Study shows construction leaders plan to invest in workforce development
An industry report from Bridgit reveals 98% of construction leaders pla An to increase investments in workforce planning during the next year; nearly all intend to turn to artificial intelligence, automation and advanced analytics to navigate the construction industry’s labor crisis, according to For Construction Pros.
The 2025 State of Workforce Planning report surveyed hundreds of construction executives across operations, project management, human resources and business development regarding their strategies to combat rising labor costs, an inability to take on new projects and employee burnout.
Key findings include:
- 93% of construction leaders report labor shortages are directly affecting operations, driving up costs, limiting project capacity and straining teams.
- 71% of companies depend on spreadsheets and whiteboards to manage workforce planning.
- 99% plan to integrate AI, automation and forecasting tools into their workforce strategies in the next 12 months with more than 75% budgeting more than $100,000 for these upgrades.
Leaders identified the following challenges:
- Improving training programs
- Increasing employee engagement
- Maximizing utilization and identifying skills gap
- Forecasting workforce needs
Leaders say they urgently need the following:
- Automation and AI features to anticipate labor needs and optimize teams
- Forecasting and analytics to make informed, proactive decisions
- Integration capabilities to connect workforce data with customer relationship management, human resources, project management and enterprise resource planning systems
Seventy-three percent of survey respondents believe the collective experience of a project team is very significant in creating successful project outcomes. Improved retention and a stronger competitive edge also were cited.
Report highlights New York City construction safety successes
Total recordable injury incidents at New York City construction sites hit a 10-year low and deaths remained at a decade low, according to New York City’s Department of Buildings.
The department’s annual Construction Safety Report shows building construction-related injuries fell to 482 in 2024 from 692 the previous year. The total number of incidents dropped to 638 from 841, marking a 24% decrease in 2024.
Seven deaths were recorded in 2024, matching the 2023 total—the lowest number recorded during the past 10 years.
The Department of Buildings conducted more than 416,000 worksite inspections in 2024, the most since it began tracking the metric. In addition, 98% of worksites didn’t report a single incident or injury.
The safety improvements came amid continued growth in construction and new Department of Buildings oversight strategies, including requirements for construction superintendents, new licensing requirements for smaller crane devices and technologies to help track worksite safety compliance.
“New Yorkers deserve safe workplaces, and that includes our city’s construction sites,” says Eric Adams, mayor of New York City. “We are making significant progress toward that goal. Nevertheless, we know that even one death at our construction sites is unacceptable, which is why our administration will continue to implement historic safety initiatives and keep up the fight for safer construction sites across the city.”
AI assistants versus AI agents
In the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, it is important to distinguish between AI assistants and AI agents, particularly within construction software as a service, according to Construction Executive.
An AI assistant simplifies daily tasks by directly responding to user instructions. Construction professionals often use AI assistants for generating site reports through verbal commands, automating tedious paperwork and capturing precise, real-time field data.
AI agents function more autonomously by taking initiative beyond explicit commands. They analyze complex informa-tion—such as extensive project documentation—independently identifying issues, ensuring compliance and recommending strategic actions.
Adopting AI-driven technologies shifts the focus from reactive problem-solving to proactive management. By harnessing AI-driven data collection, routine activities become strategic data points, which can enhance operational insights and project efficiency.
NRCA white paper addresses PV-ready roofs
Photovoltaic-ready roofs refer to building roof systems specifically designed and constructed to accommodate PV solar energy installations. This approach capitalizes on underused roof space for solar power generation, offering advantages over ground-mounted PV systems such as space efficiency, security and direct electrical integration.
NRCA has released a white paper that addresses key considerations of PV-ready roofs, including the selection of roofing materials and systems with service lives that match or exceed that of the PV installation; compliance with relevant codes and standards; and the involvement of qualified roofing contractors and licensed electricians to ensure proper installation and maintain warranties.
The white paper is available at nrca.net/roofingguidelines/library.
