The construction industry significantly contributes to environmental degradation through high resource consumption and waste generation. This study assesses the level of knowledge and adaptability regarding sustainable construction practices (SCPs) among construction workforce in Jos Plateau State, Nigeria. A quantitative survey of 120 construction workers (including Architects, Engineers, and Labourers), two key dimensions were examined; the workforce's knowledge level of SCPs, and their level of adaptability to these practices. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21 and Excel, applying descriptive statistics such as Mean item score. Results revealed that 80% of respondents possessed high theoretical knowledge of SCPs, primarily acquired through workshops (mean=1.38) and educational programs (mean=1.50). Respondents showed strongest familiarity with climate change concepts (mean=1.51) and green building principles (mean=1.87). However, assessment of practical implementation demonstrated significant gaps in adaptability: 71% of professionals reported regularly generating construction waste, with material reuse (mean=2.17) being more common than recycling (mean=3.04). Major barriers to implementation included technological limitations (reported by 71.3% of respondents), financial constraints (56.7%), and insufficient policy support (mean score=1.98). The study concludes that while Nigerian construction professionals exhibit strong theoretical understanding of SCPs, their practical application remains constrained by systemic challenges. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing technological access, financial support mechanisms, and stronger policy frameworks to improve on-the-ground implementation of sustainable practices in Nigeria's construction sector and recommended Professional bodies and government agencies to organize workshops and seminars to enhance the knowledge on sustainable construction.
Matthias et al. (Thu,) studied this question.