Workforce

How to Support the Hispanic/Latino Construction Workforce

Hispanic and Latino employees have become a critical part of the construction workplace.
By Annie Mecias-Murphy
October 24, 2022
Topics
Workforce

“Hispanic origin can be viewed as the heritage, nationality, lineage or country of birth of the person or the person’s parents or ancestors before arriving in the United States. People who identify as Hispanic, Latino or Spanish may be any race,” according to census.gov.

One out of every five people in the United States is of Hispanic/Latino origin. A total 18.9% of the United States population is of Hispanic/Latino origin. More than half of the Hispanic/Latino population lives in California, Texas and Florida, according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2021.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey of 2021, as of July 1, 2021, the Hispanic population of the United States is considered the nation’s largest racial or ethnic minority.

Hispanics consisted of 30% of the construction workforce in the United States, according to 2020 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, 46.7% of construction laborers in the United States are Hispanic.

These statistics show that it is of ever-increasing importance to learn what is important and motivating to Hispanics/Latinos as they become a critical part of the construction industry and workplace.

This workforce group places a high value on family and culture, and they have a strong desire for self-improvement.

The emphasis on family is very important to note. One should consider “small talk” an important element as the employee of Hispanic/Latino background could feel more connected to those at work.

Personal contact is also very common in the Hispanic/Latino community and is considered normal. Greeting one another with a hug and kiss on the cheek is part of interactions on a daily basis.

Because of the strong desire for self-improvement, Hispanic/Latino workers are very self-motivated and appreciate a workplace in which they can be promoted and advanced.

The Hispanic culture embraces specific family and social values that are strong and permeate all family members’ lives. Many research studies emphasize the impact and role that family has on career choices. In "Experiences of Hispanic-American Women in Choosing Their Desired Careers: Family and Cultural Perspectives," a 2007 study of Hispanic American Women, the findings show that the relationship between career and the participants’ ethnic culture appeared as a significant thread throughout their experiences. The Hispanic culture embraces the value of the family first.

Although the Hispanic and much of the mainstream culture hold to traditional gender role patterns, all of the participants either were not constrained to these roles growing up or rejected the gender role patterns at a later period. These actions contributed significantly to their abilities to pursue their desired careers. This type of study is important as more women have been entering the construction workforce than ever before. An interesting variable of this study is that it was conducted in Miami-Dade County, Fla. More than 50% of the population in Miami is Hispanic/Latino, which could have an impact on the findings compared to other studies conducted in different parts of the country in which the Hispanic/Latino population is closer to the national percentage.

Good communication is critical for any construction site. Especially in the area of safety. A Western Michigan Dissertation by Ahmed Jalil Al-Bayati, Managing Workforce Diversity in Construction to Improve Communication and Reduce Fatalities (Hispanic Workforce Focus), revealed factors that affect Hispanic construction workers: “Several root causes lead to the higher rate of fatalities among Hispanic workers, such as language and cultural barriers and educational level […].” Better understanding the culture and background of the various workers improves the effectiveness of management.

Although there are some common elements in Hispanic/Latino cultures, there are also differences. So it would be prudent to avoid assuming all Hispanic/Latinos are the same and always pursue a culture that is curious and asks questions to learn more regarding employees. This will ensure the company environment is warm and inviting to this very important and growing group of workers in the construction industry.

by Annie Mecias-Murphy
Annie Mecias-Murphy is one of the principals of JA&M Developing LLC and its current President. JA&M Developing LLC has won several Excellence in Construction Awards since 2017 as well as the Sharp safety award multiple times. Annie Mecias-Murphy has been honored as one of the top 50 Women-Led Business Leaders in Florida, VIP Woman of the Year, Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners, top 100 leaders in construction and real estate, Vice Chair for the Florida East Coast Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Vice Chair of The Boys and Girls Club of Broward County and the Epic Foundation. JA&M Developing LLC has built its reputation on quality work, persistence, honesty, trust and teamwork. These basic values are the foundation of their success. To learn more, visit www.jamcontractors.com.

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