Construction Digital Magazine April 2021 | Page 89

TOP TEN

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Future skills

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Encourage collaboration
In the implementation of new technologies , data sharing will be crucial to help AI and machine learning drive efficiencies . But to get there the industry needs to work together as one to focus on recognising and achieving the priorities that drive the greatest change with the greatest speed . CITB is working collaboratively across industry and with influential stakeholders to support initiatives that are driving change . This includes supporting work being led by the Construction Leadership Council , the Centre for a Digital Built Britain , the Construction Innovation Hub and others .
Whether it is a short-term or long-term process , technologies such as AI and automation are going to change the nature of the construction workforce . The number of jobs currently described as skilled worker roles is likely to decrease within the next 10 years . In 2017 , Mace predicted that there would be a substantial drop off in the requirement for skilled worker roles by 2040 , with specialist jobs such as bricklaying and plastering most at risk . In the shorter term demand for skilled work will continue as the need for quality assurance work , for example , remains . But over the medium term , defined as three to five years , there will be an increase in demand for other roles . These include data analysts , software developers , technology maintenance staff and project managers . This kind of change , even a few years into the future , will mean that training needs to be adapted in the present to prepare the new generation of workers .
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