TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In light of new federal leadership and shifting priorities, West Alabama’s construction sector received valuable insights on upcoming regulatory changes that could impact the industry.

With a renewed focus on issues like illegal immigration and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), West Alabama Works, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, hosted a construction cluster event to provide industry leaders with an update.

The event saw attendance from contractors, skilled tradespeople, engineers, HR professionals, and other stakeholders who gathered to hear from industry advocates about the effects of recent executive orders on the construction industry.

Bruce Henderson, a labor and employment attorney based in Tuscaloosa, addressed the audience and shared important information on the federal government’s evolving stance on these issues.

“A lot of this has to do with employment practices, and a lot of it is centered on EEOC’s increasing emphasis over the past few years on diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identification,” Henderson said. “The new administration’s executive orders are directly targeting these areas, and they’re approaching it from a more mainstream perspective. The key takeaway here is that employers don’t need to rush to overhaul their employee handbooks, but they should take a measured approach moving forward.”

Henderson also pointed out that the federal government aims to ensure industries are making hiring decisions based on merit. However, he clarified that this does not necessarily rule out considering factors like race, equity, or inclusion in the hiring process.

“The point is to focus on merit in decision-making,” Henderson continued. “That said, diversity, equity, and inclusion are still valuable considerations, especially in recruitment and hiring.”

With these evolving guidelines, West Alabama’s construction industry is now tasked with balancing federal directives with its commitment to inclusive and equitable practices.

Originally reported by Kelvin Reynolds in WBRC News.