What can companies in construction do to provide more equitable opportunities for sustainable growth?
Guest Commentator: William Bowie, President & CEO, Empower Construction
In the construction industry, equitable opportunities for sustainable growth begins with two simple things: access to opportunities and a skilled labor workforce. This is an industry where opportunities have always existed, however, there has been a struggle to make them equitable due to the lack of accessibility and knowledge of their existence. As an industry, the first step we must take is to increase awareness around these opportunities in the construction industry and how rewarding and consistent they can be.
An effective way to increase access is to educate the communities we serve about these opportunities by getting involved with the local trade schools, apprenticeship programs, and Workforce Development programs that focus on increasing diversity and equality in the construction trades industry. Introducing our youth to the trades while they are still in grade school is an effective way to increase awareness and build a workforce for an expanding industry for the future. By adding focus to and partnering with schools in diverse communities, construction companies can increase the awareness needed to foster a diverse workforce. Partnering with apprenticeship programs with either the local unions or trade schools will provide the training needed to create the skilled labor workforce for these opportunities.
Another great platform for increasing awareness are local workforce development programs which often hold career fairs to distribute information about these opportunities. This serves as a conduit to have face– to– face communications with potential candidates to spark interest and educate the candidates on how to access these opportunities and the process to becoming a skilled laborer in the trades.
In order to create more equitable opportunities for sustainable growth, we, the construction industry, need to get involved and invest in the people that will help with the growth and sustainability of the industry.
Securing a Safer City: An Inclusive Neighborhood Growth Issue Forum
Thursday, October 20, 2022 |3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Despite an overall decrease in violent crimes in the past year, gun violence continues to persist. At the same time, Philadelphia has been one of the cities hit hardest by the country's opioid problem – leaving communities, predominantly minority neighborhoods, to deal with its impact.
Join us in person for an interactive dialogue with regional leaders to better understand the business community's role in helping curb violence in our neighborhoods. Learn how to protect your business, employees, and clients through initiatives focused on preventing crimes against local businesses.
