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OPINION
T he construction industry, long dominated by images of men in hardhats carrying lunch pails, has shifted in recent years. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, women made up 9 percent of the construction workforce in 2016. In 2021, the number had grown to 11 percent. The construction industry still has a ways to go when it comes to hiring women, but the trend is moving in the right direction. Building better by breaking down barriers
Amber Hardwick
This, obviously, is not a seismic change – it’s still very much a male-dominated field – but the increase is encouraging as it signals that the industry as a whole has decided that diversifying workforces is now a focus. And for good reason. Along with technical expertise, there are specific skill sets women often bring to the table – skill sets that align perfectly with construction industry needs, like being detail-oriented, tenacious, and capable of galvanizing teams. Women also bring a different perspective to a traditionally male-centric profession, advocating for more voices at the table while being willing and able to hold themselves and others accountable. Imagine the advancements we would have achieved if women had a seat at the table earlier.
HARDHATS AND POWERPOINTS. While the number of women in construction has steadily – if not rapidly – increased since the days of Rosie the Riveter, in recent years, it has become less of an anomaly for women to be in leadership positions. There is still much work to be done, of course, but the trend is promising. Referencing IWPR again, women in the role of construction managers made up just 7.4 percent in 2016 but grew to 8.6 percent in 2021. This seemingly minor bump actually translated into a large number of jobs for women in management, from 60,088 throughout the industry in 2016 to 85,914 in half a decade. Keeping this trend moving in the right direction,
Christina Millan
Melissa Teichman
See HARDWICK, MILLAN & TEICHMAN, page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER JANUARY 16, 2023, ISSUE 1472
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