Construction company McCarthy Buildings Co. is investing in diversity. The firm has partnered with a selection of local agencies, including groups like 2nd Call, to hire more local and minority workers. On a recent project, McCarthy had a goal of filing 30% of staffing needs with local workers and 10% of staffing needs with XBE workers, defined as small /women-owned / minority / disadvantaged / disabled veteran / etc. business enterprises.
"Focusing on local, minority workers allows the community an opportunity to building and contributing to their community," Amanda Corbet of McCarthy Buildings Co., tells GlobeSt.com. "It's not just the diversity and skills in the community, it's involving the community in the development of their own community. It's great having local and diverse people work on a project, but more importantly, it should be about allowing the growth of the community to come from the community. It's like why buy things from China when you can buy it from the USA? Why import worker from outside of the community when you can find the within the community itself?"
The impetus to hire more minority and local workers also stems from McCarthy's own business ethos. "McCarthy is a community builder," says Corbet. "People are proud of their communities. Every community is comprised of an array of people with different ethnicities, genders, abilities and walks of life. Each person has unique traits and skills, and McCarthy values the strength that this diversity brings our project teams. Providing opportunities for individuals to be a part of building a project in their backyard is impactful to the growth of local communities."
These hiring practices aren't only beneficial to the company, but the community also benefits from its own investment. "Hiring worker's from the community is an investment in the community itself, so there is a positive impact. We're able to put money back directly back into the community," says Corbet. "When McCarthy hires local minorities it creates a positive impact that is taking place directly in the communities in which we build in. The more that McCarthy can hire locally, the more money that goes directly back into the local economy."
To find workers that meet the firm's needs, McCarthy is forging local partnerships. "These programs are essential to help bring new talent into the construction industry," says Corbet. "The construction industry is facing a labor shortage, and the workforce is aging. McCarthy has found that through partnerships with organizations such as Helmets to Hard Hats, we can recruit motivated individuals to be a part of our project team. Veterans are especially great candidates to work in construction, as they have a great work ethic, have the utmost responsibility for one's safety, and are very regimented in their tasks. All qualities that you want in your workforce."
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Kelsi Maree Borland
