Impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry: a comprehensive assessment in developing countries

Abstract

The global construction industry has been significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, as it is particularly sensitive to economic volatility. The main safety measure for Covid-19 is the implementation of social distance and lockdown procedures to safeguard individuals and resources from one other, as the Coronavirus can be transmitted through the air and respiratory system. Although Covid-19 is a global pandemic, it has posed significant difficulties in various sectors worldwide, including the construction industry, which requires abundant human resources and material supplies that must be transported across regions. Nevertheless, it is imperative that we identify the favorable elements amidst these challenges and extract useful insights to enhance our preparedness for future unexpected disasters. This study aims to investigate the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on the construction business. It will be conducted in two stages: firstly, the identification of the impacts, and secondly, the assessment of these impacts. The previously mentioned method of identification and assessment will be conducted by doing literature studies of scholarly publications and journals, administering questionnaire surveys using the Likert scale, and conducting interviews with subject matter experts. The questionnaire responses were quantitatively evaluated using the SPSS program. Furthermore, the study investigates how the construction handles the obstacles and claims by conducting concise interviews with experts. The interview's conclusions analyzed the differences in impacts before, during, and after the pandemic. The primary change is the adoption of cutting-edge technology, which enables individuals to adapt to remote work more effectively, leading to equitable time and cost savings, and potentially enhanced worker productivity.