Determinants of Manpower Utilisation in Manufacturing Firms

Debate on the employability of high-level manpower in Nigeria has continued to draw the attention of various stakeholders in governments, academia, labour organisations, employers, and unemployed persons. This paper, therefore, examined the factors influencing the utilisation of manpower in manufacturing firms in the Southwest of Nigeria. The study employed a quantitative research approach by collecting data from 229 employees of Food and Beverage processing companies selected for the survey using random and snowballing sampling techniques. The study measurement model was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses while the hypothesised model was tested using a structural equation model. Results showed that employees' career-skills utilisation was influenced by social $(\beta=0.497$; $p < 0.001)$ and organisational $(\beta=0.233;p < 0.001)$ factors; and the employees' level of job satisfaction was influenced by personal $(\beta={-}0.140;p < 0.001)$, social $(\beta=0.324;p < 0.001)$ and family $(\beta=\ 0.611;\ p < 0.001)$ factors while only social $(\beta=0.499;p < 0.01)$ factor influences employees' willingness to change. The study concludes that employees' social, organisational and family attributes are crucial for the utilisation of manpower in Nigeria.