Assessing the Sustainability Skills Gap between Industry Needs and Academic Training in Construction Management

According to the Building Science Education Guidelines, construction managers must evaluate the integration of whole building systems and analyze building science principles, particularly regarding energy efficiency and building enclosure, to promote sustainable construction. However, current construction management (CM) programs often lack comprehensive training in these areas through design and construction integration. While curricula include some building science and systems training, available resources remain scattered or limited to specific topics, potentially misaligning with industry needs. In this respect, this research examines the sustainability skills gap between industry practice and academic curricula. Using a task inventory analysis approach, this research identifies key industry-required sustainability tasks and compares their competencies with academic offerings, highlighting areas needing course transformations and interventions. The findings of this research will help better prepare construction management students for workforce success while promoting sustainable design and construction practices in the built environment.