Building an Inclusive Future for California’s Construction Industry


BY CAROL EATON READ THE RECOMMENDATION REPORT at https://www.agc-ca.org/diversity-equity-inclusion/ B


uilding a more inclusive work- force. That was a driving vision behind the AGC of California


Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Task Force, launched in 2020 to study and make recommendations on ways the association and its members could spark much-needed change within the construction industry. It continues to be an overarching goal


today, as a growing number of construc- tion companies are taking tangible steps to foster inclusivity – not only as a way to build their bottom lines, but also to attract new talent into an industry that has long been short on skilled workers. Following the release of its compre-


hensive recommendation report in the spring of 2021, the AGC of California DE&I Task Force segued into the DE&I Steering Committee. Charged with turning ideas into action, this 17-member committee is made up of passionate professionals who hold a variety of different positions at their own companies but are united by a common goal: to build a construction industry that is welcoming to all. Teir work is supported by dozens more AGC of California members and staff who


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CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024


participate in various ongoing working groups targeting a range of DE&I initia- tives and projects. Tese efforts have already delivered


several measurable and noteworthy results.


Among its key achievements to date,


the DE&I Steering Committee has rolled out two educational and communi- ty-building forums: the DE&I Forum, launched in September 2021, and the Small and Underrepresented Business (SUB) Forum, kicked off in August of 2022. Both forums have significantly increased member and non-member engagement in AGC of California as they seek to increase awareness and adoption of DE&I practices within the construction industry. Since its launch, the DE&I Forum


has registered over 1,050 individuals representing 305 different companies, while the SUB Forum has attracted nearly 500 attendees from over 225 companies to participate in its quarterly meetings. (Numbers are current as of November 2023.)


The DE&I Steering Committee has also supported annual Small Business


Construction Expos in Northern and Southern California, created toolbox talks and resource materials for companies looking to expand their emphasis on DE&I, and much more. Peter Tateishi, AGC of California CEO,


pointed out that the association’s leader- ship and vision in promoting DE&I was needed to effectively build a workforce capable of meeting not only current but future needs. “Our industry has reached a critical


point in its history where we must evolve to meet the infrastructure and project demands,” Tateishi commented. “As our country becomes more and more diverse, so does our workforce, and what has kept people engaged in the past is no longer going to fit the bill. “The tools and resources that our


DE&I Steering Committee has helped to create have deepened the sense of belonging across our industry and have only become more valuable to construc- tion companies,” he added. “We will continuously challenge and seek ways to improve and be better so that we can help equip individuals and companies alike with the tools they need to thrive.”


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