Robots on the Rise: How Automation Is Reshaping the Construction Industry

Construction is one of the most labor-intensive, and dangerous, industries in the world. Crews battle long hours, heavy machinery, unpredictable conditions, and tight deadlines. But the jobsite is starting to look different. A growing wave of robotics and automation is entering the field—not to replace people, but to tackle repetitive, dangerous, and labor-intensive tasks while keeping projects on schedule.

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Why Robotics in Construction, and Why Now?

The industry is facing an unprecedented labor shortage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 400,000 construction jobs remain unfilled as of June 2025. At the same time, 40% of the workforce is expected to retire within the next decade. With demand for housing, infrastructure, and energy projects rising, the gap between what needs to be built and the number of workers available to build it is widening.

This is where robotics is stepping in. From autonomous bulldozers to robotic bricklayers, new automation technologies are helping contractors work faster, safer, and smarter.

Task-Specific Robotics Already in Action

Most of today’s construction robots are task-specific—built to handle one job extremely well. Examples include:

• Robotic Bricklayers: Some machines like the Hadrian X can lay up to 1,000 bricks per hour, far surpassing human speed while reducing repetitive strain.

• Plastering Robots: Deployed in Europe and the U.S., Okibo has robots that can autonomously apply plaster to walls, taking on a messy and physically punishing task.

• Autonomous Surveying Systems: Drones and ground robots equipped with sensors are creating precise site maps, cutting survey time from days to hours.

These machines are proving themselves on active construction sites by reducing costs, offsetting labor shortages, and improving safety outcomes.

Heavy Equipment Goes Autonomous

A particularly fast-growing category is the automation of heavy machinery.

Bedrock Robotics recently raised $80 million to retrofit bulldozers and excavators with AI systems. Their Bedrock Operator system uses cameras and machine learning to navigate terrain and perform excavation work without a driver in the cab. Automation like this not only addresses labor gaps but also helps reduce injuries in one of the most accident-prone industries.

Teleo has deployed autonomous dump trucks with Tomahawk Construction in Florida, moving millions of cubic yards of earth under supervised autonomy. Operators can control multiple trucks remotely, multiplying efficiency while keeping people out of hazardous zones.

Industry giants Caterpillar and John Deere are also rolling out autonomous fleets—self-driving haul trucks, dump trucks, and AI-powered tractors are already working in quarries and large-scale developments.

With everyone from big equipment players to innovative startups in the game, we’re seeing that autonomy is no longer experimental—it’s entering the mainstream of earthmoving and hauling.

The Next Frontier: Humanoid Robots

From Robotics & Automation News

While task-specific and retrofitted machines dominate today, humanoid robots are beginning to attract attention. Startups like Figure AI and Agility Robotics are developing two-legged, multi-purpose robots designed to handle tools, walk uneven terrain, and perform a range of jobs in environments built for people. These 2-legged robots are a complement to our 4-legged friends like Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot, which has been seen playing several roles on construction sites.

In construction (and, frankly, in most arenas), humanoid robots are still largely experimental. Challenges like battery life, durability, and dexterity remain hurdles. But pilot programs are testing whether humanoid or quadruped robots could one day handle material transport, monitoring, or assisting crews with complex tasks.

Adoption Challenges

Despite optimism, adoption is still uneven. The 2025 BuiltWorlds Equipment & Robotics Benchmarking Report found that while positive attitudes toward robotics are up (with 95% rating them “good” or better), actual implementation dipped—from 65% in 2024 to 46% in 2025.

This doesn’t necessarily signal waning interest. Instead, companies appear to be moving away from one-off pilots toward more selective, repeat deployments. In other words, robotics is shifting from hype to practical use—but progress is steady, not explosive.

Safety, Jobs, and the Workforce

Critics often raise concerns that automation could displace workers. But many leaders argue that robotics are being introduced not to eliminate jobs but to keep projects moving in the face of severe labor shortages. 

As Bedrock’s CEO Boris Sofman put it in an interview with Decrypt, “Construction is the most injury-prone industry across all job types. So there’s massive demand, insufficient labor supply, skyrocketing costs, and projects that simply don’t get done.” Robots can help keep workers out of harm’s way and keep high-priority projects moving.

The shift is also creating new roles. Crews will increasingly need training in robot operation, troubleshooting, and integration with digital workflows. Over time, this may open pathways to safer, more technical jobs without discarding the traditional craftsmanship that defines construction.

Looking Ahead

The construction robotics market, valued at $168.2 million in 2022, is projected to grow to $774 million by 2032. That growth won’t come from flashy demos, but from robots that deliver measurable ROI, cut costs, and reduce risks on real projects.

For now, task-specific systems and autonomous heavy equipment are leading the way. Humanoid robots may eventually join them, but their path will be longer. What’s certain is that the industry is continuing its digital transformation toward a future where our world is built not just by human hands, but with robotic ones alongside them.

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