Industry 5.0 and offsite construction in Nigeria: required skills and competencies for effective construction management

Purpose The construction industry is increasingly adopting offsite construction as a solution to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance project sustainability. However, managing offsite projects remotely requires construction professionals to develop specific construction management skills and competencies (CMSC) that align with digital technologies and Industry 5.0 advancements. This study aims to identify the critical CMSC necessary for the effective management of offsite construction projects and explores their impact on project outcomes in a digital era. Design/methodology/approach A thorough literature review initially identified 57 CMSC, which were refined to 48 CMSC through conceptual clustering. This study adopts a mixed-methods research approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques. Survey data were collected from 155 registered and licenced engineering professionals across Nigeria’s private and public construction sectors, complemented by 30 semi-structured interviews. The survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical clustering, while thematic analysis in NVivo was applied to interview transcripts. Findings This study identifies training and learning, team building/work, health/safety and security, design and maintenance updates, communication, quality control and assurance, employee welfare/counselling, recruiting and selecting personnel, use of computer technology and sourcing finance and control as the top ten CMSC required for effective offsite construction management in Industry 5.0. These competencies facilitate digital transformation and remote project execution. Research limitations/implications The findings inform the design of targeted training programmes and policy interventions to equip construction professionals with the necessary CMSC for effective digital and automated project delivery. In practice, the identified competencies promote resource efficiency, ensure higher quality assurance and support workforce well-being − critical outcomes for successful offsite construction management. Originality/value This research stands out by offering a validated and prioritised framework of CMSC specifically tailored to the demands of offsite construction in the Industry 5.0 era. Unlike prior studies that focus broadly on digital transformation or traditional project management, this study integrates digitalisation, human-centric values and remote project realities to define the unique competency set needed in emerging offsite contexts.