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] Rapid growth in the construction industry particularly in the developing countries such as China and India projected to offer lucrative growth opportunities in the near future. Precedence Research
• [New] Canada's construction industry is projected to face a shortfall of 108,000 workers over the next decade, with 21% of the current workforce set to retire. On-Site Magazine
• [New] With construction set to begin in Kenya in 2026 and a major expansion on the horizon for Phu Quoc by 2027, both airports are poised to play pivotal roles in shaping the next era of regional and global air travel. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] The Construction Industry Training Board expects UK construction output to grow by around 2.1% per year on average through to 2029, and estimates that hundreds of thousands of additional workers will be needed by the middle of the decade to deliver projected workloads. Approach Personnel
• [New] The construction industry is expected to enter 2026 facing uneven demand, rapid technological change, and persistent workforce shortages. AGC News
• [New] The UK faces a 1-2GW annual solar engineering, procurement and construction shortfall, and vessel scarcity threatens delivery of roughly 4 2GW of approved offshore wind capacity, requiring near-doubling of installation capability. Financier Worldwide
• [New] Building Integration Will Unlock The Next Level of Automation Value One of the most underappreciated trends heading into 2026 is deeper integration between robots and buildings themselves. Robots for Business
• [New] By 2026, drones equipped with IoT sensors and high-resolution imaging will emerge as standard tools for building and maintaining accurate, up-to-date digital replicas of physical assets across real estate, manufacturing, and construction. IOT Insider
• [New] Investment in the West is dwarfed by China, which has around 30 new reactors under construction and aims to add six to eight annually to reach 200 GW capacity by 2040. Financier Worldwide
• [New] Europe's new carbon border adjustment mechanism will reshape sustainable construction by assigning a real price to embodied carbon in imported steel and cement. Whole Life Carbon
• [New] IoT sensors and smart infrastructure solutions from firms such as Honeywell and Siemens enable real-time monitoring of buildings, bridges, and urban environments to detect potential hazards before they escalate. Precedence Research
• [New] Construction on Fab 2 is complete, with engineers currently installing equipment for 3 nm and 2 nm production slated for 2027. / Taiwan FinancialContent
• [New] The Government of Kazakhstan has reviewed its projections for GDP growth in 2026, identifying manufacturing, construction, trade, and transport as the key sectors expected to support economic expansion. Caspianpost.com
• [New] The main drivers of economic growth 2026 will be manufacturing, construction, transport and warehousing, trade, and the production of food and beverages. "Inform"
• [New] Healthy Materials & Indoor Air Quality Becoming Standard Requirements 2026 will see major growth in health-driven construction requirements. Premier Building Systems
• [New] Major works construction is expected to commence in Q3 2026 and is anticipated to last approximately two years, with the first gold pour expected in Q3 2028 and full production rates before the end of 2028. Artemis Gold Inc.
• [New] EP2 represents a significant addition to processing plant capacity from the previously announced Phase 1 A project, which is currently in construction, growing from an expected 8 million tonnes per annum before the end of 2026 to 21 Mtpa before the end of 2028. Artemis Gold Inc.
• [New] The volume of construction output worldwide is projected to grow by 85% by 2030. Science Based Targets Initiative
• [New] A major update to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules regarding safety and health regulations for the construction industry will soon mandate that employers provide personal protective equipment (PPE) that properly fits workers based on their unique body type. Fisher Phillips
• [New] Civil and Sector Outlook Civil construction is projected to rebound from 2026 onward, boosted by sustained investment in Data Centers and an 8% annual growth in Power and Communications between 2026 and 2029. ConstructConnect

Last updated: 07 January 2026