TORONTO, Canada — June 24, 2025 — The construction industry is heading toward a major shift in how it manages talent. According to the 2025 State of Workforce Planning report by Bridgit and Construction Dive’s studioID, 98% of construction leaders plan to increase investments in workforce planning over the next year, citing rising labor costs, project delays, and widespread burnout as critical challenges.
The report, which surveyed hundreds of executives across operations, HR, project management, and business development, highlights the urgent need for modernization. Despite these challenges, 71% of companies still depend on manual processes such as spreadsheets and whiteboards.
“This report shows a clear shift: the industry is moving away from manual systems toward data-driven, scalable solutions,” said Lauren Lake, co-founder of Bridgit. “As market pressures mount, the companies investing in strategic workforce planning will be the ones who stay agile, retain top talent, and win more work.”
Key Stats
- 93% of respondents report labor shortages are directly impacting their operations.
- 99% plan to adopt AI, automation, or forecasting tools in the next 12 months.
- 75%+ of companies are budgeting over $100,000 for workforce tech upgrades.
Workforce planning is becoming a strategic priority, and for many, it's a matter of staying competitive. Keaton Green, Senior VP at Frampton Construction, emphasized, “Our growth isn’t just about winning work; it’s about building the right teams to deliver that work… Strategic workforce planning ensures we place the right people in the right markets at the right time.”
Top Workforce Challenges Identified:
- Enhancing training programs (35%)
- Boosting employee engagement (30%)
- Identifying skills gaps (26%)
- Forecasting labor needs (25%)
What Tools Are Missing?
- 46% need automation and AI features
- 43% require better forecasting and analytics
- 43% want seamless integration with CRM, HR, PM, and ERP systems
Leon Nelson, Vice President at Big-D Construction, said that workforce planning has elevated both performance and morale: “By aligning our employees’ skills and experience with the right projects, we’re not only improving project outcomes but also creating a more engaging environment that has noticeably boosted team morale and retention.”
The findings suggest that companies aligning workforce data—such as build-type experience and client history—with project planning are gaining a competitive edge. 73% of respondents said the collective experience of the project team plays a crucial role in project success.
Industry Implications:
- Why Now? A combination of project backlogs, labor shortages, and higher client expectations is pushing firms to modernize talent strategies.
- AI and Automation as Standard: With 99% planning to adopt AI or forecasting tools, tech-driven workforce planning is poised to become an industry standard.
- From Gut Feeling to Data-Driven Decisions: Leaders are moving away from intuition-based staffing and toward predictive, analytics-based approaches.
Bridgit's Role
Bridgit’s platform enables construction companies to turn workforce data into actionable insights. With backing from investors like Autodesk and Salesforce Ventures, the company is leading the industry’s transition into modern talent management.
Bottom Line
Strategic workforce planning has moved from a competitive advantage to a construction industry necessity. As Bridgit’s Lake put it, “The companies that modernize now are the ones who will lead the industry tomorrow.”
Originally reported by Amy Palmer in Construction dive.