According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction employment growth from now until 2026 is expected to increase about 11%. This will come as younger workers enter the job market without construction skills, and as experienced workers retire from the industry. Many markets in the United States are already feeling the pinch of a significantly reduced skilled labor force.

While this may seem frightening on the surface, there are new innovative technologies being introduced that could have a huge impact on the industry. Take a look at some of the technologies currently being used or being proposed.

Drones Can Be Used in Many Ways

Drones are currently being used on construction sites in many different ways. They are great for quickly providing a comprehensive jobsite inspection and they can be used to find hazards on the site. They can be used to monitor workers to ensure everyone is safe, and they can take pictures of the work as it’s being done to help construction lenders and other relevant parties stay updated on the status of the job.

In some cases, drones are also being used for dangerous jobs such as inspecting bridges and buildings. This isn’t going to take the place of workers – it’s just going to mean workers learning how to use drones to perform their inspections.

Robots Are Improving

Robots have long been good at doing simple, repetitive tasks. For example, they can complete impressive bricklaying, or rebar tying. Once these robots are put in place and programed, they can complete tasks faster than any human could. They do not get tired, they do not need to take breaks – they can work nonstop.

Today’s robots can do even more. They can be trained to learn the jobsite and understand what will be needed. It’s important to note that robots are not likely to actually replace the need for construction workers – there will always been the need for human eyes to check the work.

Heavy Equipment Can Run Itself

Just like self-driving cars are becoming increasingly popular, there is an increase in the number of autonomous heavy equipment that’s being used. This can help lower risks on the jobsite, improve productivity, and help make up for the lost labor. While these machines are currently prohibitively expensive for most construction projects, we expect their prices will do down in the future.

Construction Lenders Can Do More with Less

At Fund Control we have found ways to streamline the construction loan process, including fund control. We’ve made it easy to communicate with everyone involved in a project and to quickly and easily see the status of any project. To learn more, contact us today and we will set up a free demo to give you the full experience.