Ssh! Don’t tell Donald Trump in case he gets big, like really big ideas for his Mexican wall, but there’s now a robot that can lay six times as many bricks a day as a human.
A New York-based company called Construction Robotics has developed SAM (Semi-Automated Mason) and already it’s begun replacing humans on several construction sites in the US.
Now the company says it plans to introduce SAM to Britain within two years.
Could this be the beginning of the end for bricklayers? Could SAM be taught to do other construction jobs, such as plastering and making a builder’s brew?
The simple answer is not any time soon.
Firstly, while SAM can pick up bricks, apply the right amount of mortar and lay them to form walls, he needs to be programmed for each new job, be supervised throughout every task and his work monitored.
On top of that there needs to be a health and safety supervisor to ensure SAM doesn’t go all-out Terminator on us.
In many ways, rather than heralding massive lay-offs, SAM underlines the huge importance of human talents in construction.
And right now, if you’re a bricklayer, joiner, plasterer, plumber, roofer or electrician, you’re in a strong position to choose employers who recognise your skills and reward them with good salaries and excellent working conditions.
In fact, apply for vacancies on s1jobs and you’re likely to be knocked down in the rush of employers keen to sign you up.
That’s because there’s a shortage among the skilled trades essential to put roofs over heads.
The problem has increased in recent months with the news builders from eastern Europe, unsettled by Brexit and unimpressed by the fall in the value of the pound, have started to leave.
This means even bigger shortfall in the numbers of workers needed to keep sites on track and deliver houses to buyers.
The fact is the huge loss of tradesmen and women that came about during the recession has never been made up – and with more workers now nearing retirement age and fewer apprentices coming through the system, the shortages are set to get worse.
But what’s bad news for the property industry in general, is very good news indeed for anyone with the relevant qualifications and experience.
So for all the latest Construction jobs visit s1jobs. SAMs need not apply!