Monday, October 17th kicks off Construction Inclusion Week. After a successful inaugural year in 2021, we have high hopes for what the 2022 awareness initiative will bring.
New to Construction Inclusion Week? This week was created to spread awareness about the importance of diversity and inclusion within the construction industry. We at I Build America know just how necessary it is to expand our talent pool and are fully behind this initiative. After all, there is so much untapped potential out there. Too many people believe that they aren’t the right fit for the industry just because they don’t fit a certain mold. If this preconceived notion proliferates, we will only see a widening labor gap.
As the Construction Inclusion Week website states, “If we genuinely want to attract, retain, and develop the best talent for our industry and maximize the diversity of our suppliers, we must grow our industry’s culture to be truly inclusive.”
When our industry becomes more inclusive, the next generation will see an industry that is representative of them and believe that they have what it takes to work in construction. We must show them their potential to make our industry successful.
To meet this goal, the Construction Inclusion Week team has created an incredible amount of resources. Keep an eye out for simulcasts, supplemental resources like videos, podcasts and reading materials, as well as a library of conversation guides for the jobsite and office settings. These resources will support daily themes:
Day 1: Commitment and Accountability
To create a more inclusive construction industry, each and every one of us must take part. This shouldn’t be left to the leaders to solve on their own. Rather, we all have an important part to play. Every construction industry member is a leader that can create the inclusive community we need.
Day 2: Belonging
Before we can make a positive impact on the future, we must understand where we are today. Educating ourselves and our teammates of the implications of unconscious bias will help us realize that we all belong, not just a select few. When the entire construction industry feels like they are a part of the community, they will work with more purpose.
Day 3: Supplier Diversity
Our past business practices influence our future actions. To be the most inclusive, we must intentionally seek out minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses and small-business enterprises.
Day 4: Workplace Culture
A healthy workplace culture fosters a safer, more productive work environment. And, it’s up to every individual team member to look out for one another. That means creating a space that is respectful and free of bias, open and inclusive, collaborative and equitable.
Day 5: Community Engagement
Though the work begins internally, we must take the lessons learned in Construction Inclusion Week and share it with the next generation. When we connect with students from all backgrounds, we will create the inclusive industry we envision.
We hope you set aside time this week to learn more about creating an inclusive industry and educating your team. If you have any questions, check out the Construction Inclusion Week website here.
