AI Investment Could Help Construction Firms Retain Staff
More than half of construction professionals would be more likely to stay with their employer if it increased investment in AI tools, according to a PlanRadar survey of 1,728 professionals across 14 countries, including Singapore.
The findings suggest construction workers view AI less as a job threat and more as a practical way to reduce pressure in a sector struggling with staff shortages and competition for experienced project managers.
What Workers Want From AI
Nearly 58% of respondents said AI could reduce major day-to-day challenges such as keeping projects on schedule and managing changes during delivery. Almost half spend more than 11 hours a week on tasks they believe AI could streamline.
Among those already using AI-integrated tools, two-thirds said they save at least two hours per project each week. Yet nearly half of all respondents have no current plans to invest in AI-enabled tools.
Fear of job loss ranked as the lowest barrier to adoption. Respondents were more focused on whether tools were reliable, useful and worth the cost.
The Retention Advantage
Staff retention matters. The Project Management Institute estimates the construction sector will need nearly 2.5 million additional project professionals by 2035-a 60% increase from current levels. Construction wages have risen 4.2% year on year as companies compete for a smaller pool of workers.
In this environment, failing to invest in the right tools may cost employers more than the tools themselves.
Singapore's Specific Concerns
In Singapore, trust was the main barrier to AI adoption. Respondents cited accuracy and confidence in AI recommendations as their leading concern.
Cost ranked second and carried more weight in Singapore than in global findings. This suggests local firms are carefully assessing whether productivity gains justify the investment.
The pattern points to caution rather than resistance. Construction professionals are asking for tools they can trust-ones that deliver reliable outputs while protecting sensitive project data.
Who Responded
All survey respondents were directly responsible for delivering projects on time and on budget. They worked in project management and consultancy, general contracting, specialist contracting, architecture and development.
PlanRadar conducted the 37-question survey in January among respondents in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. The company sells digital documentation, communication and reporting software for construction, facility management and real estate projects.
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