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Construction industry needs to attract more ethnic minority workers

Enquiry reveals poor recruitment practices stop ethnic minorities entering the construction industry

A negative image of the construction industry and poor recruitment practices are contributing to the low numbers of ethnic minorities entering the industry, according to the results of a special inquiry by The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Ethnic minorities make up just 3.3 per cent of the construction industry workforce, up from 1.9 per cent in 1999. This compares to ethnic minorities making up 7.9 per cent of the national workforce.

The Race Discrimination in the Construction Industry inquiry saw evidence that suggests the industry is no less appealing to ethnic minorities than it is to white people with 45 per cent and 42 per cent respectively saying they were interested in a career in construction.
However, a prevalence of word of mouth recruitment, a lack of job or career progression and problems making the transition from training to work, prevent ethnic minorities from getting jobs.
Although the majority of witnesses felt that overt racism had declined in recent years, there is evidence that some forms of racist ‘banter’ are still tolerated in pockets of the industry.
EHRC Commissioner Kay Allen said:

“The level of ethnic minority representation across the industry must improve. This is a vital industry for the British economy. It is important to acknowledge that it is facing some critical challenges from the recession and the changing nature of the British workforce. To remain competitive and ensure that it has the right skills for the future; it must invest in training and recruiting the best candidates from the widest possible pool of talent.

“It should be recognised that the industry is taking steps to increase diversity. There are many positive initiatives and examples of good practice designed to increase representation.
However, clearly there is more that needs to be done.
“Our report presents a call to action to the industry to build on its good work to date and address the causes of underrepresentation and continuing discrimination taking place in parts of the industry. It also represents a challenge for the Commission to support the industry in building on its good practice, while ensuring that those who do not comply with the requirements of equalities legislation are penalised appropriately”.

The inquiry report makes 31 broad-based recommendations for key issues to be addressed to improve representation of non-white ethnic minorities in the industry. These range from training and education, recruitment and contracting, retention, unlawful discrimination and monitoring and influencing change.