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As we observe Black History Month, it is
important to note that, though it still has a long way to go, the American
workforce has made some progress in its efforts to prioritize diversity and
inclusion in all industries. The construction industry is a good example of how
far we’ve come in recent years, particularly in New York City. Here are some interesting
facts to help you understand how New York City has helped create a diverse
workforce:

Did you know that NYC’s
construction industry played a
role in the Civil Rights Movement?

In the 1960s, racial discrimination was
rampant and, according to the Economic Policy Institute, African American and
Hispanic workers faced discriminatory hiring practices. A majority of the jobs
went to white workers and some of the more skilled trades barely had any
African American members. Because of this, the Joint Committee on Equal
Employment Opportunity protested at job sites and demanded jobs for Black
construction workers. These demonstrations gained national attention and the
government began to implement policies such as meeting hiring goals, which
helped to increase the number of African Americans in the construction industry.

Did you know that NYC has a high number
of minority-owned construction firms?

According to New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, New York City’s
construction industry has more minority-owned construction firms than all of
New York State and the nation. New York City is at 63 percent, the rest of the
state is at 13 percent, and the nation is at 24 percent. Within these firms,
nearly two-thirds of the workers are African-American, Hispanic, and
Asian. 

Did you know that 14
percent of NYC’s construction workers are African American, as opposed to 7.9
percent of the nation’s construction workforce?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, a report from the Current Population Survey
shows that 7.9 percent of construction workers in the United States are African
American. However, the New York Building Congress reported that the
number of African American workers increased from 35, 354 to 35, 941, comprising
14 percent of the workers in New York City!

The construction industry in New York
City has been a leader in advocating for diversity. As we observe Black History
Month, it is important to reflect on the progress we have made and continue to develop
new ways to increase diversity and inclusion in the future.

Ready to find your next construction job? You
can get access to Building Skills NY construction job and training
opportunities by checking out our Job
Seekers page