GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Building Industry Statistics

Diversity in construction improves safety, profitability, innovation, and workforce retention.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

42% of industry workers believe that diversity improves safety outcomes

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65% of industry leaders agree that diversity improves innovation

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58% of industry participants believe that increasing diversity will lead to better project outcomes

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62% of industry respondents believe that improving DEI will enhance company competitiveness

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Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their peers financially

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47% of firms report that inclusion initiatives have positively impacted their corporate reputation

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85% of industry leaders agree that fostering an inclusive environment improves overall productivity

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The industry’s investment in DEI training programs grew by 45% from 2019 to 2023

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Women make up approximately 9% of the construction workforce in the U.S.

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Minority workers constitute about 22% of the construction workforce in the U.S.

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The percentage of women in executive leadership roles within construction companies is roughly 7%

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The average age of construction workers is 42, but the industry struggles with attracting younger diverse talent

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78% of construction companies have implemented some form of diversity and inclusion policies

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The turnover rate for women in construction is approximately 23%, higher than the industry average

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34% of construction firms report difficulty in recruiting minority workers

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Companies with higher gender diversity are 25% more likely to have above-average profitability

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Only 4% of construction firms have women in their top management teams

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The number of women in construction has increased by only 20% over the last decade

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Only 11% of construction apprentices are women

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The rate of retention for minority employees is 10% lower than for non-minorities

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52% of construction firms have implemented unconscious bias training programs

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In 2022, only 7% of construction projects prioritized diversity and inclusion in their procurement process

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The average pay gap between men and women in construction is approximately 19%

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80% of construction firms believe that diversity and inclusion are critical to attracting future talent

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Minority participation in the apprenticeship programs is at 18%, which is below industry targets

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Women in non-traditional roles (e.g., operating heavy machinery) constitute only 5% of total women workers in construction

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The retention rate of minority women in construction is approximately 60%, lower than that of majority groups

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The percentage of LGBTQ+ individuals in the construction industry is estimated at 3%, indicating underrepresentation

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70% of construction firms report that rural and minority communities are underrepresented in their workforce

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The industry investment in DEI initiatives increased by 50% during the last five years

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The participation rate of Black workers in construction apprenticeship programs is at 12%, below the national average

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The number of firms offering mentorship programs targeting women and minorities increased by 40% in the past three years

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Data shows that diverse teams in construction are more likely to complete projects ahead of schedule by 15%

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Initiatives promoting DEI have led to a 20% increase in minority ownership of construction firms over the last decade

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Only 14% of senior managers in construction are women, indicating the gender disparity at leadership levels

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Construction project teams with diverse membership report 30% fewer safety violations

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45% of minority workers report experiencing discrimination or bias at work

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The use of gender-neutral language in construction company policies increased by 30% from 2020 to 2023

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Construction firms with DEI initiatives report 20% higher employee satisfaction

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60% of minority workers report feeling that their perspectives are undervalued in the workplace

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55% of construction companies have formal DEI goals, but only 30% measure progress against these goals regularly

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Construction companies that foster inclusive cultures see a 33% reduction in workplace conflicts

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40% of minority workers feel they have limited advancement opportunities within their organizations

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Only 22% of women feel comfortable speaking up about bias or discrimination at work, indicating a need for cultural change

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Construction workers with DEI training report a 25% decrease in incidents of harassment and bias

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50% of workers from underrepresented groups see greater job satisfaction when organizations actively promote diversity

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Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 9% of the construction workforce in the U.S.
Minority workers constitute about 22% of the construction workforce in the U.S.
The percentage of women in executive leadership roles within construction companies is roughly 7%
Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their peers financially
The average age of construction workers is 42, but the industry struggles with attracting younger diverse talent
78% of construction companies have implemented some form of diversity and inclusion policies
The turnover rate for women in construction is approximately 23%, higher than the industry average
34% of construction firms report difficulty in recruiting minority workers
Companies with higher gender diversity are 25% more likely to have above-average profitability
Only 4% of construction firms have women in their top management teams
45% of minority workers report experiencing discrimination or bias at work
The number of women in construction has increased by only 20% over the last decade
42% of industry workers believe that diversity improves safety outcomes

Despite making up less than 10% of the construction workforce, women and minorities are pivotal to industry innovation and profitability, yet persistent disparities and underrepresentation threaten to hinder the sector’s growth and safety; this blog explores the crucial state of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the building industry and why embracing it is essential for future success.

Industry Perceptions and Attitudes

42% of industry workers believe that diversity improves safety outcomes
65% of industry leaders agree that diversity improves innovation
58% of industry participants believe that increasing diversity will lead to better project outcomes
62% of industry respondents believe that improving DEI will enhance company competitiveness

Industry Perceptions and Attitudes Interpretation

While significant strides are evident—such as 65% acknowledging that diversity fuels innovation—it's clear that fostering DEI isn't just good ethics but a strategic blueprint for safer, smarter, and more competitive building industry futures.

Leadership and Inclusion Initiatives

Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their peers financially
47% of firms report that inclusion initiatives have positively impacted their corporate reputation
85% of industry leaders agree that fostering an inclusive environment improves overall productivity

Leadership and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

Diving into diversity isn't just good ethics—it's good business: companies with diverse leadership outperform financially, boosting reputation and productivity, proving that inclusion is truly a building block for success.

Training, Retention, and Growth

The industry’s investment in DEI training programs grew by 45% from 2019 to 2023

Training, Retention, and Growth Interpretation

The building industry’s 45% surge in DEI training investment from 2019 to 2023 signals an impressive blueprint for creating a more inclusive and equitable foundation—one brick at a time.

Workforce Diversity and Representation

Women make up approximately 9% of the construction workforce in the U.S.
Minority workers constitute about 22% of the construction workforce in the U.S.
The percentage of women in executive leadership roles within construction companies is roughly 7%
The average age of construction workers is 42, but the industry struggles with attracting younger diverse talent
78% of construction companies have implemented some form of diversity and inclusion policies
The turnover rate for women in construction is approximately 23%, higher than the industry average
34% of construction firms report difficulty in recruiting minority workers
Companies with higher gender diversity are 25% more likely to have above-average profitability
Only 4% of construction firms have women in their top management teams
The number of women in construction has increased by only 20% over the last decade
Only 11% of construction apprentices are women
The rate of retention for minority employees is 10% lower than for non-minorities
52% of construction firms have implemented unconscious bias training programs
In 2022, only 7% of construction projects prioritized diversity and inclusion in their procurement process
The average pay gap between men and women in construction is approximately 19%
80% of construction firms believe that diversity and inclusion are critical to attracting future talent
Minority participation in the apprenticeship programs is at 18%, which is below industry targets
Women in non-traditional roles (e.g., operating heavy machinery) constitute only 5% of total women workers in construction
The retention rate of minority women in construction is approximately 60%, lower than that of majority groups
The percentage of LGBTQ+ individuals in the construction industry is estimated at 3%, indicating underrepresentation
70% of construction firms report that rural and minority communities are underrepresented in their workforce
The industry investment in DEI initiatives increased by 50% during the last five years
The participation rate of Black workers in construction apprenticeship programs is at 12%, below the national average
The number of firms offering mentorship programs targeting women and minorities increased by 40% in the past three years
Data shows that diverse teams in construction are more likely to complete projects ahead of schedule by 15%
Initiatives promoting DEI have led to a 20% increase in minority ownership of construction firms over the last decade
Only 14% of senior managers in construction are women, indicating the gender disparity at leadership levels
Construction project teams with diverse membership report 30% fewer safety violations

Workforce Diversity and Representation Interpretation

Despite a 50% surge in DEI investments over the past five years, women and minorities remain underrepresented and underrepresented in leadership—highlighting that in construction, building truly inclusive teams remains a project still under construction.

Workplace Environment and Culture

45% of minority workers report experiencing discrimination or bias at work
The use of gender-neutral language in construction company policies increased by 30% from 2020 to 2023
Construction firms with DEI initiatives report 20% higher employee satisfaction
60% of minority workers report feeling that their perspectives are undervalued in the workplace
55% of construction companies have formal DEI goals, but only 30% measure progress against these goals regularly
Construction companies that foster inclusive cultures see a 33% reduction in workplace conflicts
40% of minority workers feel they have limited advancement opportunities within their organizations
Only 22% of women feel comfortable speaking up about bias or discrimination at work, indicating a need for cultural change
Construction workers with DEI training report a 25% decrease in incidents of harassment and bias
50% of workers from underrepresented groups see greater job satisfaction when organizations actively promote diversity

Workplace Environment and Culture Interpretation

Despite notable strides in policy and training, the persistent disparities—such as nearly half of minority workers experiencing bias and only a fifth feeling comfortable speaking up—underscore that without genuine cultural change, the building industry’s commitment to diversity and inclusion remains an incomplete blueprint for progress.