Chapter 1.1
The importance of construction
Construction is a unique industry of profound importance to our world.
It’s the homes we live in, schools we learn in, shops we buy from, hospitals we heal in, data centres that power the modern world, and infrastructure that connects our communities.
Our industry employs 1 in 10 people. It provides food, shelter and prosperity, from the top to the bottom of the supply chain.
Advancements in construction translates into better standards of living, access to essential services, and more resilient communities.
Change construction to change the world
The key industry challenge: labour shortages
A skills and labour shortage is the defining challenge facing the construction industry, impacting costs and project timelines.
Several factors contribute to this:
Increased demand for construction: Rapid urbanisation, infrastructure investment, and green transition policies.
Declining workforce: Take the UK for example. Quantity surveyors are vanishing, with a 32% contraction of the workforce in 24/25.
Insufficient vocational training: Many regions lack sufficient programs and trainees to replenish workforce requirements.
Perception issues & working conditions: Construction is often seen as an unattractive career choice for younger generations.
These challenges are not going away, making it essential for the industry to focus on improving productivity.
You can't hire your way out of a labour shortage
“We act as if there’s a magic surveyor tree at the end of our garden. Have we spent enough time reducing the admin and increasing efficiencies for the surveyors we have? No. We’re nicking surveyors from each other and driving salaries up when there’s simply not enough people in the industry.”
Read the next chapter
1.2 – The importance of procurement
Why ProcurePro set out to fix procurement and the impact of creating a new category of construction technology.
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