Denmark eyes automation to address electrician shortage

In a construction site in Denmark, two electricians grapple with a stubborn cable, their arms stretched overhead as they maneuver it into place. But today, they’re not alone – two robot engineers watch intently, their minds already racing with possibilities. Could a machine assist with this physically demanding task, allowing a single electrician to do the job of two?

The scene unfolded as part of a new initiative that could significantly impact Denmark’s electrical contracting industry. As the country faces a growing shortage of skilled electricians, industry leaders are exploring a novel solution: robots and automation.

To map out the industry’s automation potential, the trade union Dansk El-Forbund and employers’ association TEKNIQ Arbejdsgiverne commissioned an independent study by HowToRobot. The consultancy said it revealed the potential for robotics to address the pressing labor challenges facing the industry:

• By 2030, Denmark is projected to face a shortfall of 6,700 electricians.
• Implementing existing off-the-shelf technologies could address 14% of the expected electrician shortage by 2030.
• With the development of new, fully automated systems, up to 70% of the expected shortage could be addressed.

“There is already a shortage of labor in the industry, and the green transition increases the need for electricians even further,” said Maria Schougaard Berntsen, deputy director of TEKNIQ Arbejdsgiverne. “This study shows that automation could be a key part of the solution.”

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Denmark’s electrician shortage increases need for automation

The shortage of skilled labor is affecting many Danish industries, but electrical contractors are particularly hard hit. Thirty-seven percent of electrical contracting companies said they experience “production restrictions” due to a lack of labor. That’s far more than the 24% for the general industry, according to Statistics Denmark data from May.

Electricians are also among the occupational groups in Denmark that companies have the hardest time recruiting. Just over a third of all advertised electrician positions end up with unsuccessful recruitment, according to the Danish Agency for Labor Market and Recruitment. 

“This increased demand puts additional pressure on the current electricians in the industry to work more with the risk of getting worn out faster,” said Lars B. Sørensen, area manager at Dansk El-Forbund.

The companies participating in the demonstration project said they hoped to find ways to free electricians from the heaviest, most monotonous, and repetitive tasks. This goal has been successfully achieved, according to Mikkel Viager, a robot engineer from HowToRobot. He observed and analyzed more than 50 electrical installation and maintenance tasks as part of the project.

“We uncovered a wide range of existing, often semi-automatic, aids and solutions that can reduce the time electricians spend on many of their tasks,” he said. “It was far more significant than we had dared to hope.”

The project identified 13 electrical tasks across renovation, maintenance, and new construction as suitable for automation and optimization with new or existing technology. In particular, the study found great potential in automating processes such as cable pulling behind ceilings and walls, hole drilling for electrical installations, measuring and marking, and channel cutting for wiring.

“The analysis shows enormous potential. Automation can help ensure that a company can say yes to orders that they would otherwise have to decline due to staff shortages,” said Schougaard Berntsen. “This debunks the myth that robots are taking jobs from people.”

Automation reduces heavy and tedious tasks

One thing is to automate to optimize work time, but in the bigger picture, there are other considerations motivating electrical contracting companies.

“What appeals to me most about automation is that we can spare our employees and reduce wear and tear. Some of those entering the labor market now will be working until they are over 72 years old. If they are to stay in the industry, we need to take good care of them,” says Jesper Timming, Managing Director of the Danish electrical contractor Linde-El – one of the companies studied in the project.

Particularly heavy tasks in difficult working positions, such as working on ladders with hands above shoulder height, can be wearing – especially on the shoulders. One of the project’s goals was, therefore, to map out how automation can help reduce the number of wearing tasks and thus improve the working environment. Across the tasks analyzed, the study found an ‘improved working environment’ to be the overall most significant positive effect of automation.

Measurement, grooving: Much, but not all, can be automated

During the project, several electrician tasks beyond cable pulling emerged as suitable for automation.

One of these was the measurement and marking of placements for sockets, conduits, etc. Various existing systems can reduce the time spent on these tasks and minimize measurement errors.

However, an automated system using a 3D scanner could scan a room and then plot installations directly from a technical drawing onto walls, floors, and ceilings for marking. In addition, there are mobile robots that can print the drawing directly on the floor.