A note from CEO Les Hiscoe:

Shawmut is only as successful as our people, and that success comes from having a strong and diverse talent pool—and that includes our trade partners. But as an industry, we face a significant challenge: a worker shortage.

The construction talent pipeline is not keeping pace with rising employment opportunities. And while there’s no single solution, leaders can address this shortage by fostering pathways for future generations to recognize the industry’s value and contribute fresh perspectives. Creating meaningful construction management opportunities for everyone is essential—construction serves as a critical pathway to the middle class, and an inclusive approach helps build stronger communities by providing stable jobs to a broader population segment. By doing this, we can ensure that construction is seen as a viable and rewarding career option.

Encouraging a diverse workforce isn't just a social imperative, it's an economic one. Diversity of people and thought, and creating an inclusive work environment, are what drive individual, company, and industry growth. A diverse labor force brings fresh ideas and innovative solutions, driving better outcomes for all stakeholders. It’s the responsibility of leaders to foster environments where diversity and inclusion are not just encouraged, but foundational elements of operations.

We must actively create and support initiatives that provide training, mentorship, and clear career pathways in construction. At Shawmut, we have both national and regional Diversity Leadership Councils that drive our DEI work; we launched a Diverse Partnerships Program  to strengthen relationships with and economic opportunity for Underrepresented Business Enterprises (UBEs); and we are longstanding partners of national and local organizations that invest in and elevate students and future leaders—including ACE Mentor Program, Summer Search, The Posse Foundation, STEM Advantage, and more.

By addressing the critical worker shortage now, we can ensure a steady pipeline of diverse, skilled talent who can meet the demands of our growing cities for generations to come.