Increasing automation in the construction industry could displace or replace as much as 49% of the America’s blue-collar construction workforce (2.7 million workers) and eliminate nearly 500,000 non-construction jobs by 2057, according to a new study by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute (MEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. — Midwest Economic Policy Institute

As a part of their study, Midwest Economic Policy Institute (MEPI) and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign researchers highlighted a "decades-long decline of blue-collar labor as a total share of construction costs and the growing share of capital— which includes machinery, equipment, and other technologies— to show that the industry is well positioned to move towards increased automation."

The researchers posit that the decline in skilled tradespeople could potentially push the construction industry toward the accelerated development of automated solutions to fill the need. “Whether through the use of robotics, virtual reality, or other technological innovations, automation has been increasing productivity, reducing costs, and improving quality,” said Jill Manzo, one of the researchers. “With capital growing, the industry struggling with skilled labor shortages, and our nation facing growing infrastructure needs, it is fair to conclude that the pace of automation is likely to accelerate in the decades to come.”