Workforce, Safety, and the Future of Heavy Equipment

A conversation with AEM’s John Somers

The equipment manufacturing industry is at an inflection point. Workforce shortages, rapidly evolving safety expectations, and accelerating technology adoption are converging at the same time. To better understand what this means for manufacturers, dealers, technicians, and operators, Tech Comm News spoke with John Somers, Vice President of the Construction and Utility Sector at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

AEM represents more than 1,100 member companies across construction, utility, agriculture, and related industries, ranging from major OEMs to component suppliers and service providers. In his role, Somers works at the intersection of manufacturing, regulation, technology, and end-user experience.

The workforce gap is not theoretical

According to Somers, the labor shortage affecting the equipment industry is not limited to one role or one segment.

“There are shortages on both sides of the machine,” he explained. “Manufacturing roles inside OEM facilities, and the people who support equipment after it leaves the factory. Operators, technicians, dealers, and maintenance professionals.”

Technicians are currently one of the most critical pressure points. Even when machines are running well, preventative maintenance and inspection requirements continue to grow. Equipment uptime depends on skilled labor, and demand consistently outpaces supply.

One contributing factor, Somers noted, is generational exposure. For many years, students were presented with limited career narratives. College or low-wage service work, with little visibility into trades, manufacturing, or technical roles that sit between those extremes.

“That middle path just wasn’t discussed for a long time,” he said. “And that created a gap we’re still trying to close.”

Local problems require local solutions

While workforce shortages are national in scope, Somers emphasized that effective solutions are almost always local.

“There’s no single national campaign that fixes this,” he said. “You have to work with local tech schools, high schools, and community programs. Career fairs, demonstrations, hands-on exposure. That’s what moves the needle.”

Some regions are seeing success through renewed technical education programs, often supported by manufacturers and suppliers. Small engine repair, basic electrical systems, robotics, and shop classes are reappearing in schools, giving students earlier exposure to equipment-related careers.

However, access remains inconsistent across regions, leaving many communities without structured pathways into the industry.

Safety standards must keep pace with innovation

As equipment evolves, safety expectations evolve with it. Somers highlighted the importance of standards awareness, especially for startups and newer manufacturers entering the space.

“There are companies building autonomous or semi-autonomous machines that don’t fully understand the standards landscape yet,” he said. “That knowledge gap can create real risk.”

AEM supports member engagement through committees focused on product safety, standards development, and regulatory alignment. These groups track changes across organizations such as ISO and ANSI, helping manufacturers understand not only what standards exist, but where they are headed.

Increasingly, safety systems are being designed into machines from the ground up rather than added later. Integrated camera systems, proximity sensing, and software-driven safeguards are becoming foundational elements of machine design.

Technology first, machine second

Somers sees a growing shift toward machines being built around technology rather than technology being bolted onto existing platforms.

“This mirrors what we’ve seen in automotive,” he said. “Designing the system around software, sensors, and data from the start creates a better safety profile and a better user experience.”

That philosophy extends beyond safety into automation, interoperability, and fleet management. Contractors and operators rarely work with a single brand. Mixed fleets are the norm, which makes data compatibility and system interoperability increasingly important.

“No one has a single-brand jobsite anymore,” Somers said. “The industry has to meet users where they are.”

Alternative power brings opportunity and risk

Electrification, hybrid systems, and hydrogen power all featured heavily in the discussion. While diesel engines are not disappearing anytime soon, alternative power options are expanding rapidly.

Somers expressed particular interest in hybrid systems that pair internal combustion engines with electric drivetrains. These approaches balance runtime, power demands, and safety considerations while easing the transition for technicians.

Pure battery electric systems introduce new training and safety challenges, especially in field service environments. High-voltage systems require different tools, procedures, and often multiple trained personnel on site. Fire response, environmental impact, and technician readiness are still evolving conversations.

Hydrogen internal combustion engines, such as those introduced by JCB, offer another promising path with fewer behavioral changes for operators and technicians. Infrastructure availability remains the primary barrier.

Tariffs, uncertainty, and long timelines

When discussing tariffs and reshoring, Somers drew a distinction between uncertainty and lack of clarity.

“Manufacturers can plan around almost anything if they understand it,” he said. “The problem is inconsistency and unclear application.”

Bringing manufacturing back to North America is not a short-term fix. Building or retrofitting facilities, securing skilled labor, and stabilizing supply chains takes years, not months. Workforce constraints resurface immediately once new facilities come online.

Automation can help, but it does not eliminate the need for skilled workers. It changes where human value is applied.

Why CONEXPO still matters

For Somers, CONEXPO-CON/AGG remains one of the most valuable industry events, not just because of product launches, but because of people.

“The best conversations happen between attendees,” he said. “People solving similar problems in different regions learn more from each other than from any single booth.”

While major equipment unveilings draw attention, unexpected innovations and informal peer discussions often leave the strongest impression. For many professionals, those conversations shape decisions long after the show ends.

Looking ahead

Workforce development, safety integration, interoperability, and alternative power are not isolated challenges. They are interconnected forces shaping the future of equipment manufacturing and operation.

As Somers summarized, progress depends on collaboration across manufacturers, dealers, educators, and standards bodies.

“The industry is strongest when we solve problems together,” he said.