ASSESSMENT OF JOB SATISFACTION AMONG QUANTITY SURVEYORS IN BUILDING CONTRACTING FIRMS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed job satisfaction among quantity surveyors in building contracting firms with focus on Lagos state, Nigeria. The aim was to evaluate job satisfaction among quantity surveyors with a view to recommending measures through which quality service delivery and productivity with enhanced satisfaction can be improved upon in the building contracting firms. The study formulated four specific objectives, which were to: assess the factors responsible for job satisfaction among quantity surveyors in building contracting firms in Lagos state; assess the level of job satisfaction among male and female quantity surveyors in building contracting firms; evaluate the perceived effect of job satisfaction on performance of quantity surveyors; and examine the relationship between selected demographic factors and job satisfaction among quantity surveyors. The study used a survey resign design to obtain data and information from 105 quantity surveyors randomly selected from 30 registered building contracting firms. For the empirical analysis, the estimation approaches employed to provide answers to the research objectives were relative importance index (RII), percentile rank and spearman coefficient of correlation. The study revealed that quantity surveyors were more satisfied with their career development in building contracting firms. The result further showed that salary, career development, encouragement and recognition and working conditions had significant and strong positive correlation with the level of job satisfaction among male and female quantity surveyors. Furthermore, it revealed that there exist a strong level of association between the level of job satisfaction on working condition between male and female quantity surveyors in building contracting firms. The study also indicated that majority of the quantity surveyors (>50% percent) reported high perceived effects of job satisfaction on their performance, while education level, age, gender and working experience had significant impact on job satisfaction among quantity surveyors. The study concluded that job satisfaction played important role towards enhancing the performance of quantity surveyors in Lagos State, Nigeria. Therefore, there is need to pay adequate attention to pay/salary structure, better working conditions, encouragement and recognition for outstanding performance. This will aid in retaining satisfied, efficient and experienced quantity surveyors in building contracting firms, and to ensure overall improved performance in the firms.