Digital transformation in construction starts with workforce readiness.
By: Matt Poepsel, PhD
July 9, 2025
The construction industry is no stranger to transformation, but the current wave of change is unlike anything we’ve seen before. In “Hard Hats & High Tech: A Practical Guide to Building Tomorrow’s Construction Workforce”, leadership strategist Dr. Matt Poepsel highlights how digital tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modeling (BIM), drones, and robotics reshape the construction landscape and why workforce strategy must evolve in lockstep.
In this article, Poepsel explores:
- Why digital change is as much about people as it is about tools
- How the growing skills gap is reshaping hiring and training demands
- Generational challenges in attracting and retaining new talent
- The impact of increasingly complex materials and construction methods
- Case studies of companies, large and small, succeeding with digital upskilling
- Practical steps leaders can take to prepare their teams for digital transformation
- A self-assessment tool to measure your company’s readiness for change
The core insight? The future of construction won’t be defined solely by the technology you adopt, but by your ability to equip people to use it well. Even the most advanced tools won’t deliver results without a clear plan to upskill your workforce.
That’s where Propel People comes in.
Propel People is the intelligent hiring platform designed to help construction companies meet the demands of a digital-first future. As technology transforms job sites, the industry needs workers who can operate advanced equipment, interpret data, and adapt to new tools, without losing sight of craftsmanship and quality.
Propel People gives hiring managers the speed and insight to identify and engage the right candidates. With tools like ProScore, our proprietary resume-ranking engine, mobile-first applications, SMS-based workflows, and smart pre-screening filters, Propel People makes connecting with skilled tradespeople, tech-savvy professionals, and team-ready talent easier.
Whether you’re hiring for the field or the office, Propel People helps you quickly build a digitally capable, high-performing workforce.
Read Hard Hats & High Tech: A Practical Guide to Building Tomorrow’s Construction Workforce to learn how technology and people leadership must go hand in hand, and how Propel People can help you future-proof your hiring strategy.