With a lack of workers in construction, the industry is turning to new technologies to help. Robotics and automation can pick up some of the slack, but even where the human touch is required, construction tech is helping by making it easier and faster to train new hires, track information and preserve know-how between generations.
As JLL noted in an April report, a growing dearth of U.S. skilled trade talent could result in the nation absorbing a mammoth $1 trillion yearly economic loss by the year 2030.
Construction is and has been among the hardest hit trades by labor shortages despite two-year construction trade program enrollment rising 5% from 2018 to 2024, according to the JLL report. Experts agree it will take far more than that surge to ensure the field replenishes workers lost to attrition and retirement, and adds a third of a million more to meet the growing demand for construction services just in the year ahead.
But technology may be able to play an important and growing role in mitigating the problem by helping bring new workers up to speed quickly, says Sasha Reed, Austin, Texas-based senior director, industry transformation with construction management software platform Procore.
Living document
“Construction as an industry is at a point of rapid transformation,” Reed says. “It is no longer analog and rote. It’s become more technological and advanced, and it’s been on this trajectory for the past 12 years.”
New construction hires are entering the field in one of the more dynamic stages of any industry’s evolution, she adds. The construction industry is undergoing the same transformation health care did when embracing electronic medical records (EMR) 10 to 15 years ago.
“The work in the field is at the center, as the patient was in EMR,” Reed says. “It’s a very volatile time for the industry because there’s a lot of change happening quickly . . . We need to engage in conversations with high school students, bridging their digital native perspective to help us make this transformation successful.
“And the contractors need to see this new generation as a solution so they become an influence and input and make sure the wisdom that could be lost in the silver tsunami becomes [instead] a data base of knowledge.”
AI is serving as “a powerful accelerant” during this transformation phase, she says. It can be harnessed to capture wisdom from older workers and create a “data lake” of knowledge new hires can tap. The daily log is now in digital format. A completed form or a voice memo becomes data structured in a way usable by AI, which serves as a kind of coworker to bridge the gap between workers with years of construction experience and those new to the industry.
“We’re seeing AI accelerate and create this net new value opportunity,” Reed says. “We’re able to bring new people on and get them skilled more quickly than in the past. For anyone 25 and under, this is the most exciting era to enter construction. We’re changing the narrative for those starting their careers, and those coming into construction after their former careers elsewhere ended.”
Robotics’ contribution
Meanwhile, the industry’s increasing ability to rely on robotics is enabling menial jobs to be done by robots. At the same time, the chance to work with robotics has begun luring younger workers for whom the digital revolution and video games are second nature.
According to Ryan Cox, CEO of RIC Robotics in San Jose, Calif., today’s robots are able to automate rote, repetitive tasks like material handling, fastening, concrete placement, bricklaying, and assisting with metal panel installation.
This frees up skilled tradespeople to concentrate on high-value work calling for craftsmanship, problem-solving capabilities and years of experience. “Contractors benefit from greater efficiency, while workers can spend more time applying specialized skills that have a greater impact on project outcomes,” Cox says.
With robotics increasingly leveraged by contractors, fresh professional opportunities are being unveiled in areas from robotics operations to maintenance, programming and jobsite technology supervision, Cox says. “The future construction workforce will look different than it does today,” he adds.
“In addition to traditional trade skills, workers will increasingly interact with advanced equipment, software and automation systems. This evolution creates opportunities for individuals who are comfortable working with technology, while helping the industry attract a new generation of talent.”
This article was written by Jeffrey Steele from Forbes and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.