What will Washington construction look like in ten years? New report offers projections

The rapid pace of the construction industry often means leaders have a hard time looking past the current week, month or quarter to envision what might be. Yet, looking ahead can help Washington construction professionals consider factors that will impact their businesses in the future and implement strategies that can help them thrive. A new report on the industry’s next decade illustrates a few of these key factors to keep in mind.

Published in mid-2022, “The Future of Building” report from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) offers an analysis of 10 trends that will shape the future of the construction industry. Leaders interested in the full report can download a copy after filling out a simple form at the AEM website.

Here are a few highlights from the report and details on what they might mean for Washington construction professionals:

Trend: Alternative power sources will become more common for construction equipment amid an environment of regulation to reduce carbon emissions

What It Means For Washington: Federal rules about carbon emissions are likely to expand and become more impactful in future years. This aligns closely with legislative activities happening in Washington state, which already is required to reduce carbon emissions by 95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, according to a Seattle Times report. In the next decade, “Construction companies will see their fleets transform, while at the same time building out vital new infrastructure,” the AEM report concludes.

Trend: 5G network expansion, satellite proliferation and other tech expansion will create job sites that are safer, more efficient and help equipment last longer

What It Means For Washington: Rules for expanding broadband access are in place in Washington state, with guidance for all households to get minimum broadband speeds by 2024, a report from TVW, Washington’s Public Affairs Network notes. On construction sites as in homes, the process is likely to be complex and dependent in part on proximity to better-networked urban centers. Implementation will require time, financial investment and collaboration between public and private sectors, and outcomes are anticipated to be positive, including greater safety, better visibility into machine performance to capture efficiencies and heightened insights into when equipment needs maintenance. “The technologies already exist,” the AEM report explains. “Ubiquitous connectivity will expand their capabilities and speed their adoption – the possibilities it enables are endless.”

Trend: Construction tech will help attract Gen Z and other young professionals to the field

What It Means For Washington: Education about the construction industry and construction careers remains a key priority for AGC of Washington and its members. The next decade will see a rapid uptick in new technologies entering the job site, paving the way to attract young talent that gravitates toward cutting-edge tools and software. Workplace training positively impacts Gen Z employee morale, according to a recent survey from Washington State University’s Carson College of Business. Taken together, these trends suggest construction companies that seek out young talent with strategic plans to train and support them can find success in the next decade. “Job titles such as machine learning technician, IoT architect and autonomous fleet supervisor will become just as common as project estimator, superintendent and heavy equipment operator,” the AEM report predicts.

To see the full list of 10 construction industry trends anticipated over the next 10 years, visit the AEM website.