Singapore Builders Turn to Robots as Construction Labour Crunch Deepens

Singapore's construction industry is turning to robotics at an accelerating pace as a deepening labour shortage forces builders to reconsider traditional workflows. More than 25 types of robots have been deployed across roughly 60 projects, up from virtually none in 2022, according to the Building and Construction Authority. While this represents only about 5% of larger construction projects, public agencies are now mandating robotic solutions in tenders, signalling a structural shift rather than an experimental one.

The manpower challenges driving this change are significant. Construction labourers were the top job vacancy among non-PMET roles across all sectors in 2025, according to the Ministry of Manpower, and non-residents accounted for close to four in five of the 566,800 workers in the sector. Firms report competing with other countries for foreign workers, while local talent shows little interest in an industry perceived as dirty and physically demanding. Expand Construction founder Von Lee envisions a future where physical labourers are robots controlled by human operators from sheltered offices — a vision that is gradually becoming reality.

Companies already deploying robots report measurable productivity gains. Seng Soon Huat Construction founder Edmund Ng, whose subcontracting firm started using painting robots in 2025, said one worker overseeing three painting robots can now do work previously assigned to six people. The JTC Corporation has made the use of robots compulsory in its construction tenders since late 2025, while 16 of 31 Build-To-Order projects tendered by HDB since 2025 will adopt robotics solutions. HDB said it is 'progressively introducing construction robots to increase construction productivity and reduce reliance on manpower amid a tight labour market.'

However, adoption remains uneven. High costs, unproven technology on certain applications, and limited after-sales support are holding back wider deployment. Many builders still see robotics as a significant upfront investment with uncertain returns, particularly for smaller firms. Those in the sector told ST that while robotics solutions can one day reduce manpower needs meaningfully, there are hurdles to overcome first — including making the technology reliable enough for Singapore's fast-paced construction environment and ensuring adequate training for local workers to operate and maintain the equipment.

Why it matters for Singapore: The construction robotics push reflects a broader national strategy to reduce dependence on foreign labour through automation, a theme that runs across multiple sectors in Singapore's economic planning. The BCA figures show the industry is at an inflection point — the technology exists and the business case is strengthening, but widespread adoption depends on cost reduction and skills development. For a city-state that builds constantly and faces long-term demographic constraints on its workforce, the success of this robotics push has implications far beyond individual construction sites, affecting housing supply, infrastructure timelines, and the overall competitiveness of Singapore's built environment sector.