According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women, Black and Asian workers are underrepresented in construction, while White workers make up a significantly higher portion of employees compared to the broader workforce.
In May 2022, EEOC held a hearing to probe racism and sexism in construction after scores of bias-related incidents on jobsites gained media attention in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.
During that hearing, officials specifically referenced the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Improvement and Jobs Act, and what they characterized as their duty to ensure federal dollars weren’t funding hate in the industry. Since then, the EEOC has pursued a number of discrimination cases and settlements, some in the millions of dollars, against construction firms.
