About the Study

In 2022, the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to fund contractors Westat Insight (formerly Insight Policy Research) and Urban Institute to conduct the Study of Occupations and Skills Related to Occupations in Construction under the Administrative Data Research and Analysis and Apprenticeship Evidence-Building portfolios of studies. This study aims to estimate the distribution of workers across gender and race and ethnicity groups in occupations in the current construction workforce compared to those in similar occupations to identify which groups may be underrepresented in construction. It also explores the distribution of workers across gender and race and ethnicity groups in occupations in registered apprenticeship programs and identifies potential strategies for building a more equitable construction workforce through apprenticeship pathways.

This Department of Labor-funded study contributes to the labor evidence-base to inform data, methods, and tools; equity; apprenticeship; and employment and training programs and policies and addresses Departmental strategic goals and priorities.

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.