduling optimization is a critical challenge in engineering management. However, traditional methods often overlook employee welfare, resulting in scheduling solutions that lack a people-centered approach. This study develops a multi-objective model that incorporates employee welfare to balance project performance and staff [...] Read more.

Multi-project staff scheduling optimization is a critical challenge in engineering management. However, traditional methods often overlook employee welfare, resulting in scheduling solutions that lack a people-centered approach. This study develops a multi-objective model that incorporates employee welfare to balance project performance and staff well-being. A mixed-integer programming model is proposed, integrating task allocation, resource scheduling, income growth, and workload balance as core optimization objectives. An improved Spider Wasp Optimization Algorithm (SWOIM) is employed to solve this model. The experimental results demonstrate that SWOIM outperforms conventional optimization algorithms in convergence speed, stability, and solution quality. It enhances staff scheduling efficiency while ensuring fair compensation and balanced workload distribution. A case study further validates the practical applicability of the proposed approach, showing that the optimized schedule not only improves task allocation but also enhances employee satisfaction and overall organizational performance. This study presents a people-centered scheduling framework aligned with sustainable workforce management principles and offers practical insights for improving multi-project coordination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Building a Sustainable Construction Workforce, 2nd Edition)

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