Diversity, equity, and inclusion practices among select contractors: Insights from social media analysis and interviews

This study provides a snapshot of DEI practices of construction contractors listed in the "ENR Top 400 contractors" list from a major social event perspective in the United States: Black Lives Matter (BLM). A three-step mixed-method approach was employed: publicly available statements on the contractors' websites were analyzed, their official Twitter (now called "X") accounts were examined using sentiment analysis, and structured interviews were conducted with a subset of the contractors' DEI representatives. The results indicate that many companies may hesitate to support BLM publicly due to the political polarization surrounding the movement. While derived from a specific subset, the interview results also revealed that select contractors implement DEI practices within different organizational levels and are supported by high-ranking executives, which offers a foundation for further exploration. This study contributes to the construction industry by investigating the racial and cultural DEI practices of construction contractors in the U.S. and proposing practices that these companies can adopt to mitigate the politicized and polarizing effects of their commitment to DEI. These practices include bottom-up engagement programs with the workforce, open discussions with stakeholders, clearly communicating the purpose of their DEI commitments, and collaborating with organizations that facilitate a broader impact of DEI.