The construction sector risks falling behind in AI adoption unless urgent action is taken to address poor digital literacy and training gaps, according to a new report by Skills England.<\/p>\n
Its study, published yesterday (29 October), collected evidence from organisations across 10 priority sectors, including construction. It forms part of a wider review to shape place-based AI skills planning and national workforce strategy, Skills England said.<\/p>\n
Construction was included due to \u201cits importance in meeting the government\u2019s housebuilding targets and the substantial skills shortages in the sector\u201d, it added.<\/p>\n
Despite the growing use of drones, virtual reality safety tools and AI-supported planning, Skills England found that \u201cthe sector remains one of the least digitally mature\u201d.<\/p>\n
In particular, it concluded that AI uptake is constrained by \u201cworkforce digital literacy and limited integration into vocational pathways\u201d.<\/p>\n
The report cited research from the 2024 Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index, which found that 65 per cent of UK construction workers were unable to complete a list of 20 essential digital tasks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the lowest level across all sectors, indicating a significant digital skills gap within the industry,\u201d Skills England said.<\/p>\n
\u201cApplied training that supports onsite roles and addresses local infrastructure projects will be important to inclusive AI adoption in this sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
Skills England reported AI is beginning to influence site-based and managerial roles in construction, but training provision has not kept pace. \u201cMost existing AI training [for construction managers] is not tailored to construction or provided in accessible, onsite formats,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n
Skills England identified urgent workforce needs in technical skills, such as operating drones and interpreting BIM data.<\/p>\n
Non-technical skills are also urgent, including \u201cinterpreting AI output and applying them in onsite decisions\u201d, it said.<\/p>\n
The construction workforce also needs to be upskilled in the responsible use of AI, the report added, to ensure the \u201cethical use of surveillance tools such as site monitoring drones\u201d.<\/p>\n
Some tier one contractors such as Balfour Beatty are taking steps to embed AI<\/a> within their digital transformation strategies, and a survey last month<\/a> found that 39 per cent of construction leaders said AI was a top priority.<\/p>\n But Skills England\u2019s report warned that smaller contractors were being left behind in the transition, with limited access to tools and training.<\/p>\n \u201cThese mismatches between emerging role requirements and current training provision risk deepening inequalities and hindering sector-wide productivity,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The construction sector risks falling behind in AI adoption unless urgent action is taken to address poor digital literacy and training gaps, according to a new report by Skills England. Its study, published yesterday (29 October), collected evidence from organisations across 10 priority sectors, including construction. It forms part of a wider review to shape …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135716,"featured_media":513007,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[575,579],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-531885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-skills","category-tech"],"yoast_head":"\n