Center for Creative Leadership
In our work to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion within organizations and communities, we’ve found many leaders asking us, “How can I serve as an ally for these important causes?” And more fundamentally, “What is allyship?”
When you think of an industry dominated by men, construction might be one of the first that comes to mind.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
A new study by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute found that a union apprenticeship may be a better ticket to the middle class than a traditional four-year degree.
Name
Heather Baines
Job Title
President
Company Name
HR Constructions Services LLC
Black Americans have contributed to the foundation and framework of how we live, work, and play, but often, those stories go unreported and unnoticed. Black History Month presents an opportunity to elevate the voices and stories of Black Americans who have shaped the construction industry and celebrate their impact.
For the first time since October 2019, the Cleveland Building Trades Tradeswomen Committee hosted their Apprenticeship Fair.
The semi-annual event was paused in 2020 and the first part of 2021 for COVID-19 safety precautions.
After a year and a half pause, the apprenticeship fair resumed with an in-person event in mid-October at the Plumbers Local 55 Union Hall. The event drew more than 230 students and adults.
Josh White, Construction Executive
The construction industry is a major contributor to the U.S. economy, employing more than 7 million people and creating nearly $1.3 trillion worth of structures annually. An impressive portion of these employees have a military background—in fact, roughly 15.5% of all U.S. veterans will enter the construction industry at some point in their careers, according to PlanGrid’s Construction Productivity blog.
Joe Bousquin, Construction Dive
Construction has a long way to go to move the needle on diversity and inclusion in its ranks. While the industry’s numbers, compared to the nation’s overall workforce, skew heavily white and male, companies are making efforts to change that.