Employee engagement, workforce development and community investment are becoming increasingly important factors in construction workforce strategy as contractors compete for skilled talent. DPR Construction has been recognized for its workplace practices and community initiatives after earning the No. 20 position on the 2026 PEOPLE Companies That Care list.
The recognition was announced Aug. 19 by Great Place to Work and PEOPLE. The ranking evaluates employee feedback alongside information submitted by participating organizations.
The 2026 ranking incorporates more than 1.3 million employee survey responses from Great Place to Work Certified organizations in the United States. Nearly 970,000 responses came from employees at companies eligible for this year's Companies That Care list.
DPR's workforce programs include employee development initiatives focused on career progression and leadership skills. The construction company also operates the Build Up High School Internship program, which has had 163 student participants.
According to DPR, 28 former participants later returned as college interns, while five joined the company as full-time employees. The program provides a pathway for students to gain early exposure to construction careers.
DPR also provides employee resource groups, mental health education, suicide prevention training and confidential counseling resources as part of its workforce support programs.
DPR's community initiatives include skills-based support for nonprofit organizations. In 2025, employees worked with 49 organizations through activities that included strategic planning, board service and professional development.
Employees also logged more than 10,000 volunteer hours on construction and renovation projects during the year. The reported value of those projects was approximately $1.9 million.
Environmental considerations are another component of DPR's workplace and construction initiatives. The company has six WELL Certified workplaces and recently opened a mass timber office in Silicon Valley. DPR also applies construction methods intended to reduce emissions, conserve water and lower environmental impacts.
The recognition provides another example of how construction companies are using employee development, community involvement and workplace programs as part of broader workforce strategies. For contractors and construction owners, programs that connect early-career exposure with internships and long-term employment can help create pathways into an industry facing continued demand for skilled workers.
Source: DPR Construction.
