Global Scans · Construction · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: 65 per cent of global construction growth for the next decade will happen in emerging markets. Smart cities, sustainable construction, greater urbanization and pre-fabricated buildings will all play their part in future construction growth.

• [New] The construction industry will need hundreds of thousands of additional skilled workers over the next several years just to meet projected demand, shortages that are especially acute in mechanical and industrial trades. Supply House Times
• [New] The vulnerability of data centers in 2026 extends beyond kinetic threats to the material reality of their construction. Pascal's Substack
• [New] The Data Center Industry in 2026 is increasingly using joint ventures and co-investment to share construction and power-supply risk. Aerodoc
• [New] Affordability remains a central obstacle early in 2026, arguing that meaningful improvement will require policies aimed at bending the construction cost curve and expanding attainable housing supply. Mortgage News Daily
• [New] Widespread Adoption: More than 80% of large new farm construction is expected to leverage drone or satellite imaging by 2028. Farmonaut
• [New] Construction activity in New South Wales, where the first phase of high speed rail will be delivered, will peak in 2026, before declining by an average of 8.7% per year to 2031-32. Australasian Railway Association
• [New] Long stretches of tunnelling, construction under rivers and avoiding critical power utilities and fuel lines near the new Western Sydney International Airport will create major technical challenges and risk significant cost blowouts for the proposed $93 billion high speed Sydney-Newcastle rail link. Australian Financial Review
• Construction 5.0 will integrate AI, robotics, and machine learning to anticipate problems, optimise resources, and ensure technology serves both people and the planet. 3D Printing Industry
• Over the next decade, construction will leap from isolated pilots to full-scale digital industrialization, where 3D concrete printing will become a standard method rather than a technological curiosity. 3D Printing Industry
• Looking ahead to 2030-35, 3D construction printing has come a long way in recent years. 3D Printing Industry
• Major projects such as high-speed rail and urban railway systems are expected to begin construction in 2026, creating sustained growth momentum over the next three to five years. https://vir.com.vn/
• U.S. construction growth is largest in low-cost power states, boosting infrastructure needs and opportunities. ConstructConnect
• We expect the construction of data centers, warehouses and modern manufacturing facilities to drive growth in construction during 2026. Quality Magazine
• Approximately 41% of the current construction workforce will retire by 2031 - a mass exodus of skilled workers and institutional knowledge that represents an existential threat to project continuity. CIC Construction Group
• Industry forecasts point to increases in construction tender prices of around 3.5% across real estate and up to 5% for infrastructure work in 2026 and 2027. Libra Construction
• By 2030, new buildings and renovations should reduce embodied carbon by at least 40%, with net-zero operational carbon as standard. Global Network for Zero
• Modular construction has gained traction all across the United States as project stakeholders seek faster delivery, more predictable costs, and reduced disruption on tight urban and campus sites. Triumph Modular
• Leveraging advanced BIM, robotic assembly, and AI-assisted design, the U.S. and Canada set global benchmarks in sustainable offsite construction, high-rise modular infrastructure, and customized commercial solutions, signaling a technology-driven, premium growth trajectory for 2025-2032. EIN Presswire
• Prefabricated approaches will extend into healthcare, education, and public infrastructure, lifting China to a leadership role in APAC modular prefabricated construction. Yahoo Finance Singapore
• By the end of 2029, the prefabricated construction sector is projected to expand from its 2024 value of CNY 1.48 trillion to approximately CNY 2.47 trillion. Yahoo Finance Singapore
• Heavy civil construction outlooks for 2026 reflect a balance of optimism on public infrastructure investment with caution over rising material costs, persistent labour shortages, and financing uncertainties that could influence workload, margins, and project timing. Florida Engineering LLC

Last updated: 04 March 2026