Industry
Construction Workers at Risk from Humanoid Robots
Humanoid robots could help fill labour and safety gaps, mainly in controlled tasks.
Builders should begin planning now for the integration of humanoid robots on jobsites, according to a new report from global consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
The report points to labour shortages and slow productivity in the industry and suggests that robotics could provide a major solution.
“With the industry’s long-standing labor and productivity challenges likely to intensify, construction leaders would do well to begin considering potential uses for humanoids now,” the report states.
“If humanoids do become a cost-effective solution, companies will want to move as fast as possible.”
McKinsey says construction is facing a workforce crunch as fewer young people enter the field, experienced workers retire, and the job’s physical demands remain high. Productivity has trailed other industries for over 20 years, pushing contractors to look for new solutions.
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Humanoid robots, now stronger and smarter thanks to better AI and hardware, could help fill labour and safety gaps, though they are currently used mostly for repetitive, moderately complex tasks in controlled settings like grocery aisles or standardised interiors.
However, McKinsey suggests future applications could extend to pipe installation in tight spaces, sensor installation, and earthworks.
The report suggests that contractors start by identifying the tasks where humanoid robots could genuinely make a difference, and then decide how fast they want to move.
Companies can lead by testing new models, adopt them once they are proven, or roll them out selectively in the highest-value areas.
Robotics are not entirely new to construction. Granite Construction in Watsonville, California, already uses supervised autonomous machinery to upskill operators.
Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot, Dusty Robotics’ layout machine, Concert, Hadrian X, and Canvas’ drywall finishing system are other examples of tech being tested or deployed on sites.
Contractors appear increasingly receptive to robotics.
BuiltWorlds’ Equipment & Robotics Benchmarking report shows positive evaluations of construction robots rose from 74% in 2024 to more than 95% in 2025.
However, the share of firms actively using robotics dropped from 65% to 46% over the same period, indicating adoption remains cautious.
McKinsey’s report concludes that now is the ideal moment for construction firms to explore robotics. Early planning could give companies a competitive edge and prepare them for a future in which humanoid robots are a routine part of the workforce.
