For those in the construction field, you are likely familiar with Women in Construction Week. But for those outside the field, you may still have a lot of unanswered questions. It’s a time to appreciate the women who have chosen to work in this industry and also to get the attention of those interested.
Women in Construction Week started in 1998 through an organization formed by 16 women. It has become something special since its early beginnings.
Safety Training Classes
At ABC Greater Tennessee, we are dedicated to fostering a culture of safety across the construction industry. Our comprehensive safety training programs are designed to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to maintain safe and productive worksites.
Celebrating Women’s Strides in Construction
The construction industry has historically been considered a man’s industry. Although women represented a little over 10% of the construction workforce, there are efforts to get more involved.
Initiatives like Women in Construction Week aim to promote systemic change, support more diversity, and support inclusion in the workplace culture.
How Mentorship Drives Change for Women in Construction
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) provides great opportunities for people working, or considering working in the trades. The NAWIC offers a structured mentorship program, that connects newer professionals with leadership teams in the field. This mentorship is intended to help individuals with career development.
These mentors provide guidance on the work site for women stepping into skilled roles. Mentors can also assist in fields other than construction.
Education and the Future for Women
Education plays a huge role, including practical training to cultivate better opportunities. Some of the areas for education include electricians, welders, and equipment operators. The week will also often hold various workshop sessions for things like leadership cultivation, how to better finances, and other insights.
As part of Women in Construction Week 2025, various NAWIC-hosted ‘Leadership in Action’ workshops. This initiative gave individuals management skills that they can use with construction projects.
How Technology Helps Women in Construction
The construction industry, like a lot of other businesses, has gone through several technological advancements.
Emerging technologies help promote gender equality and encourage diversity and inclusion in construction firms. Technology advancements like 3D printing and artificial intelligence (AI) help showcase work planning for building projects.
The Benefits of Technology Usage
The integration of technology offers a range of career roles. It could help attract a lot of talent turned off to working in construction beforehand.
Events such as panel discussions and technology uses and applications will encourage growth in the field. As a result, women are taking opportunities like construction management training, which helps build confidence for new workforce members.
How to Show Support and Celebrate Women In Construction
Although times have changed since the start of NAWIC and Women in Construction Week, some problems have not fully disappeared yet. So, it’s still necessary to grow a welcoming and understanding work environment for women in construction.
If possible, you can review and update hiring practices. It’s a good idea to raise awareness of this situation and overcome the issue together.
Ways to Observe
One easy way to increase awareness of opportunities and information during Women in Construction Week is to attend an event near you. You can also share the latest insights and events with your construction company on your blog, social media platforms, or construction-focused groups.
There are several roles in the trades like “Real Housewives” star, Barbara Kavovit shows. Another good step could be joining and contributing to groups that support women.
Practical Steps for Inclusivity
Organizations often have programs that provide better knowledge on career management strategies. Another method to gain information and guidance is to check construction-based discussions and social media profiles like Facebook and LinkedIn.
Here are steps you can take for more support:
- Encourage young women to seek trade and construction pathways.
- Find ways to spread knowledge for construction through schools and colleges.
- Volunteer and advise on career growth in the trades.
- Provide help on diversity training, including teaching team members about possible problems in communication.
By enhancing job training for those starting, support is provided by more experienced people who are helping out. This effort will benefit women and employers in several fields within construction.
Workplace Safety Measures For Women In Construction
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 400,000 positions require building skills.
More awareness is needed. Ensuring that construction companies use protective gear that fits women and provide workplace wellness programs could improve the health of trades workers.
How To Increase Wellness and Support At Work
Having wellness plans helps bring in conversations to assist employees with questions about the positions better.
Review interviews with construction workers, listen to women-led podcasts, and learn about current insights and opinions in the industry.
It is encouraging for companies and new professionals when groups are open and have productive conversations that allow for better career pathways, regardless of a person’s gender, experience, or prior roles. Doing so will enable you to hire new trades workers, find support, give resources, and offer career-forward growth opportunities.
Progress of Women in the Construction Sector
Over the previous decade, skilled trades workers have made several advances. This is a big move powered by several initiatives, including company support, better outreach efforts, and programs.
Careers once limited to men include electricians, welders, and various carpenters, which have also been shown to increase by as much as 7% for women from 2020 to 2025.
Addressing Current Obstacles
Although improvement can be a significant factor to discuss, other discussions must occur. Unfortunately, the current rate of women’s loss in construction remains over the typical rate of men working in similar positions.
Several reasons result from job site areas that don’t always encourage workplace accommodation. Failing workplace cultures are typically an issue, including areas where balance is harder.
Women in Construction Week is critical, helping building firms attract new employees from different backgrounds and a wider talent pool. Since diversity and job growth are often mentioned by those wanting construction improvements, women now assist with these needs.
Conclusion
Celebrating WIC Week helps empower women. Because of their success, it makes the workforce much more inclusive and approachable, which leads to positive results for job-site work and the culture overall. The support given in previous years offers insights and advice, especially in construction areas lacking diversity.
The more improvements made, the easier it will be to secure various job-growth initiatives while increasing safety for new construction team members. The field continues to open its doors to help grow the construction industry.
The rise of interest in trades careers for women shows a significant increase and will hopefully grow even higher in the coming years. The growing role of females entering the workforce has a bright future.
