Use construction boom to boost diversity

Construction is one of the few industries that can provide a family-sustaining career without a college degree, offering wages averaging $25 per hour and full benefits. It should not come as a surprise that Oregon's economy is growing rapidly. As our state has pulled out of the Great Recession over the past decade, we have added more than 300,000 jobs and grown our Gross Domestic Product by 50%. However, if we peel back the veneer of prosperity, it's clear that not all Oregonians have felt the benefits of growth. Income inequality in Oregon is at a record high, with median incomes stagnant since the 1980s. Women and people of color, in particular, have been left out of this economic expansion. Women in Oregon are typically paid 18.5% less than men and while median household income is $60,212, median incomes are significantly lower when a household is Hispanic or Latino $50,117, American Indian or Alaska Native $45,003 or African American $37,009.