By Stacey Sayer, Director of Content and Communications, Trimble
Last November, during the annual Trimble Dimensions user conference in Las Vegas, we asked 1,800 civil, general and specialty contractors about the opportunities and challenges they face and the technology initiatives they believe can help to address them.
The human element: solving labor challenges
When asked about the biggest challenges in 2026, respondents were clear: It's all about the people. The top concerns cited were workforce skills, hiring and retention, closely followed by the adoption or optimization of the right technology.
They’re not alone. Analysts estimate the construction sector will need half a million new workers in 2026 to keep pace with demand. This is exacerbated by the fact that nearly a quarter of the current workforce is set to retire within the next decade.
One way to face this challenge head-on is to use technology not only as a tool for productivity, but as a vital recruitment asset. Ian Warner, director of industry workforce development and innovations at Trimble, believes that technology and training will be key to attracting the next-generation workforce.
“Contractors that invest and deploy the latest technology will have a competitive advantage by optimizing employee productivity, being able to do more with less and attracting a tech-savvy younger generation,” he says.
