Labor Trafficking in Construction and Hospitality: Understanding Variance in Exploitation and Victim Needs in Different Industries

• In Event: NIJ Day: Human Trafficking Survivors’ Needs and Measurement of Outcomes

Abstract

Despite an increase in law enforcement and community interest in human trafficking since passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000, most anti-trafficking efforts remain focused on sex trafficking. When labor trafficking is prioritized, it is often conceptualized as a singular phenomenon—variation in victim experiences across different industries are often overlooked. The lack of sector-specific knowledge about labor trafficking victimization limits the extent to which law enforcement, regulatory agencies, health officials, and community-based advocates can identify and respond to this crime. The purpose of this study was to explore variation in the recruitment, control, concealment, and needs of labor trafficking victims in two distinct industries (construction and hospitality) by mapping labor trafficking supply chains in federally prosecuted cases, interviewing key stakeholders, surveying individuals who have experienced labor exploitation or trafficking in these industries, and conducting in-depth follow-up interviews with a subsample of survey respondents who have experienced severe forms of abuse. Preliminary findings will be presented and implications for victim services will be discussed.

Authors

• Kelle Barrick, RTI International

• Rebecca Pfeffer, RTI International

• Meredith Dank, New York University

• Amy Farrell, Northeastern University