Building an Equitable Workforce with Carpenters in Action

After the tragic death of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests and civil unrest, almost every industry has had to look in the mirror – reflecting on overt, covert and systemic racism that exists, and which creates barriers for people of color and other underrepresented groups. The construction industry is no different. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 88% of construction workers are White, compared to 78% in the overall workforce. In Minnesota, only 4.8% of the construction workforce is comprised of people of color. How can we create more opportunities for people of color in this industry? The North Central Regional Council of Carpenters, which represents union members across the Midwest, is taking steps toward equity. They launched the Carpenters in Action program, which aims to pipeline local, diverse community members into the carpenters union. The first cohort was directly involved in rebuilding the Lake Street corridor, which was hit hard over the summer following the Minneapolis riots. The long-term goal is to provide well-paying careers that build wealth and equity in the industry. We discuss the Carpenters in Action program and how we can create more diversity in the construction industry with KA's Director of Inclusion and Diversity Laurie Trousil; Barb Pecks, who is the Union business representative of the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters; and Kennoshia Fullilove, who graduated from the Carpenters in Action program this past summer.