Year 4 of Construction Inclusion Week Happening Now
The fourth annual Construction Inclusion Week (CIW), aimed at addressing hate on job sites, began on Monday, The initiative focuses on bringing in workers from diverse backgrounds into the trades.
With 41% of the construction workforce set to retire by 2031, fostering inclusivity is crucial to filling roles in construction, architecture, and engineering, according to a CIW release.
“To deliver on our promise to build necessary infrastructure and spaces, we must also ensure an inclusive workplace,” said Ray Sedey, CEO of McCarthy Building Cos. and chair of CIW 2024.
The week comes as bias-driven actions, like graffiti and hazing, have recently risen on job sites. Turner Construction, with 120,000 workers on its projects, tracks these events. After declining earlier this year, bias-motivated incidents, mostly graffiti, rose this summer. Turner spokesperson Chris McFadden linked the uptick to the pre-election climate. “Tensions rise and people find reasons to disagree,” he said. “I haven’t seen anything political in our [daily] reports, but there’s just an increased angst.”
On Oct. 8, work at the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium paused after a rope, perceived as a noose, was found. Though an investigation revealed it was a bowline knot, McFadden said the stoppage allowed time to emphasize inclusivity on the job site. “This was the right thing to do,” he said.
Despite positive trends, the construction industry may face obstacles, especially following the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against affirmative action. Workforce diversity goals in federal projects have been challenged, including a judge’s partial block of the Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. However, construction firms remain committed to attracting diverse talent. “This is how we will continue to attract and retain the best people for the work we do," said Sedey.
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