Next Builders Inc. Conducts New Employee Training on Communication and Generative AI in Construction Industry

Next Builders Inc. (Headquarters: Inagi City, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuta Naoi) conducted a lecture titled 'Essentials of Construction x Technology' on April 10, 2026, as part of a joint new employee training program by three organizations, including the Tokyo Small and Medium Construction Contractors Association. 69 new employees who joined small and medium construction companies in Tokyo participated.

The themes were communication, which is indispensable at construction sites, and how to approach generative AI, which has become increasingly popular in recent years. The lecture not only conveyed content but also conducted real-time surveys on the spot, visualizing the voices of new employees.

Importance of Nurturing Young Talent in the Construction Industry It's not just about increasing knowledge for new employees. The speed of their subsequent growth largely depends on whether they can 'listen correctly, confirm, and convey' when they encounter something they don't understand on site.

On the other hand, generative AI is already a familiar tool for today's young generation. Based on the premise that communication on site is important, the training provided practical guidance on how to use generative AI, including its applications and precautions, tailored to the construction industry.

Content of New Employee Training The training focused on 'on-site communication,' which is particularly important for young employees, and 'utilization of generative AI,' which is rapidly spreading in recent years.

Recent new employees include a generation affected by remote learning and non-face-to-face interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The training emphasized the importance of building human relationships and the basics of not leaving unanswered questions on site, confirming them early, and communicating them properly to the necessary people. This is not only a matter of human relations and communication but also forms the foundation of the five major management aspects (QCDSE) crucial on site.

Additionally, regarding generative AI, which is unavoidable in future practical work, methods of utilization such as confirming technical terms, organizing meeting contents, and drafting emails and documents were introduced. Precautions were also conveyed, including not inputting personal or confidential information, ensuring human review before external submission of generated content, and not blindly trusting AI output.

The latter half involved group work on ideas based on common problems encountered on site, making it a training that encouraged participants to think and act on their own, beyond just understanding knowledge.

Trends of Young Employees Revealed by Survey The survey results first revealed that 'they intend to ask people, but it's actually difficult to ask.'

For initial actions when in trouble, 'ask a senior first' was the most common at 50.0%, followed by 'research by self' at 37.9%. However, regarding asking questions to seniors or supervisors, 'a little nervous' was 45.5% and 'very nervous' was 22.7%, totaling 68.2%. This indicates that while new employees intend to rely on others, many feel a psychological barrier to asking questions.

Regarding generative AI usage, 'almost daily' was 36.4% and 'several times a week' was 18.2%, with a total of 54.5% using it at least once a week. This means more than half of new employees are already using generative AI daily.

Common uses included 'research' at 68.2%, 'email and document creation' at 45.5%, and 'brainstorming/sounding board' at 43.9%.

It is clear that generative AI has become a familiar tool for young people.

Furthermore, the most desired support for the future was 'operation manuals' and 'qualification acquisition support,' both at 66.7%. 'Opportunities for peer networking, including outside the company,' was also 48.5%.

About the Survey Conducted on the Day 69 people participated in this training, and responses were obtained from 66 of them.

The questions confirmed impressions of the construction industry, actions when in trouble, ease of asking questions to seniors and supervisors, usual information gathering methods, desired future support, and generative AI usage.

By understanding the actual situation of participants during the training and sharing the results, it led to more realistic learning.

Necessary Support for the Construction Industry Going Forward Through this training, it was reaffirmed that simply teaching knowledge is insufficient for nurturing young talent in the construction industry.

New employees are eager to consult. However, they actually feel difficulty in asking. Therefore, it is necessary to create an environment where it is easy to consult and to carefully convey the basics of communication at an early stage.

At the same time, mechanisms to support daily work are indispensable. Operation manuals, qualification acquisition support, and building connections with peers directly lead to retention support.