These days diversity and inclusion in the workspace has become a bit of a hot topic. There are a lot of reasons behind workplaces making an effort to diversify and hire people from different walks of life.
Apart from that, there is also a focus on explaining the importance of diversity and inclusion and educating the current employees about the necessity and benefits of it. The construction industry is also a part of this trend. Construction industry has historically always been male dominated and stayed homogeneous throughout the decades. So, it can even be said that these diversity and inclusion programs are much needed for the construction industry.
What are the reasons for this change in the industry?
You may be wondering how the construction industry has been making room for the people that it did not look for in the past, and why is it making this effort now? Well, the answer is quite simple, times are changing and for the most part they are changing for the better. Previously, construction sites were full of white men who had the traditional boys club mentality but now that the baby boomers are retiring there is a serious talent shortage in the industry. From construction machinery operators to the onsite labor force, there is a shortage of all sorts of construction workers.
Recession was the precursor to this shortage of Labor in the industry; however, it is expected that it will only continue to grow over the next decade. It is important for construction businesses to attract more people from different groups then they have before if they want to fill the talent gap that is left behind. That is why a lot of construction businesses have started reaching out to groups of people that they did not previously consider.
Apart from filling the talent gap it has been apparent that diversity and inclusion in the workspace leads to an increase in creativity. When a group of similar people work together, they can fall into a group mentality whereas having a new voice in the mix can prevent that from happening. Companies have reported that by being more diverse and inclusive they have also witnessed an increase in performance and profitability. And lastly, though it does not need to be said, it is the right thing to do to include unrepresented groups in the process when hiring for your business.