The new report, which was completed in partnership with USGBC and dozens of other organizations in the building space, takes the pulse on where things stand with regard to diversity, equity and inclusion. It includes a breakdown of the definition of diversity. More than 7 in 10 respondents included race (75%), ethnicity (74%), gender (73%) and age (71%) in their definition of aspects of diversity within the context of the built environment.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents said it’s important to increase the diversity of the built environment. Overall, women (79%) and younger respondents—aged 39 or younger (68%) and aged 40 to 49 (66%)—were more likely to indicate the importance of increasing diversity.
Report highlights
Highlights of the 2023 Built Environment Workforce Survey include:
- About three in ten (29%) respondents indicated that the built environment is not diverse at all or is a little diverse, and about one-third (34%) indicated that the built environment is diverse or extremely diverse.
- Overall, women respondents (39%) and respondents who are Black, African American and/or of African descent (50%) were more likely to indicate the built environment is not diverse or is a little diverse.
- Overall, younger respondents—aged 39 or younger (68%) and aged 40 to 49 (66%)—and women respondents (79%) were more likely to indicate it is important or extremely important to increase the diversity of the built environment.
- More than three-quarters (76%) of respondents who are Hispanic and/or Latina/Latino/Latinx and nearly four in five (79%) respondents who are Black, African American, and/or of African descent indicated it is important or extremely important to increase the diversity of the built environment.
- Almost one-third (32%) of respondents indicated they have experienced discrimination or prejudice based on age.
- Around two-thirds (67%) of women respondents indicated they have experienced discrimination or prejudice in the built environment based on gender.
- More than half (55%) of respondents who are Black, African American and/or of African descent indicated they have experienced discrimination or prejudice based on race during their career in the built environment.
- Nearly two in five (39%) respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the following statement: “I have to work harder than others to be valued equally in the built environment.”
