Technology & Attracting the Next Generation

June 2026 – Written by Dustin South, BIM/Technology Lead

The stone Industry has a reputation for being a bit of a slow-moving industry. Building structures out of stone goes back to the earliest evidence of human civilization, literally, and as such it carries with it the attitude that “we’ve always done it this way, so why do we need to change”. While it may be true that institutional knowledge is important, we need to understand where we can improve, embrace technological changes and attract the next generation of stone industry professionals.

Last month I participated in a panel discussion at the StoneTech expo 2026, and during this discussion the topic of attracting young people into stone fabrication and installation came up. There was a sentiment that suggested that the industry is suffering from an aging workforce and that there is a lack of “new blood” coming in to replace it. This is not unique to the stone industry, US government data shows that the median age of manufacturing workers is 44 years old, and the workers aged 16 to 24 make up only 7.9% of the manufacturing workforce in 2025.

Gen Z workers are demanding strong wages, more flexibility and clear upward mobility like anyone would. However, one clear difference in the next generation is that they have grown up with technology all around them. They are comfortable with it and are going to be attracted to careers that include opportunities to take advantage of Tech. Lets examine ways that the stone industry can use tech to attract these tech savvy workers.

1. Reframe it as a Tech and Design Career, Not Manual Labour

The modern stone shop is increasingly a digital manufacturing hub. Recruitment campaigns must lead with technology to erase the stigma of backbreaking construction work.

a. Showcase the Tech Stack: Emphasize that the job involves operating 3D laser scanners, CAD/CAM software, robotics, and CNC machinery.

b. Appeal to Gamers: Highlight that programming a digital slab layout or operating a joystick-controlled crane uses the exact spatial awareness and digital skills developed in gaming.

c. Connect to Interior Design: Target art and design-minded students by framing fabrication as the physical realization of high-end architecture and luxury home styling.

2. Guarantee a Culture of Safety and Wellness

Gen Z is highly conscious of workplace health. With widespread news about the dangers of silica dust (silicosis) in stone cutting, shops must be aggressively transparent about safety.

a. Commit to "Clean Tech" Shops: Fabricators must make and market their facilities as 100% wet-shop with advanced air filtration, automated water recycling, and premium personal protective equipment (PPE).

b. Focus on Ergonomics: Show that heavy lifting is a thing of the past. Highlight the use of vacuum lifters, specialized boom cranes, and automated conveyors that protect workers' bodies.

3. Gamified Training and School Partnerships

Waiting for young adults to discover the industry after high school is way too late. Engagement must start early.

a. Virtual Reality (VR) Recruiting: Bring VR headsets to high school career fairs, allowing students to virtually operate a stone saw or practice cutting a slab in a gamified environment.

b. Paid High School Internships: Create youth apprenticeship pathways that allow students to earn high school credits and a paycheck simultaneously.

c. Scholarships and Tool Grants: Sponsor local trade school programs and provide graduating students with starter toolkits or safety gear to eliminate the financial barrier to entry.

4. Change our recruitment Marketing via social media

Young people do not look for jobs in traditional classifieds; they look on social media. The stone fabrication industry is highly visual and naturally suited for modern content platforms.

a. Leverage short-form content: Post satisfying, short-form videos of waterjet cutters slicing through stone, CNC machines carving intricate edges, and dramatic "before and after" kitchen transformations.

b. Humanize the Trade: Feature young, charismatic fabricators sharing their daily routines, showcasing their paycheck transparency, and debunking the myth that the trade is only for older generations.

c. Highlight "Satisfying" Work: Lean into the viral trend of "oddly satisfying" manufacturing processes, which garner billions of views from younger demographics.

Here at PICCO we are working hard to advance technological solutions in stone engineering and stay on the cutting edge of technological innovation. Not just for the benefits it gives us and our clients, but also to attract quality workers of the next generation. We work hard to overcome the inertia of “that’s the way we’ve always done it” and to continually ask “how can we do it better?”

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