b'YOUR TOOLKIT FOR BUILDING EXCELLENCEconstruction firms to foster a more inclusive workFinally, the report said that retaliation, while not environment for underrepresented people, the 110- unique to construction, was a serious problem in page report concluded, Nevertheless, discriminationthe industry. remains a substantial barrier to entry, retentionGiven the fragmented structure of temporary and advancement of women and people of color inassignments and subcontracting on jobsites, workers construction decades after the Civil Rights Act of 1964who experience discrimination often dont know how outlawed race, sex and national origin discriminationto report it, while the threat of retaliation poses a by employers and unions. particularly steep barrier for workers seeking to assert The report broke down the underrepresentationtheir rights and change workplace culture. of women and people of color in the sector, notingContractors respondthat women make up 11% of all workers in theBrian Turmail, vice president of public affairs for construction workforceincluding office andthe Associated General Contractors of America, said clerical positionsand 4% of tradesworkers.the industry has been working aggressively to make Black people make up 7% of construction workers,construction more diverse and inclusive. compared to 13% in the general workforce. And while Bureau of Labor Statistics data consistentlyHe pointed to over 900 of the associations members shows that around a third of construction workers out of a total of 27,000, or around 3%that had are Hispanic or Latino, the report said thatsigned onto its Culture of Care inclusion within the industrys ranks, Black andprogram, as well as digital advertising Hispanic or Latino employees werecampaigns that reached traditionally disproportionately concentratedunderrepresented communities to in lower-paying positions. encourage people to pursue high-A vicious cycle of exclusion paying careers in construction. The report said these typesTurmail also highlighted a 2018 of discrepancies between thepaper the association published industrys 87% White andthat made a business case for 89% male workers contributeddiversity and inclusion in to a vicious cycle of fewerconstruction. underrepresented individualsHe said AGC welcomed the being hired for available positions.EEOCs focus on the industry. For years, the sector has struggled to fillIt is encouraging that the EEOC is also open jobs, the number of which increasednow looking into this issueespecially by 68,000 in April.considering its missionand we welcome them to Harassment is pervasive on many jobsites and posesa conversation and a process that our members are a significant barrier to the recruitment and retentionalready years into about the best and most effective of women and workers of color in the industry, theways to create a more diverse and inclusive industry, report stated. Turmail said in an email. It cited a 2021 survey of over 2,600 tradeswomenAssociated Builders and Contractors also said it was that found nearly one in four women reportedonboard with combating the issues outlined in the experiencing near-constant sexual harassment,report. while one in five women of color reported always orABC and its members oppose violence, coercion, frequently experiencing racial harassment on the job. intimidation, racism and the denial of the rights of Going beyond its usual focus on civil rights, theanyone, by anyone, at any time, said Greg Sizemore, agency called out the harassment on jobsites as avice president of health, safety, environment and workplace safety issue, citing evidence in an academicworkforce development at Associated Builders and study that suggested an increased risk of workplaceContractors.injury for tradespeople who experience harassment.He said that for more than 20 years, the groups Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee has hosted continued on page: 10 FRAME BUILDER - AUG023 / 9'