Economics

San Francisco Releases Report on Local Construction Hiring

Published

7 years ago

August 3, 2017

San Francisco´s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) released its sixth annual report on the Mandatory Local Hiring Policy for Construction.

The annual report, submitted to the Board of Supervisors, shows the outcomes of the local workforce initiative since its signing into law in 2011. The Local Hiring Policy for Construction was established to ensure contractors are employing local residents on public works projects.

“Connecting San Franciscans with local construction jobs gives all our residents the chance to enjoy the prosperity of this city,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “We are proud that the individuals who built their lives and raised their families here in this city are now helping to build the future of San Francisco.”

“One of the priorities of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development is to create more opportunities in the private sector for San Franciscans. This policy allows the city to connect local residents to the construction market in partnerships with our local unions—helping to put our residents in good-paying, sustainable jobs,” said Michael Carr, director of Workforce with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

The 2016-17 Local Hire Report includes hours performed by construction workers on city construction and capital projects led by the Port of San Francisco, Public Works, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Recreation and Parks. Highlights include:

456 capital projects totaling more than 8.4 million hours were subject to the Local Hire Policy;
38 percent or more than 3.1 million hours of construction were contributed by local residents; and
57 percent apprenticeship participation

Local residents represent a range of trades in this report including: asbestos removal workers, carpenters, cement mason drywall installer/latherers, electricians, glaziers, iron workers, laborers, operating engineers, painters, pile drivers, plaster tenders, plasterers, plumbers, roofers, sheet metal workers, and many others.

“I grew up in San Francisco so I have seen a lot of changes in the city. Now I’m proud to say that I’m building things that others can also see. It means a lot that there are programs to help people who grew up in this city to stay working and living here,” said Meg-Ann Pryor, Operating Engineer with Local 3 and CityBuild Academy graduate.

The annual report includes demographic and other data indicates that the San Francisco construction workforce maintains high levels of diversity according to available data.

The hours performed by local residents represent capital improvements projects including the repair of water and sewer lines, renovation of parks and recreational centers, repaved streets, rehabilitation of the city’s infrastructure and buildings, and the construction of new housing citywide.

A six-year assessment of the policy’s impact and the availability of qualified workers led the Board of Supervisors to set a 30 percent local hire mandate within the San Francisco construction market. OEWD will continue to respond to the changing workforce needs of the construction industry and ensure that the Local Hiring Policy for Construction benefits local workers and the San Francisco economy as a whole.

The full report is available at: www.oewd.org/local-hi

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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6 days ago

April 26, 2024

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Business

Black Business Summit Focuses on Equity, Access and Data

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship. Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA), answers questions from concerned entrepreneurs frustrated with a lack of follow-up from the state. January 24, 2024 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, Lost Angeles, Calif. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

By Solomon O. Smith, California Black Media

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship.

Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA) was a guest at the event. He told attendees about his department’s efforts to increase access for Black business owners.

“One thing I’m taking away from this for sure is we’re going to have to do a better job of connecting through your chambers of all these opportunities of billions of dollars that are coming down the pike. I’m honestly disappointed that people don’t know, so we’ll do better,” said Omishakin.

Lueathel Seawood, the president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of San Joaquin County, expressed frustration with obtaining federal contracts for small businesses, and completing the process. She observed that once a small business was certified as DBE, a Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, there was little help getting to the next step.

Omishakin admitted there is more work to be done to help them complete the process and include them in upcoming projects. However, the high-speed rail system expansion by the California High-Speed Rail Authority has set a goal of 30% participation from small businesses — only 10 percent is set aside for DBE.

The importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in economics was reinforced during the “State of the California Economy” talk led by author and economist Julianne Malveaux, and Anthony Asadullah Samad, Executive Director of the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute (MDAAPEI) at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Assaults on DEI disproportionately affect women of color and Black women, according to Malveaux. When asked what role the loss of DEI might serve in economics, she suggested a more sinister purpose.

“The genesis of all this is anti-blackness. So, your question about how this fits into the economy is economic exclusion, that essentially has been promoted as public policy,” said Malveaux.

The most anticipated speaker at the event was Janice Bryant Howroyd known affectionately to her peers as “JBH.” She is one of the first Black women to run and own a multi-billion-dollar company. Her company ActOne Group, is one of the largest, and most recognized, hiring, staffing and human resources firms in the world. She is the author of “Acting Up” and has a profile on Forbes.

Chairman of the board of directors of the California African American Chamber of Commerce, Timothy Alan Simon, a lawyer and the first Black Appointments Secretary in the Office of the Governor of California, moderated. They discussed the state of Black entrepreneurship in the country and Howroyd gave advice to other business owners.

“We look to inspire and educate,” said Howroyd. “Inspiration is great but when I’ve got people’s attention, I want to teach them something.”