GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Construction Industry Statistics

Diversity boosts construction industry performance, retention, safety, and competitiveness.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The construction industry invests less than 1% of project budgets into diversity and inclusion programs

Statistic 2

65% of construction firms have no formal diversity and inclusion policies

Statistic 3

Training programs focused on diversity and inclusion improve team cohesion by 25%

Statistic 4

Construction company diversity programs that include mentorship increase minority employee retention by 15%

Statistic 5

The percentage of contractors who actively track their diversity metrics has increased from 35% in 2018 to 60% in 2023

Statistic 6

50% of contractors say diversity initiatives are essential for long-term business success

Statistic 7

Companies with higher diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors

Statistic 8

Diverse companies are 70% more likely to capture new markets

Statistic 9

Minority-owned construction firms are 1.8 times more likely to engage in community development projects

Statistic 10

Women make up approximately 10.9% of the construction workforce in the U.S.

Statistic 11

Minority workers represent about 29.2% of the construction industry’s workforce in the U.S.

Statistic 12

Only 3% of construction firms are minority-owned businesses

Statistic 13

Women earn about 93% of what men earn in construction roles

Statistic 14

Construction industry turnover rates are 15% higher for minority workers compared to non-minorities

Statistic 15

The percentage of women in supervisory roles in construction is only around 14%

Statistic 16

Construction firms with inclusive practices see a 20% higher employee retention rate

Statistic 17

Hispanic workers constitute approximately 14% of the construction workforce in the U.S.

Statistic 18

Black workers account for roughly 6.5% of the construction workforce

Statistic 19

Native Americans are underrepresented, comprising less than 1% of the construction workforce

Statistic 20

Female participation in skilled trades like plumbing and electrical is below 5%

Statistic 21

63% of construction companies believe attracting more diverse talent would help fill labor shortages

Statistic 22

Only 2% of construction apprenticeships are taken by women

Statistic 23

The median age of construction workers is 42, with underrepresented groups tending to be younger

Statistic 24

Less than 1% of executive leadership roles in construction are held by women

Statistic 25

82% of construction contractors recognize that D&I initiatives are important for attracting young talent

Statistic 26

Women entrepreneurs in construction have seen a 25% growth rate over the past five years

Statistic 27

The majority of construction companies without DEI initiatives report difficulty in hiring and retaining minority employees

Statistic 28

Latino workers are most represented among construction apprentices, accounting for 18% of apprenticeships

Statistic 29

The average wage gap between male and female construction workers is about $5,000 annually

Statistic 30

Firms with diverse leadership are 25% more likely to innovate

Statistic 31

Approximately 78% of construction companies agree that increasing diversity improves project outcomes

Statistic 32

The underrepresentation of women in field management roles is nearly 80%

Statistic 33

As of 2022, only 12% of construction industry leadership is composed of women

Statistic 34

LGBTQ+ workers make up an estimated 4% of the construction industry workforce

Statistic 35

Construction projects with diverse teams have 30% fewer safety incidents, according to recent studies

Statistic 36

Less than 10% of construction apprenticeships are awarded to women

Statistic 37

54% of construction workers agree that more diverse hiring practices could improve team performance

Statistic 38

The representation of women in construction engineering roles is approximately 15%

Statistic 39

The percentage of women in construction project management roles is under 20%

Statistic 40

The U.S. construction industry has a workforce that is about 28% ethnic minorities

Statistic 41

78% of women in construction report experiencing some form of gender bias

Statistic 42

About 45% of construction workers believe that diversity initiatives could improve company performance

Statistic 43

42% of construction workers believe that increasing diversity would reduce workplace conflicts

Statistic 44

Construction firms that prioritize inclusive culture see a 40% higher employee satisfaction rate

Statistic 45

80% of women in construction report feeling that their workplace is not inclusive

Statistic 46

Approximately 65% of construction firms have implemented some form of diversity and inclusion training

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Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 10.9% of the construction workforce in the U.S.
Minority workers represent about 29.2% of the construction industry’s workforce in the U.S.
Only 3% of construction firms are minority-owned businesses
Women earn about 93% of what men earn in construction roles
Construction industry turnover rates are 15% higher for minority workers compared to non-minorities
78% of women in construction report experiencing some form of gender bias
Companies with higher diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors
The percentage of women in supervisory roles in construction is only around 14%
About 45% of construction workers believe that diversity initiatives could improve company performance
The construction industry invests less than 1% of project budgets into diversity and inclusion programs
Construction firms with inclusive practices see a 20% higher employee retention rate
Hispanic workers constitute approximately 14% of the construction workforce in the U.S.
Black workers account for roughly 6.5% of the construction workforce

Despite making up just over 10% of the workforce, the construction industry’s push for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion is proven to enhance performance, safety, and innovation, highlighting both the urgent need and promising opportunities for change.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

The construction industry invests less than 1% of project budgets into diversity and inclusion programs
65% of construction firms have no formal diversity and inclusion policies
Training programs focused on diversity and inclusion improve team cohesion by 25%
Construction company diversity programs that include mentorship increase minority employee retention by 15%
The percentage of contractors who actively track their diversity metrics has increased from 35% in 2018 to 60% in 2023
50% of contractors say diversity initiatives are essential for long-term business success

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

Despite the growing recognition that diversity and inclusion boost team cohesion and retention, construction firms still invest less than 1% of their budgets into such programs, highlighting that industry progress may be more talk than action in building a truly inclusive future.

Economic Impact and Business Performance

Companies with higher diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors
Diverse companies are 70% more likely to capture new markets
Minority-owned construction firms are 1.8 times more likely to engage in community development projects

Economic Impact and Business Performance Interpretation

Embracing diversity in the construction industry not only builds more inclusive frameworks but also lays the foundation for higher performance, expanded markets, and stronger community ties—proving that equality isn't just ethical, it's profitable.

Workforce Demographics and Representation

Women make up approximately 10.9% of the construction workforce in the U.S.
Minority workers represent about 29.2% of the construction industry’s workforce in the U.S.
Only 3% of construction firms are minority-owned businesses
Women earn about 93% of what men earn in construction roles
Construction industry turnover rates are 15% higher for minority workers compared to non-minorities
The percentage of women in supervisory roles in construction is only around 14%
Construction firms with inclusive practices see a 20% higher employee retention rate
Hispanic workers constitute approximately 14% of the construction workforce in the U.S.
Black workers account for roughly 6.5% of the construction workforce
Native Americans are underrepresented, comprising less than 1% of the construction workforce
Female participation in skilled trades like plumbing and electrical is below 5%
63% of construction companies believe attracting more diverse talent would help fill labor shortages
Only 2% of construction apprenticeships are taken by women
The median age of construction workers is 42, with underrepresented groups tending to be younger
Less than 1% of executive leadership roles in construction are held by women
82% of construction contractors recognize that D&I initiatives are important for attracting young talent
Women entrepreneurs in construction have seen a 25% growth rate over the past five years
The majority of construction companies without DEI initiatives report difficulty in hiring and retaining minority employees
Latino workers are most represented among construction apprentices, accounting for 18% of apprenticeships
The average wage gap between male and female construction workers is about $5,000 annually
Firms with diverse leadership are 25% more likely to innovate
Approximately 78% of construction companies agree that increasing diversity improves project outcomes
The underrepresentation of women in field management roles is nearly 80%
As of 2022, only 12% of construction industry leadership is composed of women
LGBTQ+ workers make up an estimated 4% of the construction industry workforce
Construction projects with diverse teams have 30% fewer safety incidents, according to recent studies
Less than 10% of construction apprenticeships are awarded to women
54% of construction workers agree that more diverse hiring practices could improve team performance
The representation of women in construction engineering roles is approximately 15%
The percentage of women in construction project management roles is under 20%
The U.S. construction industry has a workforce that is about 28% ethnic minorities

Workforce Demographics and Representation Interpretation

Despite comprising nearly a third of the workforce, minority and female workers still face an uphill climb in the construction industry where diversity’s potential—boosting project outcomes, innovation, and safety—is often hampered by underrepresentation, wage gaps, and low leadership inclusion, revealing that improving inclusion isn’t just the right thing but a strategic necessity for building stronger, more resilient projects.

Workplace Attitudes and Experiences

78% of women in construction report experiencing some form of gender bias
About 45% of construction workers believe that diversity initiatives could improve company performance
42% of construction workers believe that increasing diversity would reduce workplace conflicts
Construction firms that prioritize inclusive culture see a 40% higher employee satisfaction rate
80% of women in construction report feeling that their workplace is not inclusive
Approximately 65% of construction firms have implemented some form of diversity and inclusion training

Workplace Attitudes and Experiences Interpretation

Despite the fact that nearly half of construction workers see diversity as a performance booster, a striking 78% of women still face gender bias, underscoring that construction firms' D&I efforts are like hard hats—crucial but often not enough to fully protect and empower everyone on site.