Women continue to make strides in construction, entering into key leadership roles in the field and office. Historically, construction has been one of the most male-dominated industries. According to recently updated data from the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, there are almost 1.24 million women working in construction, or about 11% of the total industry workforce.
That may be an improvement over the past, but there’s still plenty of work to do, especially when you consider that there are about 7.5 million more women than men in the United States, according to the Census Bureau.
As the industry strives for greater parity in representation and pay, we’re seeing more resources geared toward women who want to join the workforce or succeed and advance in the industry.
Below is a list we’ve compiled of some useful resources.
Associations
The National Association of Women in Construction
All women in construction are eligible for membership. NAWIC has more than 115 chapters across the country that offer its members education, support and networking to help advance their careers in construction, build their technical skills, and become leaders.
Professional Women in Construction
PWC is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to support, advance and connect women and promote diversity within the architecture, engineering, construction, (AEC) and related industries. Membership is open to professional women and men, private companies and public agencies in construction and allied industries.
Women Construction Owners & Executive USA
WCOE exists to create opportunities for, influence legislation about and support women-owned construction companies. Whether it is support for the WOSB program, increasing small business size standards or encouraging large corporations to team with WCOE members. WCOE is the voice that government and corporate America hears.
National Association of Black Women in Construction
NABWIC is a Florida-based, non-profit organization, formed in 1991 to address the unique challenges of black women in the industry. Its mission is to champion and empower black women in construction and related industries to reach their full potential as entrepreneurs, small business owners, government professionals and industry leaders who represent the voice of black women in construction.
Canadian Association of Women in Construction
CAWIC is a not-for-profit Canadian organization incorporated in October 2005. Its membership includes women employed in construction and related fields in Canada. Its members are dedicated to the success of women in the industry.
Training and Development
Tools and Tiaras
Tools & Tiaras Inc is committed to advancing the interest of young girls and women who want to pursue non-traditional careers. T&T is an open network filled with young girls and women of various backgrounds, ages, experiences, and qualification for building a career in the construction industry.
Bridging Outstanding Opportunities with Tradeswomen Skills (B.O.O.T.S.)
BOOTS is a four-week pre-Apprenticeship program designed to empower and assist women who are considering becoming a union carpenter. The program serves as an introduction to carpentry, focusing on safety, math, framing, concrete form building and more.
Women in Apprenticeship & Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO)
The WANTO grant program helps to expand pathways for women to enter and lead in all industries. In 2020, the WANTO grant program awarded $4,100,000 to six community-based organizations to increase women’s employment in apprenticeship programs and nontraditional occupations.
