FUTURE OF WORK

IN CONSTRUCTION
The construction industry currently faces a confluence
of major challenges and opportunities. Over the next
30 years, the global population is projected to grow by
around 2 billion people, with the projection to increase
from around 4.2 billion to around 6.7 billion.
To meet the need of the growing population, way of working will be critical. Their skills and
13,000 buildings, along with supporting education will shape the built environment
physical infrastructure, must be constructed and further the transformational change that
every day. At the same time, as demand industrialized construction will bring.
sharply rises, we face a shortage of skilled
labor compounded by growing challenges At the heart of the AEC industry are the
around resources and environmental impacts. roles of the workers, whether onsite or
offsite, performing the execution to bring
Historically, construction productivity lags other a project to fruition. In this white paper, we
economic sectors and the economy as a whole. look at the Future of Work in Construction.
Nevertheless, there may be a way to close that Why industrialized construction, and when
gap, scale the industry, and rise to the occasion adopted, what will the actual work, workers,
by adopting design-to-make production and workplace look like? How can industry and
processes alongside digital technologies. academia collaborate to educate the workforce
of tomorrow?
These trends within industrialized
construction can bring much needed To find out, our research team surveyed
certainty of cost, schedule, and scope to the and interviewed a select cohort of experts
architecture, engineering, and construction from both industry and academia across the
(AEC) industries. Along with certainty, US and UK. This research is the first step
industrialized construction creates a more to understanding what the future of work
sustainable and resilient industry, while in construction may look like, with some
addressing skilled labor shortages, waste, recommendations for forging the path ahead.
diversity, and worker safety.

It is an essential and necessary transformation

but doesn’t come without a significant process Amy Marks
and mindset change across the industry. As Head of Industrialized Construction
a new generation of designers, engineers, Strategy and Evangelism, Autodesk
and builders emerge from universities and Construction Solutions
other industries, their impact on this new
Construction must change. It is a key driver of value creation in economies
around the world, but it is inefficient, suffers from low productivity and is often
mired in disputes. Coronavirus acts a key catalyst for this change in terms of
technological investment, social distancing and productivity challenges.
As a global professional body, thought leader and standard setter in construction, RICS is keen to further this debate and offer
practical guidance on how the sector can grasp the huge opportunities that are emerging in terms of industrialized construction.
The synthesis of off-site fabrication, additive manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence and the internet of things produce
a perfect storm for a fragmented, information-intensive industry like construction. To harness and adapt this technology in an
increasing and useful way will be the key industry challenge of the next decade and beyond.

Through a semi-structured interview process with experts in the UK and US, this paper considers the new roles and
skills that will be required to grasp the opportunities that industrialized construction (IC) will bring. It considers
how IC will increase safety, improve efficiency, increase certainty and profitability and improve skill shortages.
Critically, for the RICS, it considers the new skills required including data analytics, production management,
modeling and simulation and managing robots and drones. It also looks at the role of academia and industry in
addressing those new skills.

RICS, through its own Futures research, is aware of these emerging trends and skills. We are conducting a
review of our own standards, guidance and qualification routes to ensure that RICS professionals can optimize
the opportunities that exist in the built environment. As well as greater specialization, there is a conflicting
need for greater integration and collaboration to meet the demands of society in terms of greater connectivity
and more homes.

We recommend that all RICS professionals read and consider this paper and provide their own
thoughts on the recommendations. What are you doing to get ready for this change?

Alan Muse
Global Director of Built Environment, RICS
 ABOUT THE
Debra Pothier
AUTHORS
Debra Pothier is a Senior Global Manager Construction
Strategist, Autodesk Education with 20+ years of high-
tech leadership experience in global strategy, business
development, and marketing. She is a techno-optimist
passionate about the digital transformation for building Anil Sawhney
design and construction and leads the construction global
education team. With over 17 years at Autodesk she has held
both strategic and global senior positions developing the Anil Sawhney is the Director of the Infrastructure Sector
architecture, engineering and construction for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). He
strategy and is a general manager leads the emerging RICS initiative and strategy on placing
for cross-functional teams. She is and positioning the Institution within the field of commercial
passionate about the advancement management of infrastructure projects globally. His primary
of construction technology while focus is on the (economic) infrastructure sector, defined by
ensuring the next generation the RICS as transport, utilities, energy, and similar fields. Anil
learns digital skills to be is involved in the production of the infrastructure sector’s
prepared for the future body of knowledge, standards, guidance, practice statements,
of work. Debra holds an education, and training. He’s also a
MBA from UMass Lowell, Visiting Professor at Liverpool
Bachelor of Science from John Moores University in the
UMass Dartmouth, and a UK and an adjunct faculty at
construction supervisors the University of Southern
license in Massachusetts. California. Dr. Sawhney is a
She sits on various AEC Fellow of the Royal Institution
advisory boards. of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS)
and a Fellow of the Higher
Education Academy (FHEA) of
the UK. Anil has a rich mix of
academic, research, industry,
and consulting experience
gathered working in the
USA, India, Canada,
the UK, and Australia.
FUTURE OF WORK IN CONSTRUCTION
1 2 3 4
Industrialized
Construction and Why IC? Key Findings Final Acknowledgments
the Future of Work The Big Picture and Insights Recommendations & Further Reading

3.1 3.2 3.3

Top Benefits Future IC Teams, Role of Industry
of IC Roles, and Skills and Academia

3.2.1
New Teams

3.2.2
New Roles

3.2.3
New Skills for
Existing Roles
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION 1 Industrialized Construction and the Future of Work
1
Industrialized In the Fall of 2019, Autodesk and RICS Prefabrication and offsite construction The survey focused on the following key areas
Construction and conducted a study on the Future of Work (FOW) Additive manufacturing for exploration:
the Future of Work in Construction that aimed to define the impact Robotics and automation
of industrialized construction (IC) on the work, Big data, artificial intelligence (AI), The current state of adoption of IC and
2 the worker, and the workplace during the and predictive analysis the five megatrends
Why IC? The Big construction phase of a project. Internet of Things (IoT) Benefits of IC for organizations and the
Picture industry in general
Definition of industrialized construction: Our study involved three main steps: (1) setting Emerging and future teams and roles that will
3 IC is a construction system that uses innovative the context for the study; (2) conducting the result from the industry transitioning to IC
Key Findings and integrated techniques and processes such survey; and (3) analyzing the data collected and Role of industry and academia in the
and Insights as building information modeling (BIM) and providing final recommendations. The study transformation
common data environment (CDE) to connect the framework is shown in Figure 1.
3.1 design-to-make process by embracing these Construction industry experts were contacted
Top Benefits five megatrends: based on expertise and industry experience.
of IC
Using a semi-structured interview process,
FIGURE 1 OVERALL FRAMEWORK OF THE STUDY the team conducted telephone interviews with
3.2 12 industry experts (seven US-based experts
Future IC Teams, and five UK-based experts) and six university
Roles and Skills CONTEXT METHOD FINDINGS
professors. Each interview lasted 30 to 45
Big Data, AI & minutes. The transcripts of these interviews
3.2.1 Predictive Analytics 1 were analyzed in detail, and the findings are
New Teams Benefits of IC
reported in this paper.
2
Robotics &
Automation Analysis IC Teams
3.2.2 Primarily, the experts painted a picture of
New Roles 3 how current roles will change and what new
Future Roles
Prefabrication & UK: roles and new teams will emerge over the
4
3.2.3 Offsite Construction 5 Industry Experts next 5 to 25 years. Insights into new skills
New Skills and Competencies
New Skills for 2 Professors needed for existing roles were also provided
Existing Roles 5
US: by the experts. Based on these key insights
IoT Role of Industry and Academia
7 Industry Experts the report sets out main impacts on key
3.3 2 Professors stakeholders, such as clients, construction
Role of Industry companies, industry professionals, academia,
Additive
and Academia and professional, statutory, and regulatory
Manufacturing Telephone
Interviews bodies. This study informs how academia and
Social, Enviromental professional organizations can work with the
4
and Economic Impacts
Final industry to help reskill the existing workforce
Survey
Recommendations
Industrialized Design via credentialing and prepare the next
Construction (IC) generation of graduates.
Recommendations
Acknowledgments
BIM CDE
& Further Reading

6
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION 2 Why IC? The Big Picture
1
Industrialized
Construction and
the Future of Work

2
Why IC? The Big
Picture

3
Key Findings
and Insights

3.1
Top Benefits
of IC

Why is the industry looking to The construction sector is currently at a Faced with these findings, construction sector
3.2 industrialized construction? tipping point. Rapid urbanization and climate stakeholders are exploring IC to help offset
Future IC Teams, change require that the industry relinquish its this massive skills shortage. IC is a system
Roles and Skills
It is widely known that the industry faces an “business as usual (BAU)” mindset and risk- that uses innovative and integrated techniques
enormous skills gap given the $10 trillion global averse operating environment. Productivity that connect the design-to-make process.
3.2.1 construction output, with a need to build 13,000 has grown at an average rate of only 1%
New Teams buildings each day between now and 2050 to annually over the past 20 years, compared
support an expected population of 7.7 billion with 2.8% average annual growth in the overall
3.2.2 people living in cities.1 The McKinsey Global economy and 3.6 % average yearly growth
New Roles Institute estimates that, by 2030, there will be in the manufacturing sector. Given that the BY 2030, THERE
up to 200 million construction jobs worldwide. 2 construction sector is 13% of global economic WILL BE UP TO
The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects output 3, if construction productivity matched
3.2.3
New Skills for construction sector job growth at 12%. that of the overall economy, the improvement
200 MILLION
Existing Roles would be $1.6 trillion each year. 4 Furthermore, CONSTRUCTION
Combine this accelerated growth with the if construction productivity paralleled that of
JOBS WORLDWIDE
3.3 estimate that 41% of the construction industry’s the manufacturing sector, there could be an
Role of Industry workforce will retire by 2031, and you have a estimated $2.2 trillion savings every year.
and Academia massive skills shortage that will drive up costs
and reduce efficiency and profitability.
4
Final
Recommendations 1
 utodesk (August 2018). Here’s What Building the Future Looks Like for a 10-Billion-Person Planet, https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/building-the-future/
A
2
McKinsey Global Institute (November 2017). Jobs lost, jobs gained: What the future of work will mean for jobs, skills, and wages,
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/jobs-lost-jobs-gained-what-the-future-of-work-will-mean-for-jobs-skills-and-wages
Acknowledgments 3
The Economist (August 2017). Can we fix it? The construction industry’s productivity problem, https://www.economist.com/leaders/2017/08/17/the-construction-industrys-productivity-problem
& Further Reading 4
McKinsey Global Institute (February 2017). Reinventing construction through a productivity revolution,
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/capital-projects-and-infrastructure/our-insights/reinventing-construction-through-a-productivity-revolution
7
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN But there is a significant challenge on the If IC is to be the way forward, this industry
CONSTRUCTION supply side of talent: both secondary and must transform itself to meet the housing
higher education institutions are not equipped THE ADOPTION OF and infrastructure requirements placed on it.
1
Industrialized to close this skills gap in terms of technology MODULAR OR OFFSITE IC is a big idea that will require integration
Construction and
the Future of Work
training and volume.
CONSTRUCTION IN of all phases of the project lifecycle (vertical
integration), all members of the project team
In a study conducted in the UK two-thirds of
THE US AND EUROPE (horizontal integration), and inter-project
2 the 130-responding architecture, engineering IS GROWING, AND IT IS learning and knowledge management
Why IC? The Big and construction (AEC) firms reported hiring ESTIMATED THAT THIS (longitudinal integration). Modular or offsite
Picture an “AEC outsider” in the past 24 months to construction, a key component of IC, can
help with their innovation efforts. 5 Roles that
ADOPTION ALONE CAN play a significant role. The adoption of
3 are being filled by outsiders include software LEAD TO SAVINGS OF modular construction in the US and Europe
Key Findings programmers, data analysts, and virtual $22 BILLION A YEAR. is growing, and it is estimated that this
and Insights reality experts. adoption alone can lead to savings of $22
billion a year. 6
3.1
Top Benefits In order to push this transformation
of IC
forward, many changes will need to be
made by key industry stakeholders. One
3.2 essential need is to address the future of
Future IC Teams, work, the worker, and the workplace in the
Roles and Skills
construction sector. With close to 7% of
the world’s working population employed
3.2.1 directly or indirectly by the construction
New Teams sector, the IC transformation must be looked
through the lens of talent. Motivated by
3.2.2 this aspect of the construction industry
New Roles transformation, this study provides high-
level findings by projecting new teams and
3.2.3 roles the sector is likely to need and by
New Skills for suggesting how industry and academia can
Existing Roles work together to pave the way forward.

3.3
Role of Industry
and Academia

4
Final
Recommendations

Acknowledgments
& Further Reading 5
 D+C Giants 300 Technology and Innovation Study 2019, https://www.bdcnetwork.com/exclusive-research-download-final-report-bdcs-giants-300-technology-and-innovation-study
B
6
McKinsey & Company (June 2019). Modular construction: From projects to products,
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/capital-projects-and-infrastructure/our-insights/modular-construction-from-projects-to-products 8
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION 3 Key Findings and Insights
1
Industrialized The industry experts interviewed reported
Construction and a positive outlook toward the adoption and
the Future of Work implementation of IC. Three key themes
emerged, listed below and explained in
2 detail in the following sub-sections:
Why IC? The Big
Picture 1. Top benefits of IC
2. Future IC teams, roles, and skills
3 3. Role of industry and academia in
Key Findings and developing new initiatives
Other Insights

In addition to the main themes, the following

3.1 additional high-level insights emerged:
Top Benefits
of IC
1. While IC deals with how built environment
assets are designed, constructed,
3.2 operated, and deconstructed, its use has
Future IC Teams, broader implications for the construction
Roles and Skills
industry and society. If done right, IC
can lead to better social, environmental, 4. Experts also highlighted the role of One of the experts interviewed, who represents
3.2.1 and economic outcomes. For example, IC international standards developed by a non- an industry organization with over 100
New Teams can have a significant positive impact on commercial entity to promote industry-wide members, reported that over 30% of major
the housing problem that we face today adoption of IC. UK construction companies are “active and
3.2.2 on a global scale, as well as make the 5. Market forces must align with the trends invested, in some cases quite heavily” in IC. In
New Roles construction industry more attractive as behind the IC approach so that the demand a recent report by McKinsey 9, it is estimated
a potential career path for students. for IC is large enough to drive economies that the annual volume of IC could reach more
3.2.3 2. IC is primarily driven by the five of scale. than $130 billion by 2030 in the building sector
New Skills for megatrends listed in this report. However, alone in Europe and the US.
Existing Roles it is essential to acknowledge the linkages We found that there are several ongoing
of IC with other trends and technologies public sector–led efforts to promote IC in the Construction organizations have a wealth of
3.3 such as circular economy, social impact, UK, such as the UK Housing, Communities knowledge of construction processes and best
Role of Industry blockchain, edge computing, lean and and Local Government Select Committee practices. It is important that this knowledge
and Academia agile principles, and more. report on modern methods of construction7 be retained in transitioning to IC; construction
3. To promote IC and bring it mainstream, and the Platform approach to Design for employees should be reskilled in specific
4 it is essential for the industry to adopt a Manufacture and Assembly (P-DfMA) by the technologies to ensure customized products
Final product-centric approach. UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority.8 and clients.
Recommendations

Acknowledgments 7
 odern methods of construction, UK Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee report, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcomloc/1831/183102.htm
M
& Further Reading 8
Platform approach to Design for Manufacture and Assembly (P-DfMA), UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority https://www.cdbb.cam.ac.uk/news/2019ResPlatform
9
McKinsey & Company (June 2019). Modular construction: From projects to products,
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/capital-projects-and-infrastructure/our-insights/modular-construction-from-projects-to-products 9
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION 3.1 Top Benefits of IC
1
Industrialized The industry experts interviewed ranked the All the interviewed experts are supporters of Industry experts provided the following
Construction and following as the top 6 benefits of IC to their pushing the idea of IC forward. In their opinion justification and support for their views:
the Future of Work organizations and industry as a whole (as IC is a chance to bring a positive shift and
shown in Figure 2): competitive edge for the companies that adopt
2 it. Reducing construction costs and rework and Definitely Safety; I think is first
Why IC? The Big 1. Make construction processes Safer making construction processes safer were the and foremost, creating a safe
Picture 2. Improve Efficiency mostly commonly cited reasons among experts environment for the team that
3. Reduce Project Duration across both the US and the UK. Improving we have working on the volumes that are
3 4. Reduce Construction Cost and Rework recruitment and retention, particularly by going through our facility here. And then
Key Findings 5. Increase Profitability improving the ability to show younger staff also positively affecting the duration
and Insights 6. Improve Staff Recruitment and Retention how projects fit together, was also a commonly of construction and the overall cost of
cited benefit and tied for most-cited among construction, really wielding these IC tools so
that we can affect each of those 3 focus areas
3.1 American experts.
Top Benefits with effectiveness.”
of IC Tim Nichols, Director of Strategic Partnerships at
FIGURE 2 TOP IC BENEFITS Factory OS

3.2
Safer 0.81*
Future IC Teams,
Roles and Skills
Efficiency 0.80 The top 5 out of that, for us, would
3.2.1
be: safer, creating good middle
New Teams class jobs while increasing profits,
Project Duration 0.79
recruitment of staff, lowering the cost of
construction, project and time efficiency.
3.2.2 Reducing Cost & Rework 0.77
New Roles Jay Bradshaw, Executive Director at Carpenters 46
Northern California
Increase in Profits 0.76
3.2.3
New Skills for
Existing Roles Talent Acquisition 0.72

The number one benefit is safety

3.3 Reducing Errors and Omissions 0.67 followed by cost-savings or
Role of Industry time-savings. That’s because of
and Academia coordination and assembly in a controlled
Fewer Claims / Litigation 0.61
environment where you have a supply-chain
4 process in place.
Create Advanced Designs 0.28
Final Kaushal Diwan, National Director of Innovation, DPR
Recommendations
Other 0.20

Acknowledgments
& Further Reading * Relative Importance Index (RII) scale 0.0 to 1.0

10
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION 3.2 Future IC Teams, Roles and Skills
1
Industrialized
Construction and Based on the expert interviews and review of FIGURE 3 IC TEAMS, ROLES, SKILLS AND PRODUCTIVITY GAINS
the Future of Work current reports, we found that the construction
sector is ripe for disruption. Driven by INDUSTRIALIZED CONSTRUCTION
2 technology and a need to enhance efficiency,
Why IC? The Big construction companies are creating new
Picture teams and functional roles. Existing roles
are being revised to incorporate the usage of
NEW SKILLS FOR
3 the five megatrends of IC (see Figure 3). We NEW TEAMS NEW ROLES EXISTING ROLES
Key Findings project productivity gains will result from
and Insights these structural changes in the industry. Using
the framework provided by McKinsey in a Integrated Design Automation Data Analytics,
3.1 report titled “A Future That Works: Automation, Design Team and DfMA Role AI and BI
Top Benefits Employment, and Productivity,” 10 we estimated
of IC
the automation potential of the construction
Robotics and Production
sector (as shown in Figure 4). First, the tasks Manufacturing Team Automation Expert Management
3.2 performed by various team members in the
Future IC Teams, construction phase were grouped into the
Roles and Skills
following categories: Modeling and
Supply Chain Team Data Analytics Expert Simulation
3.2.1 1. Manage: overall management of the
New Teams design and construction process, including
Data Analytics and Manufacturing and Managing Robots
managing human resources Intelligence Team Assembly Expert and Drones
3.2.2 2. Expertise: applying expertise to decision
New Roles making, planning, and creative tasks
Production Innovation and IoT, Images and
3. Interface: integration of various functions
Management Team Integration Expert Computer Vision
3.2.3 and interfacing with stakeholders
New Skills for 4. Unpredictable physical: performing physical
Existing Roles activities and operating machinery in
unpredictable environments Then, we take two scenarios (BAU and IC) and of the industry can reach 60%, which is the
3.3 5. Collect data: collecting data from multiple compare the percentage of time spent and the current estimated automation potential for
Role of Industry design and construction processes ability to automate for each of these seven the manufacturing sector. We project that
and Academia 6. Process data: processing data for deriving activity types, resulting in the automation with the adoption of IC, the percentage
evidence for decision making potential for each scenario. McKinsey has of time spent on value-adding tasks such
4 7. Predictable physical: performing physical estimated the current automation potential as managing, providing expertise, and
Final activities and operating machinery in for our sector as 47%. We expect that with integration can be significantly increased.
Recommendations
predictable environments the adoption of IC the automation potential

Acknowledgments
& Further Reading
10
 cKinsey Global Institute (January 2017). A Future That Works: Automation, Employment, and Productivity,
M
https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Featured%20Insights/Digital%20Disruption/Harnessing%20automation%20for%20a%20future%20that%20works/MGI-A-future-that-works_Full-report.ashx 11
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN FIGURE 4 AUTOMATION POTENTIAL OF IC
CONSTRUCTION
Business As Usual Industrialized Construction
1
Industrialized % of time spent Ability to automate % of time spent Ability to automate
Construction and
the Future of Work
Manage

20% 30%
2
Why IC? The Big Very low High
Picture

Expertise
3
20% 30%
Key Findings
and Insights Medium High

3.1 Interface
Top Benefits
30% 30%
of IC
Low High

3.2
Future IC Teams, Unpredictable physical
Roles and Skills
40% 40%
High Low
3.2.1
New Teams
Collect Data

3.2.2 70% 90%

New Roles Medium Low

3.2.3 Process Data

New Skills for
Existing Roles 70% 90%
Medium Low

3.3
Role of Industry Predictable physical
and Academia
90% 90%
Medium Low
4
Final
Recommendations
47% Automation Potential 60%
Acknowledgments
& Further Reading
Source: McKinsey Global Institute (January 2017)

12
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN 3.2.1 NEW TEAMS
CONSTRUCTION
A significant diversity of new teams within next generation, as well as leads to improved 2. Manufacturing Team: The manufacturing
1
Industrialized IC companies was reported. For example, the workplace safety by increasing time spent team or department primarily resides in
Construction and experts talked about digital/computational working in controlled environments. These the offsite or onsite factory where design
the Future of Work design; engineering; offsite manufacturing; new teams are driven both by client need drives the production of components and
logistics (supply chain); data science/data and as a reaction to rapid development in the modules for the construction site. This team
2 analytics; robotics; artificial intelligence; technology sector. With this broad background, heavily relies on prefabrication, additive
Why IC? The Big machine learning; virtual reality; applied we found that the experts expect the industry manufacturing, and advanced materials.
Picture research; systemization (industrial/product to form the five following new teams (or 3. Supply Chain Team: This team is responsible
design); and physical prototyping. The core departments) as the penetration of IC increases for procurement, as well as coordinating the
3 motivation to create these new teams is to in the sector: logistics of getting modular units from the
Key Findings make construction more efficient and deliver a factory to the site. In the current scenario
and Insights positive shift within the industry. 1. Integrated Design Team: This model-centric this team connects manufacturing to
team or department drives the design-to- construction assembly.
3.1 With the establishment of these new IC-related make philosophy within the organization. 4. Data Analytics and Intelligence Team: This
Top Benefits teams, the building process can be organized This team is responsible for developing the team is integral to connecting the other
of IC
using a quicker and cost effective process with conceptual design, including the details four teams, providing data streams and
higher-quality results. The experts highlight for utilizing technology and practices communication to streamline the design
3.2 the fact that the creation of these teams makes such as AR/VR, connected BIM, DfMA and to construction process. It utilizes more
Future IC Teams, construction a more attractive industry for the prefabrication. technology and controllable systems, and
Roles and Skills
ultimately provides a safer environment for
all to deliver a higher-quality product.
3.2.1 5. Production Management Team: Stationed
FIGURE 5 NEW IC TEAMS AND THEIR EVOLUTION OVER TIME
New Teams on the construction site, the production
management team’s role is to ensure
3.2.2 IC Site New IC Teams that all components and modules are
2025–2030

New Roles assembled correctly and on-time. They are

Integrated Design
Team responsible in the integrated deployment of
3.2.3 technologies such as drones, image capture
New Skills for Manufacturing Team and processing, robotics and automation,
Existing Roles IoT, etc.
Supply Chain Team
3.3 Figure 5 shows the new IC teams and their
Role of Industry Production evolution over time. As the adoption of IC
and Academia Management Team
2019–2025

Offsite/Near-site Onsite increases, these teams will work more closely

Data Analytics and
as the boundaries between offsite and onsite
4 Intelligence Team become blurred.
Final
Recommendations

Acknowledgments Level of Adoption of IC

& Further Reading

13
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN The experts predicted a progression over time FIGURE 6 USE OF IC MEGATRENDS BY IC TEAMS
CONSTRUCTION in the usage of these megatrends within IC
companies. Figure 6 shows the use of the five Application of Prefabrication Additive Big Data and Robotics and IoT
1 IC Mega Trends Manufacturing Analytics Automation
Industrialized IC megatrends by the newly created IC teams. by IC Team
Construction and Figure 7 shows the changes within robotics
the Future of Work and automation that can be expected over the
next 5-to-10 years. Currently, robotics is used
Integrated
2 primarily in the offsite portion of IC, but this Design Team High High Med High Low
Why IC? The Big usage is likely to change over the next five
Picture years as the use of robotics onsite increases. Manufacturing
In ten years, the experts felt that the use Team High High Low High Low
3 of robotics and automation would increase
Key Findings significantly, especially since the boundaries
Supply Chain
and Insights between offsite and onsite teams will be Team Low Low High Low High
removed.
3.1 Production
Top Benefits Management
of IC Team High High High Med High

Data Analytics
3.2 and Intelligence
Industrialized construction Team Low Low High Med High
Future IC Teams,
Roles and Skills requires a fully integrated team.
You need a design team that is Level of Usage
accountable to manufacturing and designs
3.2.1 for production. You need specialized
New Teams FIGURE 7 GROWTH IN THE APPLICATION OF ROBOTICS IN IC COMPANIES
manufacturing teams to optimize agile factory
production that serve dynamic construction 2019 2025 2030
Benefits
3.2.2 projects. Supply chain and logistics teams
New Roles have to be equipped to ensure just in time
delivery and maintain dynamic inventories. Challenge
Machine-Machine Human-Machine Human-Machine-
3.2.3 All of those teams have to execute with a
Interaction Interaction Equipment Interaction
New Skills for common shared goal of fully industrialized Safety
Existing Roles construction, if one pillar fails they all fail.
Raghi Iyengar, Founder Manufacton Manufacturing
Med Med High
Focus

3.3
Role of Industry
and Academia Assembly
Quality Low Med High

4
Final Cost Onsite or
Recommendations Offsite Factory Med Med High
Usage

Acknowledgments Time Construction

& Further Reading Site Low Med High

14
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN 3.2.2 NEW ROLES
CONSTRUCTION
The creation of new IC teams also results in new IC-related roles. The most often appointed new emerging roles in these teams include:
1
Industrialized

1 2 4
Construction and
the Future of Work DESIGN AUTOMATION AND DfMA
Interface technology and innovation and support
2 the design and engineering team
Why IC? The Big
Picture
Experts will develop and
maintain custom nodes or design
3 scripts to automate standard
Key Findings design processes through the MANUFACTURING
use of specific software
and Insights AND ASSEMBLY
SKILLS NEEDED
ROBOTICS AND Knowledge of volumetric modular design and construction,
Interface directly with the
3.1 design team and support the
Top Benefits
AUTOMATION and role of design for manufacture and assembly
engineering team, as well as
of IC Manage robotics and automation coordinate with partners
for construction on- and offsite

3
3.2 Experts to improve efficiency,
Experts will control and automation, and customization
Future IC Teams,
program drones to carry out DATA ANALYTICS for the unique design and
Roles and Skills
complex tasks such as site Responsible for using big data fabrication process through
inspections, deliveries, and and advanced analytics to interpreting the conceptual
3.2.1 maintenance, including improve the core business design and federated model and
New Teams commissioning, maintenance, specifications, identifying
and repurposing of robots Experts work closely with the constructability issues, and
and drones innovation team to fundamentally producing fabrication drawings
3.2.2 reinvent the future of and assemblies
New Roles SKILLS NEEDED construction in the digital age
Knowledge of robotics and SKILLS NEEDED
automation, mechatronics, SKILLS NEEDED Knowledge of volumetric
construction and Experience with large streams of design and construction data, modular design and construction
3.2.3
manufacturing process familiarity of common data standards, and KPIs and DfMA principles
New Skills for
Existing Roles

3.3

5
Role of Industry
and Academia INNOVATION AND Experts will have a knack for technology-driven change, strong
INTEGRATION LEADER communication skills, with the ability to work with different
departments to understand key business rules to increase
4 understanding and adoption of new technologies
Integrate the five megatrends of
Final
IC and support individual focus
Recommendations SKILLS NEEDED
areas to optimize operational
efficiency across the organization Experience with change management, digital transformation, lean
manufacturing, or construction experience
Acknowledgments
& Further Reading

15
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION Regarding new IC-related roles in the next
three to five years, the experts pointed to
1
Industrialized different possibilities, such as:
Construction and
the Future of Work Implementation consultants/BIM specialists
Creators of new design configuration apps
2 Design Automation specialists
Why IC? The Big Materials Science specialists
Picture Site and additive manufacturing specialists
Robotics / AI / VR specialists
3
Key Findings According to the experts, these new roles will
and Insights optimize existing businesses and adapt them
to the changing technology environment,
3.1 giving construction companies a competitive
Top Benefits edge. The implementation of new technologies
of IC
like artificial intelligence or robotics demands
new skill sets and will lead to the opening
3.2 of more technology-based roles within the
Future IC Teams, construction industry. These new IC roles are
Roles and Skills
also more attractive to the next generation
and will lead to increased gender diversity
3.2.1 within the construction industry.
New Teams

There will be a mix between these new

3.2.2 roles and existing roles, and/or retraining
New Roles of existing construction professionals with
invaluable construction expertise. It was
3.2.3 noted that these new roles would not replace
New Skills for existing professionals, but rather the current
Existing Roles roles will be retrained simultaneously.

3.3
Role of Industry
and Academia

4
Final
Recommendations

Acknowledgments
& Further Reading

16
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN 3.2.3 NEW SKILLS FOR EXISTING ROLES
CONSTRUCTION

1
Figure 8 shows in-demand skills for existing FIGURE 8 RANKING OF NEW SKILLS FOR EXISTING ROLES
Industrialized roles. Currently, experts are searching for staff
Construction and with skill sets in data analytics, artificial and Data Analytics, AI and BI
the Future of Work business intelligence, advanced planning, and
0.81*
scheduling skills for modular construction.
2
Why IC? The Big Production Management
These are the top technologies
Picture
impacting the industry; data 0.80
science, AI, machine learning and
3 robotics. With a steady streamline of data Modeling and Simulation
Key Findings flows it provides powerful predictive analytics
and Insights 0.79
that helps construction firms thrive across all
phases of construction.
3.1 Maximilian Schutz, Head of BIM at GOLDBECK Managing Robots and Drones
Top Benefits
of IC 0.77

Key skills for future roles include:

3.2 Systems thinker IoT, Images, and Computer Vision
Future IC Teams, Programming mindset
Roles and Skills 0.76
Active learner
Strong Science, Technology, Engineering
3.2.1 and Mathematics (STEM) background Additive Manufacturing
New Teams Data-driven decision-making 0.72
Complex problem-solving with excellent
3.2.2 communication skills
Design Automation
New Roles
The experts assume that the increasing 0.67

3.2.3 technological expansion will lead to stronger

New Skills for adoption of new technologies, which include Integration Skills
Existing Roles design automation, IoT, robotics, and additive
0.61
manufacturing. Some share the opinion that
3.3 the usage of IoT and machine learning could
Role of Industry bring the construction process to a new level AR/VR
and Academia of self-optimization, leading to a knock-on
0.28
effect that would bring other innovations
4 into the construction industry. Others point
Final to the fact that at present different materials Other
Recommendations
are being increasingly explored, which opens 0.20
a significant number of possibilities to use
Acknowledgments advanced materials in order to move the * Relative Importance Index (RII) scale 0.0 to 1.0
& Further Reading sector toward manufacturing type processes.

17
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION 3.3 Role of Industry and Academia
1
Industrialized
Construction and Our study found that the most used recruitment The biggest challenge for recruitment into The competition with technology companies
the Future of Work channels for IC-related roles are referrals by the new roles is the lack of candidates’ for the same tech-savvy talent pool is also
colleagues, universities, employment websites, practical experience in the construction challenging, due to comparatively larger
2 and social media. In the UK, the company sector. The experts point out that there is still salaries in the technology sector and poor
Why IC? The Big website is a more important recruitment a lack of exposure to new IC trends such as perceptions of the construction industry as
Picture channel than in the US. The most preferred prefabrication. Here the experts pointed out lagging in terms of processes and technology.
degrees and specializations included Computer the need for meaningful collaboration between
3 Programming for Robotics, Architectural industry and academia.
Key Findings Design, and Artificial Intelligence.
and Insights

3.1 FIGURE 9 RECRUITMENT OF IC-RELATED ROLES & PREFERRED SPECIALIZATIONS

Top Benefits
of IC Recruitment channels US UK Preferred specializations US UK

Referrals by 100% Computer 80%

3.2
colleagues 100% Programming
Future IC Teams, 50%
for Robotics
Roles and Skills
80%
University
3.2.1 75% Architectural 80%
New Teams Design
Employment 75%
80%
websites
75%
3.2.2 (e.g. LinkedIn, Indeed)
New Roles Artificial 60%
80% Intelligence
Social media 25%
75%
3.2.3
New Skills for
Existing Roles 60% Construction 60%
Headhunter Materials and
50%
Methods 50%
3.3
Role of Industry Company 40%
and Academia website 75%
Construction 40%
graphics
25%
40%
4 Job fairs
Final 50%
Recommendations 40%
Construction
20% Labor Relations
Careers offices 25%
Acknowledgments 25%
& Further Reading

18
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN The top recommendations include offering new world by relying on current and traditional The key issue is a lack of a formal
CONSTRUCTION specializations in Prefabrication, Robotics, construction approaches. Many institutions are career path in IC. Construction
AR/VR, and Data Analytics and Machine attempting to expose students to the basics of is set up to recruit and train and
1
Learning, which could be available at both the IC through a wide variety of mechanisms, but no get people qualified into very rigid roles.
Industrialized
Construction and undergraduate or graduate level. In addition, consistent and holistic approach exists. On their We need a new qualification structure,
the Future of Work multi-disciplinary specializations should be part, the industry has not been able to articulate new professional qualifications, technical
an important part of the future of academia, and orchestrate formal IC career pathways. qualifications, that actually reflect the IC
as these emerging IC roles require exposure This current lack of career pathways makes roles that we have been talking about.
2
Why IC? The Big to both main topics in construction alongside recruitment more difficult. Experts pointed to the Mark Farmer, UK Government Champion
Picture for Modern Methods of Construction in
specialist topics such as artificial intelligence, need for new qualifications and specializations,
Homebuilding, CEO at Cast Consultancy
virtual reality, data analytics, along with while some said in addition to specialties, IC
3 materials science. needs to be integrated into undergraduate
Key Findings construction programs as soon as possible. There
and Insights From the interviews, it became clear that is a need for industry and academia to work Construction has a poor
universities in the US and UK are preparing with accreditation agencies to modernize the reputation, so if tech-enabled
3.1 students to enter a changing construction curriculum and associated competencies. people have the chance to work
Top Benefits in a tech business or in construction, it’s
of IC most likely they’ll choose tech. Incentivising
Construction Management programs are behind. Industrialized Construction is here these people to come into our sector
now: workforce shortage, increasing age of construction professionals, the increasing is a huge challenge that we have to address.
3.2
Future IC Teams,
cost of construction and the market need for construction is pressurizing an already
Jamie Johnston, Director & Head of Global
Roles and Skills strained market. CM programs are training the workforce for what the industry needs for the next Systems at Bryden Wood
20 years and not just the next 2 years. The industry needs skilled leaders in offsite and onsite
construction with design, manufacturing and construction (DMC) as the core curriculum.
3.2.1
New Teams Raghi Iyengar, Founder & CEO of Manufacton

3.2.2
New Roles FIGURE 10 SPECIALIZATIONS IN PREFABRICATION, ROBOTICS, AR/VR, MACHINE LEARNING AND DATA ANALYTICS

Availability at graduate and undergraduate level Electives or mandatory specializations

3.2.3
New Skills for Available at both levels Available at the graduate level Should be electives Should be mandatory
Existing Roles
Available at the undergraduate level Should be mandatory, some electives

3.3
Role of Industry
and Academia
71% 29% US 57% 29% 14%

4
Final
Recommendations

83% 17% UK 71% 71% 67%

Acknowledgments
& Further Reading

19
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION 4 Final Recommendations
1
Industrialized This report is a call to action for industry,
Construction and government and academia to join forces
the Future of Work to ensure the adoption of industrialized
construction for transformational change in
2 our industry. Each stakeholder: academia, the
Why IC? The Big private sector, and the government has a part
Picture to play in this shift of thinking, behaviors, and
process in order to facilitate change.
3
Key Findings Academia – The future of the industry is highly
and Insights dependent on the competence of graduates
entering the workforce. In the face of troubling
3.1 skilled labor shortages, new employees
Top Benefits must enter the industry with the abilities
of IC
and exposure to technologies to drive digital
construction and the IC processes and higher
3.2 levels of precision in construction.
Future IC Teams,
Roles and Skills
Deans and members of the faculty in AEC
related programs should evaluate their
3.2.1 curriculum to expose students to the five
New Teams megatrends in IC and future construction
technologies that will enable knowledge of
3.2.2 interdisciplinary skills required to fully embrace
New Roles the digital age.

3.2.3 The Private Sector – The ecosystem of owners, and establish productive collaboration organizations can instill trust in the project
New Skills for architects, engineers, and contractors must environments to enable IC. This can include teams by enabling the innovation environment
Existing Roles work together to modify their operations, funded research centers, requirements for ripe for IC adoption from the inception stage
processes, regulations, and business model digitization and prefabrication, and potential itself. It is equally important to bring along
3.3 appropriately to thrive and remain competitive changes in procurement methodologies. partners in the supply chain on the journey
Role of Industry in the technology-driven world. By enabling to embrace IC so that the whole-of-industry
and Academia the five megatrends in IC, the industry will Together these stakeholders must make will be in a stronger position to compete in
increase overall productivity and be agile investments not just in technology but also changing conditions.
4 enough to adapt to the challenges and changing in teams, their skills, and a digital-ready
Final environments of our world. workforce. For industry professionals staying If all these stakeholders work together in a
Recommendations
relevant will mean investing in themselves collaborative ecosystem, the adoption of IC
The Government – In order to transform the by staying engaged and current with IC will ensure a more productive environment and
Acknowledgments industry, the government must incentivize, developments. Every entity in the ecosystem produce a skilled labor force that will sustain
& Further Reading shape regulation, promote standards has a role to play. For example, client the future of the construction industry.
20
 FUTURE OF
WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION Acknowledgments Further Reading
Autodesk IC in Academic paper
1 Special thanks to all of the contributing experts who were
https://damassets.autodesk.net/content/dam/autodesk/www/pdfs/
Industrialized interviewed by the research team:
autodesk-industrialized-construction-report.pdf
Construction and
the Future of Work US UK
RICS The Futures Report 2020
https://www.rics.org/globalassets/rics-website/media/news/news--
2 Dr. Carl T. Haas Amanda Clack opinion/rics-future-report-2.pdf
Why IC? The Big Professor at University of Waterloo Head of Strategic Advisory at CBRE
Picture Innovation 2050 - A Digital Future for the Infrastructure Industry
https://www.balfourbeatty.com/how-we-work/public-policy/
Jay Bradshaw Jamie Johnston
innovation-2050-a-digital-future-for-the-infrastructure-industry/
3 Executive Director at Carpenters 46 Director & Head of Global Systems
Key Findings Northern California at Bryden Wood
and Insights Shaping the Future of Construction: Future Scenarios and
Implications for the Industry
Jit Kee Chin Joe Dyde http://www3.weforum.org/docs/Future_Scenarios_Implications_
3.1 Executive Vice President & Chief Business Manager at Buildoffsite Industry_report_2018.pdf
Top Benefits Data Officer, Suffolk Construction
of IC Kevin O’Grady The Potential Economic Consequences of a Highly Automated
Kaushal Diwan Associate Director at Arup Construction Industry: What If Construction Becomes the Next
National Director of Innovation, DPR Manufacturing?
3.2
Future IC Teams, Mark Farmer https://midwestepi.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/the-economic-
Roles and Skills consequences-of-a-highly-automated-construction-industry-final.pdf
Dr. Lucio Soibelman UK Government Champion for
Professor at University of Modern Methods of Construction
McKinsey & Company (June 2019). Modular construction: From
3.2.1 Southern California in Homebuilding, CEO at Cast
projects to products
New Teams Consultancy https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/capital-projects-and-
Maximilian Schütz infrastructure/our-insights/modular-construction-from-projects-to-
Head of BIM at GOLDBECK Dr. Mohammed Arif products
3.2.2
New Roles Professor of Sustainability and
Raghi Iyengar Construction Futures at University McKinsey Global Institute (November 2017). Jobs lost, jobs gained:
Founder & CEO of Manufacton of Wolverhampton What the future of work will mean for jobs, skills, and wages
3.2.3 https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/jobs-
New Skills for lost-jobs-gained-what-the-future-of-work-will-mean-for-jobs-skills-
Existing Roles Stacy Scopano
and-wages
Chief Technology Officer at Skender
McKinsey Global Institute (February 2017). Reinventing construction
3.3 Tim Nichols
Role of Industry through a productivity revolution
Director of Strategic Partnerships https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/capital-projects-and-
and Academia
at Factory OS infrastructure/our-insights/reinventing-construction-through-a-
productivity-revolution
4
Final
Recommendations
Limitations of the study McKinsey Global Institute (January 2017). A Future That Works:
Automation, Employment, and Productivity
This study is based on published reports and semi-structured interviews of select experts listed
https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Featured%20Insights/
above from the US and UK. This study is for informational and educational purposes only. Autodesk,
Acknowledgments Digital%20Disruption/Harnessing%20automation%20for%20a%20
RICS and the authors disclaim all responsibility or liability for any loss or damage resulting to any
& Further Reading future%20that%20works/MGI-A-future-that-works_Full-report.ashx
person or entity acting or refraining to take action based on any material included in this publication.

21