More women in construction could be just what the industry needs right now. The construction industry is facing an unprecedented worker shortage. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the construction industry will need to attract an estimated 501,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2024 to meet the demand for labor. In 2025, the industry will need to bring in nearly 454,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand, and that’s presuming that construction spending growth slows significantly next year. Traditional talent pools are simply too shallow to meet workforce demands. Actively recruiting women offers contractors a deeper talent pool and taking part in Women in Construction Week is a great starting point.
The growth of women in construction has remained stagnant over the last 15-plus years. After peaking in 2007 at 11.9 million, women’s presence in the construction industry is now at 10.8 million, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to OSHA. WIC events could help boost interest so numbers can grow to pre-Great Recession levels.
What’s Women in Construction (WIC) Week?
The first annual WIC was started 26 years ago by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), an industry group Arcoro is proud to support. However the organization celebrated women in construction as early as 1953.
Today, WIC is a nationwide initiative that raises awareness about the opportunities in construction for women, as well as the barriers that are still in place for women in male-dominated industries. Held the first full week in March to coincide with Women’s History Month, NAWIC’s 118 chapters have used the event to raise awareness about the industry, the accomplishments of WIC and to educate the public on the opportunities the industry offers.
2024 WIC Week
NAWIC held the first WIC Week in 1998 and it has grown and expanded each year since. The association notes that many of its local chapters hold WIC Week events, which include making presentations to high school classes, job site tours, luncheons and virtual events. The 2024 theme, ‘Keys to the Future,’ celebrates the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry.
Construction firms of all sizes and types are encouraged to participate in WIC Week and show their support for their women employees. They can also find events to participate in near them on NAWIC’s event calendar.
How to Participate in WIC
NAWIC offers contractors a toolbox that breaks down educational resources and activities each day of WIC, March 3 – 9, 2024. Aside from regional events, NAWIC is holding webinars and panel speakers to educate contractors about the resources available to promote women in construction. NAWIC also suggests contacting your local NAWIC chapter and check their Facebook page to see what events they’re planning.
Other Ways to Celebrate WIC
There are small things you can do to not only celebrate WIC but acknowledge your women workers on a regular basis.
- Give your females employees a social media shoutout. Highlight your female workers with photos and copy about their role at your company. You can also post information to your website and newsletters.
- Get involved with your local schools. Creating partnerships with local schools helps encourage women, and all young people, to consider a career path in construction – before they enter the workforce.
- Offer tours of your organization to showcase your women working construction jobs. Seeing women who are engaged in construction work first-hand is a great way to celebrate women in construction and encourage others to follow suit. Hold tours of your business and invite female job seekers to attend.
- Give a toolbox talk and include information about WIC week. A toolbox talk is an informal group discussion that typically focuses on a specific safety issue. While they are generally more for safety maintenance and specifics rather than a high-level overview, toolbox talks that are held monthly, weekly or even daily are an opportunity to raise some awareness.
- Ensure your recruitment efforts don’t discourage women. Remove all language that could lead to hiring a candidate based on their gender. Write job descriptions that don’t use gender-biased language like guys, he or she. Use gender-neutral language like “the candidate” or “the applicant.”
- Encourage your female construction workers to attend a professional networking and empowerment event. Support your female workers and celebrate women in construction by encouraging them to network with a professional group, like NAWIC. You can even sponsor memberships for your female workers.
Actively recognizing women’s contribution to the construction industry can help change your company culture – showing all potential candidates that you’re dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusiveness initiatives and ultimately increasing your recruiting pool.
Learn more about DE&I in construction.
