Meeting_Body
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
MARCH 19, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT/CONSTRUCTION CAREERS POLICY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE the Construction Workforce Disparity Study report and response to Board Motion 29 (Attachment A).
Issue
ISSUE
On February 23, 2023, the Board passed Motion 29 - Attachment A (Directors Horvath, Mitchell, Bass, Solis, Hahn, and Dupont Walker) directing staff to: commission a refresh on the construction workforce disparity study and report back on (1) study findings and recommendations; (2) the potential application of cultural competency requirements in contractor and staff training, as well as similar qualitative metrics that can be used in Metro's proposal evaluation and contracting processes; and (3) the feasibility of creating bid preference incentives that can be applied to increase the number of women working on Metro funded construction projects, supporting working parents with the availability of dependent care spending account benefits in addition to access to child care; and working with organizations such as Women In Non-Traditional Employment Roles (WINTER) to apply best practices in future contracts. This provides a report back on the aforementioned items.
Background
BACKGROUND
In 2019, Metro undertook a critical study to explore the disparities in the female construction workforce. The study's findings were reported to the Metro Board in September 2019 . This study assessed female participation levels in various trades and discussed obstacles hindering recruitment and retention of women in construction roles.
Since the initial study, to further advance opportunities for women in construction, Metro has launched several groundbreaking initiatives, including outreach efforts to high schools that promote careers in construction. The Women Breaking Ground website, launched in March 2024, se...
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