As workforce challenges continue to impact construction and equipment manufacturing, industry leaders are increasingly looking beyond traditional solutions to attract, develop, and retain talent. Those conversations took center stage at Lumber Unbuilt: Deconstructing the Old Way of Building, a recent event hosted by Lumber and Nasdaq in New York City, where leaders from across the construction ecosystem gathered to explore the future of the built environment.
AEM Vice President John Somers joined workforce and industry experts from Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), and the Subcontractors Trade Association for a panel discussion on Intelligent Workforce Management. The session examined how organizations can better recruit, upskill, and deploy talent in an increasingly complex workforce environment. AEM Regional Manager of State Government Relations Jonathan Pirro was also in attendance.
“Conversations like this are what really help drive change in our industry,” said Somers. “I was honored to be able to take the stage and share insights on today’s evolving needs, and how construction technology can increase efficiency and attract and upskill the future workforce.”
The panel discussion closely aligns with priorities being addressed by AEM’s Workforce Development Committee, which continues to bring together member companies to identify solutions to labor shortages, strengthen workforce pipelines, and prepare the next generation of industry talent.
Workforce Challenges Require New Approaches
Across both construction and equipment manufacturing, employers continue to face challenges finding and retaining skilled workers. At the same time, rapid advancements in technology, artificial intelligence, and automation are changing how work gets done and the skills employees need to succeed.
During the panel discussion, leaders explored how technology and innovation can help address these challenges by creating more effective training pathways, supporting employee onboarding and development, and helping organizations better understand workforce needs. The conversation highlighted the importance of helping workers continuously develop new skills while providing clear opportunities for career growth.
For AEM and its members, these topics remain a key area of focus. Through its Workforce Development Committee, AEM works to identify workforce trends, share best practices, and create opportunities for collaboration between manufacturers, educators, workforce organizations, and industry partners.
Looking Ahead to the Future of Building
Now in its second year, Lumber Unbuilt was designed to encourage construction leaders to step away from day-to-day operations and focus on the broader forces shaping the industry's future.
This year’s event brought together contractors, association leaders, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to discuss topics including AI, data centers, productivity, workforce development, and competitiveness.
While technology was a prominent theme throughout the event, many discussions ultimately came back to people. The future of construction will depend not only on innovation, but on the industry’s ability to attract and prepare the workforce needed to support that innovation.
“What’s surprising is, we as an industry have the dots identified – we simply need to do more to connect them,” said Pirro. “We’ve got 450,000 manufacturing jobs available in the U.S., one tenth of those are equipment manufacturing jobs. We’re seeing increasingly that educators and trainers need more opportunities to connect talent with our employers.”
For more support, ideas, or information related workforce development, visit the AEM Workforce Solutions Toolkit.
Industry Collaboration Driving Progress
Events like Unbuilt provide valuable opportunities for collaboration across the construction ecosystem. By bringing together diverse perspectives, industry leaders can explore new ideas, challenge conventional thinking, and identify solutions to shared challenges.
For AEM, participation in these conversations supports the association’s broader workforce initiatives and reinforces the work being done by the Workforce Development Committee to help members navigate changing labor demands.
As the industry continues to evolve, discussions around workforce development, technology adoption, and talent attraction will remain critical. By engaging with leaders across construction and manufacturing, AEM is helping ensure that its members are part of shaping the workforce strategies that will drive the industry's future.
