JLG Whitepaper Examines Five Trends Affecting Work at Height

JLG Industries has released a new industry whitepaper examining five trends influencing access equipment selection on modern construction jobsites.

The report, Five Trends Reshaping Work at Height, examines how labor shortages, increasingly specialized applications, and technology advances are affecting the way contractors, rental companies, and equipment owners select equipment and plan 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, 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."

Labor availability remains one of the issues affecting construction. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the industry needed to attract an estimated 439,000 additional workers last year to meet anticipated demand. A separate Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and NCCER Workforce Survey found that 88% of contractors have unfilled craft positions.

The whitepaper also examines how construction environments are becoming more specialized. Applications ranging from data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities to urban construction and infrastructure projects can require equipment selected around specific jobsite conditions and requirements.

Connected technologies are also influencing equipment selection and jobsite operations. According to JLG, these technologies provide greater visibility into machine status and utilization, while integrated machine features continue to support operators working in increasingly complex environments.

Rather than examining each trend separately, the whitepaper considers how workforce challenges, specialized applications, connected technologies, and coordinated workflows intersect and influence equipment selection and project execution.

"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."

The whitepaper is available as a complimentary download through JLG DirectAccess and covers factors affecting work at height, equipment selection, and changing jobsite requirements.