INDUSTRY FEATURE: Women in Construction Week Celebrated in Women’s History Month

Women in Construction Week is a way for the industry to celebrate the many women who contribute to the success of the Construction Industry every day. Celebrated from March 7-13 this year, this tribute week is the perfect feature for Women’s History Month.

Only about a quarter of the female working force are in the Construction Industry, and even less are front line employees. This gender gap does not slow women down in a male-dominated industry.

“There’s a lot of room for women to grow in this industry,” TMI Traffic Safety Supervisor Iesha explains. “We can do the same things men can do. This is a place for us, too.”

According to JLL research from 2020, new construction projects are expected to stabilize and grow rapidly over the next two years, and many construction companies are looking to recruit more women than ever before to utilize their skill set for further growth in a booming industry.

Some common obstacles for women in the Construction industry include: pay gap, lack of advancement opportunities, injuries, discrimination, exclusion and a lack of role models.

To overcome this, women are seeking diversified companies that have a track record with supporting female employees equally, or starting their own businesses.

Some resources for women in the field, some available resources include:
• National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
• Women Construction Owners & Executives USA
• Groundbreaking Women in Construction Conference

For companies looking to expand their female workforce, JLL research suggests that companies firstly acknowledge and remove gender bias from their work culture, develop training programs and local mentorship groups specific to the needs of women, include more women in the hiring process and encourage current female employees to become role models for other women entering the workforce.