Key Takeaways
- 75% of U.S. construction workers report experiencing workplace discrimination in 2023 surveys.
- Women cite safety concerns and harassment as top barriers, with 40% leaving trades within 5 years.
- Minorities face 22% higher injury rates in construction per 2022 OSHA data.
- 85% of U.S. construction firms implemented DEI training programs by 2023, reaching 70% employee participation.
- UK CITB launched 50+ women-in-construction mentorship schemes in 2022, boosting female apprenticeship starts by 18%.
- 62% of large U.S. contractors have formal equity hiring goals as of 2023 SHRM data.
- In 2022, women made up just 10.9% of the total construction workforce in the United States, highlighting a persistent gender gap despite industry growth.
- Only 4.3% of construction craftworkers were women in 2021, compared to 11.1% in professional and management roles within construction firms.
- Female participation in construction apprenticeships dropped to 9.2% in 2023 from 10.1% in 2020, per U.S. Department of Labor data.
- Women hold only 6.5% of CEO positions in top U.S. construction firms in 2023 ENR rankings.
- Minorities occupy 12.3% of executive roles in construction companies per 2022 Deloitte survey of 500 firms.
- In the UK, only 4% of construction board directors are women as of 2023, per industry board tracker.
- Black or African American workers constitute 7.2% of the U.S. construction workforce in 2022, per BLS data, amid overall industry employment of 7.5 million.
- Hispanic or Latino workers make up 30.1% of construction laborers in 2023, the highest representation among any occupational group.
- Asian workers represent just 2.1% of the total U.S. construction industry workforce in 2022, despite population growth.
Most construction workers face discrimination and unequal pay, driving women and minority talent out.
Challenges and Barriers
Challenges and Barriers Interpretation
DEI Programs and Initiatives
DEI Programs and Initiatives Interpretation
Gender Diversity
Gender Diversity Interpretation
Leadership and Management Diversity
Leadership and Management Diversity Interpretation
Racial and Ethnic Diversity
Racial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-construction-industry-statistics
Daniel Varga. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-construction-industry-statistics.
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-construction-industry-statistics.
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