Data from recruitment company Randstad showed that the construction labour force has shrunk from 2.6 million people in 2008 to 2.1 million in 2023. The industry will need to hire as many as half a million additional people over the coming years. To make matters worse, this year will see megaprojects such as nuclear plant Hinkley C and HS2 rail stretch the workforce thinner still.
However, throwing more workers at this problem alone is not a magic fix. Construction, generally an industry which is notoriously slow to adopt new technologies, will need to digitally transform and adopt new tech to boost productivity and safety, which will both have positive impacts on worker hiring and retention.
Chris Wilson, Senior Sales Director (UK & Ireland) at Trimble, said: “With an ageing workforce and an ever-growing list of increasingly important construction projects, many developed countries are finding it tough to keep up with the demand. This is one structural barrier for the industry to tackle – another, just as important, is its approach to new technologies.
“While many industries are rapidly modernising, there are still some UK contractors hesitant to adopt new tech such as AI, Digital Twins, machine control or even something like a digital workforce management platform. These tools, as well as upskilling your workforce to use them effectively, will be key to maximising productivity and creating resilient infrastructure that’s made on time and within budget.”