Robotics in construction: tackling skills shortages, safety and sustainability

The industry continues to face challenges – recruitment gaps, sustainability and the need to improve worker safety. EMS’ Dave Walsha makes a case to let robots do the hard work.

While robotics has revolutionised the industrial and automotive sectors, it has yet to achieve widespread use in construction. However, it could help address many of the sector’s challenges.

Overcoming staffing shortages is an example. In the Quarterly Recruitment Outlook, the British Chambers of Commerce reported that 82% of construction firms struggle to recruit the right talent. Specialised skills such as welding are in dwindling supply, with many workers nearing retirement.

Furthermore, the industry has an image problem in attracting new talent. A 2024 YouGov survey found that 68% of UK adults wouldn’t consider a construction career; 69% had perceptions of the industry as ‘strenuous’, 52% as ‘dirty’ and only 12% as ‘forward thinking’.

Robots could not only alleviate worker shortfalls by automating repetitive tasks such as welding, but by embracing technology and utilising robotics and drones the industry’s image could be transformed, with recruitment and retention improving.

Safety is closely tied to retention and robotics can significantly reduce those risks. It’s no secret that construction accounts for more than half of all fatal falls. Robots can be deployed and operate safely in high-risk areas – icy offshore platforms, for example.

Another example is hazardous tasks. Asbestos removal often requires workers to wear restrictive Personal Protective Equipment, limiting mobility and productivity. Exposure rules also dictate how long employees can work with asbestos per day, meaning removal projects are often costly and time-consuming. Using remotely operated robots however, eliminates employee health risks and reduces project timelines.

Robots can also help with sustainability. It is estimated that 32% of our landfill waste comes from construction and demolition. Sorting waste manually is time-consuming and can expose workers to sharp or contaminated materials. Automation can streamline waste sorting, improving recycling and reducing landfill.

Which robot?

Despite these benefits, the adoption of robotics in construction remains limited. A 2024 report by BuiltWorlds highlighted that approximately 35% of construction companies are utilising autonomous heavy equipment, with only 6% using prefabrication robots. Perhaps this is because – unlike standardised manufacturing environments – construction sites are highly variable, posing challenges for robotic integration. Construction managers would have to consider how robots navigate uneven terrain, fit into lifts and interact with workers and heavy machinery.

If advances in robot design and sophisticated sensing capabilities (such as advanced object recognition powered by onboard sensors with either cameras and image processing technology or lidar using near-infrared light) are achieved, then robots could do much of the hard work.

Advances in motor technology however, have meant that they are able to execute tasks efficiently and reliably. DC motors (electric motors that convert direct current (DC) electrical energy into mechanical energy) are lighter and more powerful than ever.

However, motor selection must consider the end application. For example, a robot gripping and placing objects needs motors with sufficient torque to hold materials securely without damage. Conversely, stepper motors are ideal for intricate tasks such as welding. Stepper motors advance in precise increments, offering positional accuracy for detailed work. In contrast, brushless DC motors are better suited for tasks prioritising speed and power, such as lifting or transporting heavy materials and delivering torque across various speeds.

The construction sector must embrace technology to attract talent, improve safety and meet sustainability goals. Robotics could be part of the answer, once we work out how to work alongside them.

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