Leveraging Generative AI to Analyze Construction Industry Trends through Social Media Data

The exponential growth of construction-related discussions on social media presents both an opportunity and a challenge for industry intelligence gathering. This research introduces a methodological framework that integrates social media APIs with a systematic approach of generative AI analysis to extract qualitative insights from Reddit discussions. A dataset of 750 posts and 1,944 pages of unstructured text was analyzed to identify emerging trends in the construction industry. The framework revealed eight key themes, with technical knowledge and career development as dominant topics. The analysis also uncovered patterns in community engagement and knowledge gaps. These findings offer valuable insights for industry stakeholders, educational institutions, and professional organizations. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by establishing a preliminary AI-driven method for analyzing construction social media data and demonstrates the potential of integrating generative AI with social media analytics to support strategic decision-making in construction industry development and professional education.