The global heavy lifting market is expected to grow to more than $44.6 billion by 2034, increasing demand for skilled workers across construction, infrastructure, mining and energy projects.
Forecasts show the construction industry will need to expand its workforce by 3% to 5% annually to meet demand, while simultaneously replacing a large number of retiring workers. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) claims that, in the U.S. alone, construction companies will need to attract more than 456,000 new workers by 2027 to balance supply and demand. And according to McKinsey consultants, construction companies may need to replace about 41% of their workforce by 2031 due to retirements.
Demand is expected to be strongest in offshore wind, civil infrastructure and mining-related projects.
One example of a company moving with the times is Sarens, a leader in heavy lifting services. The company said it is focusing on recruiting younger workers through partnerships with technical schools and expanded training programs. Sarens also operates training centers in Belgium and South Africa to help prepare workers for specialized lifting and transport roles.
Despite broader concerns about artificial intelligence replacing jobs, reports cited in the release suggest heavy lifting roles remain less vulnerable because they require physical work in complex environments. AI is expected to play a larger role in planning and operational support rather than replacing operators entirely.
