Introduction
Research Questions
- How do the number and characteristics of construction workers who self-reported exploitation and trafficking experiences compare by prevalence estimation strategy?
- What is the nature and type of exploitation experienced by construction workers?
- What are the potential risk and protective factors associated with trafficking victimization?
To advance knowledge about promising methods for estimating the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States, the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) and the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) funded a study, conducted by RTI International, to field test two methods of prevalence estimation within one industry in one geographic location in the United States.
This study, conducted between 2020 and 2024, measured the prevalence of labor trafficking within the construction industry in Houston, Texas, using both time-location sampling (TLS) and link-tracing sampling (LTS). TLS involves developing a sampling frame of venues, days, and times where the population of focus congregates and using a random selection procedure (e.g., every fifth person) to select a representative sample of the population. LTS is a network sampling approach that relies on study participants to recruit their peers to participate in the study.
Purpose
This final report summarizes the human trafficking prevalence estimates generated by both the TLS and LTS strategies. Additionally, the report describes the nature and types of experiences with both labor trafficking and other labor exploitation that does not meet the threshold of labor trafficking among construction workers included in the study sample and explores patterns in risk and protective factors associated with human trafficking victimization.
Key Findings and Highlights
Data collection and prevalence estimation strategies matter. Although both TLS and LTS are promising approaches for identifying and recruiting construction workers, only TLS proved to be effective in reaching the population.
TLS was a more effective sampling strategy than LTS. Surveyed construction workers were hesitant to refer their peers for the survey, resulting in few referrals and limiting our ability to generalize results from the LTS sample to a broader sample of construction workers in Houston.
Results from the TLS sample indicate that 22% of construction workers in Houston have experienced labor trafficking in their lifetime, 13% have experienced labor trafficking within the past 2 years, and 4% have experienced or are experiencing labor trafficking in their current job.
Although individual characteristics and employment experiences were assessed as potential risk and protective factors, only one significant difference emerged. Construction workers who have worked in clean-up and reconstruction efforts after a natural disaster are significantly more likely to have experienced labor trafficking and other labor exploitation than those who have not worked in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Methods
Study findings are informed by the results of 1,427 surveys, taken by construction workers identified through either TLS or LTS sampling. The survey included measures of workplace exploitation as well as demographic information about respondents and their employment situations and experiences. In total, 903 construction workers were recruited through TLS and 524 construction workers were recruited by LTS. Data collection occurred between August 2022 and August 2023.
Citation
Barrick, K., Pfeffer, R., Tueller, S., Bradshaw, M., Aranguren, N., & Vincent, K. (2024). Measuring human trafficking prevalence in construction: A field test of multiple estimation methods, Final report [OPRE Report No. 2024-251]. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Glossary
- TLS:
- Time-location sampling
- LTS:
- Link tracing sampling
- PRIF:
- Prevalence Reduction Innovation Forum