Delaware Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy Releases Report on Delaware Women in Construction Trades

WILMINGTON, Del —The Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy, a Division of the Delaware Department of Human Resources, in partnership with the Delaware Departments of Labor and Education, released a new report titled- Delaware Women in the Construction Trades: A Path to Economic Security. The report examines the current state of women working in the construction trades and offers concrete solutions for how to increase the number of women participating in fields that have traditionally been male-dominated industries.

The significance of the report is made clear in the face of a looming labor shortage in Delaware’s construction industry with 55% of construction contractors reporting difficulty finding skilled workers in the second quarter of 2022. According to the report, women in Delaware’s construction industry currently make up 9.3% of the total industry, including administrative and sales roles. However, Delaware women represent just 3% of construction and extraction occupations such as plumbers, carpenters, and electricians.

“Increasing the number of Delaware women in construction trades is a win-win for both Delaware families and construction employers,” said Melanie Ross Levin, Director of the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy. “Delaware women need jobs that have family-sustaining wages, and Delaware construction employers desperately need more skilled talent. This report outlines concrete steps Delaware can take to open construction trades to women of today and girls looking for careers tomorrow.”

The report also pays close attention to the role apprenticeship programs can have in addressing the small number of women working in the construction trades. Several recommendations from the report focus on ways to expand apprenticeship opportunities for women who may be considering a trade, as well as ways to increase support for women already working in the industry.

“Post pandemic, both employers and workers face new workforce dynamics that we all must work together to address,” said Karryl Hubbard, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Labor. “Delaware has more job openings than those looking for work and if Delaware is to remain competitive, all of us need to be at the table developing solutions, including promoting programs designed to reach women and others that have historically been on the outside looking in when it comes to skilled trades.”

OWAA is working with the Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) to highlight specific programming available to job seekers – particularly women – through Registered Apprenticeships and other training programs that DOL champions.

To view the report, visit: de.gov/TradesReport

MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Smith, Department of Human Resources
Karen.M.Smith@delaware.gov

DOL Conducting 2023 Annual Prevailing Wage Survey

The Division of Industrial Affairs (DIA) at the Department of Labor (DOL) is currently conducting its Annual Prevailing Wage Survey for state-funded construction projects.

On January 4, 2023, the Department mailed over 4000 survey forms to contractors. The completed survey forms must be postmarked or returned to DIA for the data to be used in the calculation of the Delaware Prevailing Wage Rates no later than February 8, 2023.

DIA plans to publish its annual “Prevailing Wage Determination”  on or before March 15, 2023, which is valid for a period of one year.

The following are copies of survey instructions and forms:

Contact Department of Labor about the Annual Prevailing Wage Survey at 302-761-8200.

DOL Announces New Director of Vocational Rehabilitation

WILMINGTON, DE – Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Karryl Hubbard has announced that Elisha Jenkins will serve as the new Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), replacing former Director Andrea Guest, who retired earlier this year.

DVR is a partner in helping job seekers develop skill sets to find employment. The division strives to build relationships with employers so that Delaware job seekers can compete for opportunities and obtain employment that meets their needs.

Jenkins previously served as the Deputy Chief of Policy & Compliance in the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health for the State of Delaware. Prior to that, she was Director of the Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired.

A graduate of Norfolk State University with a BS in Sociology, Jenkins also earned a master’s degree in Public Administration and a master’s degree in Human Resources both from Wilmington University. Along with her educational background, Jenkins brings significant management experience to the role at DOL.

“We are excited to welcome Elisha to the DOL leadership team,” said Hubbard. “Delawareans will benefit from her impressive background and keen understanding of the challenges facing disabled workers.”

Jenkins will join DOL effective July 5, 2022.

New Employer UI and Construction Employer Tax Rates for 2022

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

WILMINGTON, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) is announcing the new Employer Unemployment Insurance and new Construction employer tax rates for 2022, effective January 1, 2022.

  • New Employer and new Construction employer rates are maintained at 2020 levels
  • Establish 2022 merit rate at lower of 2020, 2021, or 2022 tax rate, except for delinquency rate (conditions apply)
  • Authorization for DOL to issue credits to employers and reduce the delinquency tax rate to correct administrative errors or address fraudulent claims charged to employers (conditions apply, including being current on filing all quarterly reports)
  • Establish 2022 taxable wage base at $14,500 (down from $16,500 in 2021)

 

COVID related and fraudulent claims, as well as delays in receiving and processing employers’ 2020 and 2021 tax payments impacted employer tax rates in 2021.

 

The Secretary, with the unanimous support of the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council, took these actions to prevent the issues from persisting into 2022. Lowering the taxable wage base to $14,500 is estimated to save employers more than $11 million in 2022.

 

These actions were made possible by the Governor and General Assembly’s investment of nearly $250 million of the State’s Coronavirus Relief Funds to the Unemployment Insurance trust fund.

 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge for Delaware employers,” said DOL Secretary Karryl Hubbard. “These actions reaffirm our commitment to maintain UI taxes at the lowest levels possible, allowing employers to reinvest that money in their workers and infrastructure in order to restore their companies and the Delaware economy to pre-pandemic levels.”

 

The Delaware Department of Labor connects people to jobs, resources, monetary benefits, workplace protections, and labor market information to promote financial independence, workplace justice, and a strong economy. The department is made up of four main divisions: Unemployment Insurance, Employment & Training, Industrial Affairs, and Vocational Rehabilitation.

 

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Media Contact:
Alejandro Bodipo-Memba
DOL Communications
302-761-8002

DOL Conducting 2022 Annual Prevailing Wage Survey

The Division of Industrial Affairs (DIA) at the Department of Labor (DOL) is currently conducting its Annual Prevailing Wage Survey for state-funded construction projects – over 3,800 survey forms will be mailed out to contractors on December 27, 2021.

The completed survey forms must be postmarked or returned to DIA for the data to be used in the calculation of the Delaware Prevailing Wage Rates no later than February 8, 2022.

DIA plans to publish its annual “Prevailing Wage Determination”  on or before March 15, 2022, which is valid for a period of one year.

The following are copies of survey instructions and forms:

Contact Department of Labor about the Annual Prevailing Wage Survey at 302-761-8200.