NEW YORK, NY, June 23, 2026 – Skillit is bringing DPR Construction and Suffolk Technologies into its investor and product-development group as it expands an AI-based hiring platform for skilled craft and field labor.
The partnership includes equity investments from WND Ventures and Suffolk Technologies, the venture capital affiliate of Suffolk Construction. DPR Construction and Suffolk Construction will also serve as design partners, giving Skillit input from contractors as it develops hiring infrastructure for construction labor.
Skillit says its platform connects builders with vetted craft workers across the U.S. The company plans to use the partnerships to expand its worker network, improve hiring workflows, strengthen data and automation capabilities, and add to its executive team as it prepares to onboard more craft workers.
“The world’s ambition has outpaced its capacity to build, and today we lack both the skilled workforce and the systems needed to deploy that talent to deliver America’s most mission-critical projects,” said Fraser Patterson, founder & CEO of Skillit. “Skillit’s mission is to solve construction’s labor shortage, starting with fixing access to the millions of skilled workers who already exist. Having strategic partners like DPR and Suffolk Technologies supporting that mission is a strong signal that the industry is ready for, and consolidating around, a new category of AI-powered craft hiring infrastructure.”
“As a self-performing contractor, we understand firsthand how complex and dynamic the skilled craft labor needs are across our projects,” said Eric Lamb, board member of DPR Construction. “We see the future of construction hiring as more connected, more responsive, and grounded in real jobsite needs. Skillit’s platform reflects that direction with its AI-powered infrastructure that helps our teams more quickly and effectively connect with talent in the skilled trades. We’re excited to support an approach that expands access to meaningful work and drives more predictable outcomes for our project teams and their customers.”
“Construction’s workforce challenges require new infrastructure and smarter systems,” stated Jit Kee Chin, chief technology officer at Suffolk Construction and managing partner of Suffolk Technologies. “Skillit is addressing a critical gap in the industry with technology purpose-built for the realities of construction hiring and labor deployment. As labor becomes the industry’s most constrained resource, the ability to attract and deploy skilled talent will increasingly define the winners and losers in construction.”
“Suffolk Technologies has spent years tracking the evolution of workforce technology, and we believe Skillit is building one of the most important companies of this generation,” continued Diana Kay, partner at Suffolk Technologies. “In an era defined by renewed investment in physical industries, Skillit is creating the foundational talent network for the 80% of workers who don’t sit behind a desk, fundamentally changing how labor is found, mobilized, and managed across the global economy.”
Skillit is also used by Swinerton, Mortenson, and Brasfield & Gorrie Industries, along with DPR Construction and Suffolk Construction.
Source: Skillit
About Skillit
Skillit is a construction workforce technology company that develops hiring software for skilled trades. The company was founded in 2021 and is based in New York. Its platform helps contractors find, screen, interview and hire craft workers. Skillit serves general contractors, specialty contractors and construction employers. Its worker network includes electricians, carpenters, ironworkers, welders, and laborers. The company also provides workforce planning support, recruiting tools and labor market data for construction hiring. Skillit focuses on sectors such as infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, commercial construction and data centers. The company reported about 190,000 craft workers across 45 trades and 350 metro areas in the United States.
About DPR Construction
DPR Construction is a commercial construction and construction management company based in Redwood City, CA. The company was founded in 1990 by Doug Woods, Peter Nosler and Ron Davidowski. It provides general contracting, construction management, design-build, preconstruction and project delivery services. DPR serves technology, life sciences, health care, higher education and commercial clients. Its projects include new facilities, tenant improvements and special projects. The company also uses prefabrication, virtual design and construction, and self-performed construction services on selected projects. DPR operates in the United States, Europe and Asia. It is privately held and employee-owned. DPR employs about 11,000 people worldwide.
