Medford, OR – Oregon’s push to diversify its construction workforce is showing early signs of success, as women and people of color now represent a growing share of new apprentices in the industry. According to a new report evaluating the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries’ Highway Construction Workforce Development Program, over half of the nearly 2,000 individuals who began apprenticeships in construction-related jobs between 2022 and 2023 were women or people of color.
The report, which assesses the program’s progress since its inception in 2010, reveals that 14% of new apprentices were women, and 45% were people of color. In comparison, white men made up 46% of the new apprentices—marking a notable 20 percentage point drop from when the program first began. The shift reflects the growing diversity of Oregon’s construction workforce, a trend that advocates say is critical for both the industry’s future and the broader goal of inclusion.
The program offers various resources, including career exploration classes, pre-apprenticeship training, and financial support for job-related expenses such as tools, safety clothing, and childcare. These services are designed to remove barriers and create pathways into the construction trades, which have long been dominated by white men. The program is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and managed in collaboration with ODOT and the Bureau of Labor and Industries.
Maura Kelly, a sociology professor at Portland State University and co-author of the report, highlighted the importance of recruiting from historically underrepresented groups. “There is not an unlimited pool of white men to draw from,” Kelly said. “If we are going to have a steady pipeline of people entering the trades, we need to look at groups that have been historically excluded from these kinds of jobs.”
The program’s focus on retention has also proven effective. Participants who received at least one form of support, such as financial assistance or mentorship, were 10% more likely to complete their apprenticeship. For those who accessed both financial and non-financial support, such as budgeting classes, the chances of finishing the program were even higher.
Despite this progress, the report also highlights ongoing challenges. Completion rates for women and people of color still lag behind those of white men, with Black men in particular experiencing the lowest completion rate at just 33%. The report attributes these disparities to factors such as workplace harassment, discrimination, and a general sense of exclusion that can drive marginalized groups out of the industry.
In response to these challenges, the report recommends that the program continue its efforts to foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity within the construction industry. Creating a more welcoming environment will be crucial to sustaining the diversity gains made so far.
The demand for construction workers is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. A recent study projected a 10% increase in construction-related jobs in the Portland metropolitan area between 2020 and 2030, with a median wage of $33 an hour. As the workforce shortage continues, experts say expanding access to these well-paying jobs is crucial for both public and private employers.
“These are really great jobs that offer good pay and benefits,” Kelly said. “These jobs really should be available to everybody.”