JLG shares industry perspective on trends reshaping work at height

JLG Industries has released a new industry whitepaper, Five Trends Reshaping Work at Height, that examines five trends influencing access equipment selection on modern job sites. Labor shortages, increasingly specialized applications and advances in technology are reshaping construction job sites, influencing how contractors, rental companies and equipment owners approach work at height, evaluate equipment and prepare for future projects.

“Today’s job sites continue to evolve, driven by changing project requirements, workforce challenges and advances in technology,” says Brent Miller, vice president sales administration, marketing and Latin America at JLG. “These trends reflect what we’re hearing from customers across the industry and highlight the growing importance of matching the right equipment and technologies to the application.”

According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the construction industry needed to attract an estimated 439,000 additional workers last year just to meet anticipated demand. Meanwhile, a recent Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and NCCER Workforce Survey found that 88% of contractors have unfilled craft positions. These stats underscore the ongoing challenge of finding skilled labour while projects continue to grow in size and complexity.

At the same time, work environments are becoming more specialized. From data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities to urban construction and infrastructure projects, contractors are increasingly selecting equipment based on the specific requirements of the application. Connected technologies provide greater visibility into machine status and utilization, while integrated machine features continue to support operators working in increasingly complex environments. Together, these trends are contributing to more connected and coordinated job sites where equipment, people and information work together to support productivity.

Rather than examining each trend independently, the whitepaper demonstrates how these forces intersect on today’s job sites. It explores how workforce challenges, application-specific equipment, connected technologies and coordinated workflows collectively influence equipment selection and project execution across a wide range of construction environments. 

“Whether you’re managing a rental fleet, planning equipment for a complex project or evaluating new technologies, understanding the trends shaping today’s job sites can help support better equipment decisions,” Miller says. “Customers can apply practical insights across a wide range of industries and applications while preparing for the evolving demands of work at height.”

Available as a complimentary download on JLG #DirectAccess, the whitepaper provides practical insights into the factors influencing work at height, along with considerations for selecting equipment designed for specific applications and for changing job site requirements.