U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Joins Signing of Executive Order to Boost Workforce Participation

Boston - On December 23, 2024, Governor Healey signed an Executive Order to increase the participation of women and historically underrepresented groups in construction. The Governor signed the Executive Order at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 Training Center with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Labor & Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones, union leaders and apprentices. This action builds off the efforts of the Biden-Harris Administration, led by Secretary Raimondo, to expand access to high quality construction jobs for women and historically underrepresented groups, including veterans, people of color, individuals with disabilities and LGBTQ+.  

Women have traditionally been underrepresented in construction jobs and skilled trades, comprising only 11 percent of the industry workforce and four percent of trade occupations.   

“Here in Massachusetts, we know that we get the best results when our workforce reflects the rich diversity of the people of our state. The construction industry offers good-paying jobs and benefits that sustain families, and it’s important that we increase access to this field for women and historically underrepresented groups. Not only is it good for these workers and their families, but it’s also good for our employers and our economy as a whole,” said Governor Healey. “I’m grateful for the strong leadership of Secretary Raimondo and the Biden-Harris Administration to increase workforce participation in construction, and Massachusetts is proud to follow their lead.” 

“The construction industry plays such an important role in our communities and our economy. Construction workers build our homes, our schools, our businesses and materials for our heating and cooling systems. These are some of the highest-paying jobs out there for people without a college degree, and they offer impressive opportunities for advancement,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our administration is proud to be working alongside the Biden-Harris Administration and our partners in labor to expand access to these life-changing careers for women and other historically underrepresented groups.” 

“Thanks to major investments in American manufacturing and infrastructure from the Biden Administration, we have a unique opportunity to bring more women into the trades than ever before – into good-paying, quality, union jobs,” said U.S Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “That’s why I’ve prioritized getting women into the trades, and it’s why Governor Healey’s Executive Order is so important. We’re stepping up the momentum so that more women can join the construction industry over the next decade and get into these good-paying jobs.” 

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to breaking down barriers to employment and increasing access to career opportunities,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. “We look forward to building on our great partnership with the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the Massachusetts Building Trades, Building Pathways, contractors, and many more to meet workforce demands and advance representation among women and people of color in the trades.” 

The Executive Order establishes a Diverse and Equitable Construction Workforce Participation Committee with the Governor’s Office for facilitating interagency collaboration on this work. It also identifies and encourages best practices for state agencies to encourage equitable workforce participation in construction, such as utilizing registered apprentices, hiring local businesses and those with a record of hiring women and underrepresented groups, and encouraging contractors to provide supportive services like child care. The Committee will also work with state agencies on data collection to measure the workforce participation of women and underrepresented groups. 

In conjunction with this Executive Order, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) is announcing the formation of Access and Opportunity Committees (AOCs). The goal of the AOCs is to encourage collaboration and sharing of best practices for increasing women and diversity when it comes to workforce participation across DCAMM projects. DCAMM construction projects with an Estimated Construction Cost (ECC) over $35 million will be required to participate in the AOCs, which will review the status of workforce participation, along with the types of firms working on each of the projects to expand access. 

Statements of Support 

The Policy Group on Tradeswomen’s Issues (PGTI) Steering Committee: Amy Calandrella of Western Mass Tradeswomen, Nancy Luc of Building Pathways, Elizabeth Skidmore of Inclusion Builders, Shamaiah Turner of SMART and Mary Vogel of Equity Works:

“PGTI is enthusiastic about the promise of the Governor’s Executive Order to boost the participation of women and other underrepresented groups on public construction projects in Massachusetts. Although the state is a national leader in women’s representation in the construction trades, there is still much to be done to ensure that women have equitable access to these family-sustaining careers. The Executive Order's inclusion of PGTI's best practices, such as establishing Access and Opportunity Committees to ensure compliance with current state workforce goals, and providing supportive services and anti-harassment training, as well as improving compliance with current state law for the collection and public reporting of workforce participation data, is a significant step toward eliminating barriers for women in the trades.” 

Nancy Luc, Executive Director, Building Pathways:

"Governor Healey’s Executive Order is a powerful and necessary step toward ensuring equity and opportunity in the construction industry. At Building Pathways, we see firsthand the transformative impact that access to family-sustaining careers has on individuals, families, and communities. This Executive Order addresses critical barriers by promoting accountability through workforce data collection, establishing Access and Opportunity Committees, and providing essential supportive services. These measures directly align with our mission to prepare and empower underrepresented groups for success in the building trades. For our graduates, this means not just access to jobs but the chance to build lasting careers in an industry that values their contributions and reflects the diversity of our Commonwealth." 

Bob Butler, President, Sheet Metal Workers Local 17:

“Governor Healey's Executive Order exemplifies an important priority that we all share — expanding access to great union careers for women and historically underrepresented minorities. Here at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 17, we seek out, welcome and support diverse apprentices to learn the trade and join our union. We are proud to be part of the groundbreaking Building Pathways program that prepares underrepresented workers for union apprenticeships, and we are grateful for Governor Healey's and Secretary Raimondo’s leadership in working to expand and diversify our union workforce.” 

Chrissy Lynch, President, AFL-CIO: 

“We are so proud of the partnership between the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the labor movement, particularly with the building trades unions. This Executive Order is proof of that teamwork - it supports construction careers that reflect all our communities here in Massachusetts, it helps us access federal funds to help maintain our high standards, and it helps makes sure that the laws that make Massachusetts the best state to be a construction worker remain enforced. Labor is proud to support this effort, and I want to thank Governor Healey and Secretary Raimondo for their leadership and intentionality in making sure women have access to these family-sustaining careers."