In early March of 2022, state auditors spoke for the state of Massachusetts, and sadly found a serious gender-gap in the state’s construction field. The state had a mandated 6.9% target for hours worked by female employees to meet. It failed this goal. The State’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Division oversees annual construction spending to a tune of more than 2 billion annually. Shamefully, more than 60% of the contracts assessed clocked in zero hours for women. Arguably worse, nearly a third showed no hours clocked in for minority employees. Unfortunately, the findings in Massachusetts merely echo those that can be heard across the country. One example, Kansas City International Airport was cited for inadequately tracking the participation of female and minority workers in its new terminal project, despite this being a specific requirement for its mandated funding. In Minnesota, state journalists reviewed dozens of construction contracts only to find absolutely zero female or minority representation on any construction team. Although inclusion is still a goal of the construction industry, witness Construction Inclusion Week, which was kicked off in 2021, the battle remains largely unwon.
Key Takeaways:
- Massachusetts State Auditor has stated that the construction industry has done little.
- The data shown did not show contracts with smaller workers and little hours.
- DCAMM has stated that it is doing all it can to ensure equality in the work place.
“The majority of contracts — 61% — didn’t have any hours clocked by women.”