The passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act presents a unique opportunity to address workforce diversity in construction and related industries. The potential of this investment to transform the job market is monumental. It is important that we ensure that women, particularly women of color, are not left behind in this promising jobs boom.

The Current Landscape

Despite the positive outlook brought by recent legislative acts like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, there’s a glaring issue: gender segregation in the job market. Women, especially women of color, are at risk of missing out on the influx of good jobs in construction, green energy, and manufacturing sectors. This imbalance is not just a missed opportunity for women but a significant gap in the industry’s potential.

The Potential for Change

The construction industry is on the cusp of a good jobs boom, with $2 trillion investments expected to create millions of well-paying jobs. These roles, ranging from ironworkers and electricians to plumbers, promise higher than average wages and benefits. The median salary in these trades is around $27 per hour, significantly higher than the median for non-college degree jobs. However, women currently hold only 14.1% of all construction jobs, a disparity that extends to green energy sectors.

Challenges and Opportunities

The construction and green energy sectors, pivotal in this jobs boom, are heavily male-dominated and lack racial diversity. If the status quo remains, women are expected to access only 29% of these new jobs. This imbalance occurs at a time when the industry desperately needs workers, with employers facing the challenge of recruiting hundreds of thousands of additional workers.

Strategies for Inclusion

To address this, there’s a need for intentional action from employers, unions, and government entities. They can take concrete steps to ensure more women fill these emerging roles. Examples of effective measures include:

  • Setting Robust Hiring and Retention Goals: Employers must commit to hiring and retaining more women, particularly women of color.
  • Proactive State Agency Initiatives: State agencies should use their authority and funds to build a diverse and inclusive workforce. This includes investing in workforce development programs and providing supportive services like child care, transportation, and funding for tools.
  • Learning from Successful Models: Places like Massachusetts, Oregon, and Chicago have demonstrated that increasing diversity in these sectors is achievable.

As the infrastructure and green energy sectors stand at the brink of a significant expansion, it is crucial to ensure that the benefits of this growth are equitably distributed. By taking concerted efforts to include more women in these high-paying and skilled jobs, we can not only build better infrastructure but also create a more inclusive and diverse workforce. The time for change is now, and the opportunity is too great to be missed.

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