The construction industry is consistently ranked among the sectors facing the highest labour shortages in the EU. According to the latest EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses, almost half of the occupations classified as being in shortage belong to the construction sector i . This labour shortage is due to a combination of factors, including an aging workforce, declining interest in trade professions, and the impact of Brexit on the availability of skilled workers from other European countries. In the UK, the number of people employed in construction has declined by 10.8% since the pandemic, with an aging workforce exacerbating the problem. The construction sector has traditionally relied on a younger workforce, but declining birth rates and an older population mean there are fewer people entering the field to replace retiring workers. The Construction Industry Training Board estimates that an additional 251,500 workers are needed by 2028 to meet demandii. Impending retirement of an older workforce means not only the loss of headcount, but also the loss of experience on the job site. The outcome is fewer and less experienced workers operating machinery, which could result in errors or even accidents, leading to rework and decreased productivity. Autonomy is one solution to the lack of a skilled workforce as it moves the skill and experience an operator would typically have onto the machine. It is ideal in any off-highway sector that wants to increase safety, boost productivity, and enable greater precision. Let’s take a look at what is meant by autonomy in off-highway machines, and how it delivers benefits. What is autonomy? Many discussions around autonomy focus on self-driving vehicles. The reality is more nuanced than that, and there are important distinctions between autonomy in on- and off-highway vehicles. In passenger cars and trucks, the goal is to automate the vehicle. In off-highway machines, the goal is to automate the tasks the vehicle performs. The more tasks that are automated, the more autonomous the vehicle appears. There are five levels of autonomy in offhighway machinery: Level 1: The driver controls most functions. Specific functions, such as steering, can be taken over by the machine upon the operator’s direction. Level 2: In certain circumstances, the machine can steer, accelerate, and brake. The operator is still directing and monitoring the action of the vehicle. This lightens the load for the operator, but they are very much engaged in the driving. Level 3: More complex actions are controlled and executed by the machine. In the right conditions, a machine can manage most driving aspects, including monitoring the environment. This allows the operator to control implements or other functions on the machine and take their eyes away from driving for short periods of time. Level 4: The machine can operate without human input or oversight, and multiple autonomous machines can work together on one site. However, supervision is required for edge cases. This is known as supervised autonomy. Level 5: The machine can operate without human input or oversight and can be controlled off-site. This is known as unsupervised autonomy. When people think of autonomy, many think of driverless or even cab-less machines. While autonomous machines do exist today, they are often expensive and complicated. Few have penetrated the market. In 15 or 20 years, this might change. For now, the state of the art in off-highway is semi-autonomous functionality that increases the ease of use, safety, productivity, and precision of machines — in other words, Level 3 autonomy. These Level 3 machines can enhance productivity and safety on the job site from day one, even with a new operator at the controls. Autonomy’s place in construction While other off-highway sectors have a relatively advanced autonomy offering — agriculture being the foremost example — construction could see rapid development as new workers enter the industry. As previously mentioned, autonomous and semi-autonomous functionality improves safety, productivity, and precision, regardless of operator experience. In construction, this will lead to reduced rework and faster job completion. Hyper-repetitive tasks are ideal candidates for automation. In construction, rollers and compactors are good examples. Soil compaction and asphalt rolling require highly skilled operators. If these tasks are not done 32 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS September 2025 www.hpmag.co.uk Autonomy and the future of construction The construction industry faces acute labour shortages, compounded by an aging workforce and rising demand. Autonomous and semi-autonomous machines offer a solution, transferring operator skill to technology. From enhancing safety and productivity to reducing rework, autonomy is reshaping job sites and enabling contractors to do more with fewer resources. Adam Khaw, Head of Autonomy, Danfoss Power Solutions, explains further. KNOWLEDGE BASE
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