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Labor Trafficking in Construction and Hospitality, Final Report: Analyzing Victim Recruitment, Exploitation, and Service Needs to Identify Strategies for Prevention and Intervention

NCJ Number
310358
Date Published
2025
Length
78 pages
Annotation

This report discusses labor trafficking in the construction and hospitality sectors.

Abstract

This study exploring how the recruitment, control, concealment, and needs of labor trafficking victims vary across industries in two sectors: construction and hospitality. Researchers found both similarities and differences across industries and developed recommendations for both educating and empowering workers and promoting broader systems change. The study included primary data collection in three states (Colorado, Illinois, and New York): interviews with experts (e.g., victim service providers, worker justice organizations, and immigration advocates), surveys of individuals who have experienced labor exploitation in these industries, and in-depth follow-up interviews with a subsample of survey respondents who indicated experiencing relatively high levels of abuse on the survey. These data were supplemented with federally prosecuted construction and hospitality labor trafficking. Although the tactics used to exploit and traffic workers may vary by industry, most existing research treats labor trafficking as a single phenomenon, and only a few industries have been subjected to a more focused inquiry. Using surveys, interviews, and a review of federally adjudicated cases, this study offered the first focused comparison of labor trafficking in two industries—construction and hospitality. Although this study focused on two industries, all workers deserve to be treated with respect and feel empowered to report any exploitation or abuse they suffer at the hands of their employers. 

Date Published: January 1, 2025