Meeting_Body
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
NOVEMBER 30, 2017
Preamble
Motion by:
Kuehl, Hahn, Garcetti, Dupont-Walker, Solis, Barger, and Bowen
Related to Item 33: Encouraging Contractors to Increase Women's Workforce Participation on Metro Construction Projects
In 1978, Executive Order 11246 by then President Jimmy Carter, established the nationwide female utilization goal for hours worked on federally funded construction projects. In 1980, the specific goal of 6.9% was established by statute. While the goal has been in effect for more than 37 years, the attainment rate continues to fall short. The national average is below 3%, the state of California average is 2.1%, and Metro is currently averaging 3.35%.
Since 2012, Metro's Project Labor Agreement (PLA)/Construction Careers Program (CCP) has proven that diversifying the workforce on construction projects can improve access to career opportunities and served as a catalyst for improving socio- economic status. While the Metro PLA/CCP has met or exceeded its targeted hiring goals aimed to provide jobs to economically disadvantaged workers, females remain significantly underrepresented on construction projects.
With the passage of Measure M, Metro will oversee the largest public works program in the country. Forty major capital projects are planned over the four decades. Measure M projects are expected to generate more than 450,000 construction-related jobs. There are many benefits for women who consider employment in the construction field - namely, the relatively minor gender pay gap, women earn 93% of what men make in union construction jobs as opposed to 80% on average in other jobs.
A review of best practices from around the country found that cities like Seattle and Boston are exceeding the female utilization goal by integrating a supply and demand strategy to increase gender diversity on construction projects. Some of the barriers to attract women to the male dominated construction industry are: 1...
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