International Journal of
Information and Education Technology

Abstract—The construction sector is rapidly digitizing across the globe; however, a significant gap exists in research and practice regarding how technology and changes in education can attract and retain young professionals. The building construction industry is getting increasingly impaired in finding and keeping young practitioners, especially in a period of rapid computer changeover and evolving expert ideals. The study uses a quantitative research approach and identifies six important variables: Perception of Technology in Construction (POT), Educational Reform and Curriculum Integration (ERCI), Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods (ITLM), Attractiveness of Construction as a Career (ACC), Perceived Barriers and Facilitators (PBF), and Future Outlook and Industry Resilience (FOIR). A representative sample of 383 respondents was then given a well-designed questionnaire, and the data were examined using multiple regression models to determine the factors that affect career interest in the construction industry. This conclusion supports the claim that Educational Reform and Curriculum Integration, Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods, and the Attractiveness of Construction as a Career have the strongest impact on the preferences concerning career, which justifies the importance of the modernization of the curriculum and learning based on simulations. Conversely, employee dissatisfaction with working conditions and insufficient access to technological innovations in the construction industry have become demoralizing factors among construction workers. The study provides insights into practical means that can be adopted by teachers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to encourage strategic integration of the education system with the digital construction sector to generate a sustainable and future-oriented workforce.

Keywords—construction careers, youth prospects, digital skills, educational reform, technology integration

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Cite: Andrew F. McDonough, "Exploring the Prospects of the Construction Industry for Youth: The Role of Technology and Educational Reform," International Journal of Information and Education Technology, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 393-403, 2026.

Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).