help shape the future of construction yourself.
technology changing jobs.
Technology in construction is on the rise and many previously manual roles such as site managers have evolved, with more workers needing to adapt to new ways of working whilst learning new skills on the job. For example, some companies have began to conduct site inspections with the help of drones, allowing for remote working and more efficient processes, but this requires a whole new set of skills.
It’s not just site inspections though; drones are proving useful with topographical surveys, 3D modelling, volume measurement, and much more. Soon they’re predicted to become a staple part of every construction stage, from planning through to build. A recent study found that numerous construction firms, engineers, architects, and surveyors were already incorporating drone technology into their ways of working whilst a further 70% of those not currently doing so reported planning to in the near future.
The digitalisation of the construction industry as a whole is well underway and the workforce, both existing and future must adapt for the change as construction companies strive to make processes like, design, analysis, and change implementation more efficient.
positive steps
but more is needed.
The construction industry has made some positive steps to tackle the stigma of talking about mental health, but it has only scratched the surface. We wanted to know why, so we asked industry experts about the situation. According to Bill Hill, CEO of Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, more needs to be done because “every single working day we lose two construction workers to suicide.”
it's a shift that needs to happen.
Samantha West, Commercial Director at Vinci Facilities, hopes "in the future that diversity is something that is just there in the workplace. It will become a subject we don't have to talk about anymore." However, evidence suggests that there is still a long way to go.
When it comes to minorities and workers with disabilities, the numbers aren’t much better. Only 11.3% of the total workforce were from a BAME (black, asian, minority ethnic) background and less than 5% of those working declared a disability.
Eye-opening research from Microsoft has found that in the UK, girls have a five-year window between 11 and 16 where they’re really interested in STEM after which this interest often sharply drops. It’s clear that interest in STEM-based subjects needs to be fostered and nurtured at this early age.
Ultimately, increased diversity will benefit the construction industry and wider society. Gender-diverse companies perform 14% better when compared to non-diverse companies, while for ethnically diverse companies the number climbs to 35%. Clearly, diversity leads to innovation, improved performance and economic benefits – everything the construction industry is looking for.
