In celebration of Women’s Month this March, let’s take some time to recognize the different roles that women take in the construction industry. According to Institute for Women’s Policy Research Fact Sheet published in March 2019, the number of women working in the construction industry increased by 17.6%, between 2017 and 2018.
The construction industry is one of the most male-dominated workplaces. But when the United States entered into the WW2, and men were sent out to fight the war, a lot of the industries back home were left without any workforce. This is when the women took on different roles as laborers, factory workers, and carpenters. To acknowledge the impact of women in the construction industry the U.S. government released a fictional icon, “Rosie the Riveter” campaign which had the words “We can do it!”. Rosie has been one of faces of empowered women.
The construction industry is a highly competitive environment and women continue to excel and hold high positions in the construction industry. In a 2018 article from The Guardian , 12 women were featured who worked in different roles within the construction industry in the United Kingdom. The article showed the many different accomplishments that women have made in the industry, as well as highlighted improvements that need to be made. The article made it evident that women are able to contribute in changing the lives of a community, positively impact their workplace and while many may undermine their ability in the industry, they strive.
With the proven success women have shown in the construction industry, companies are noticing. Women continue to gain leadership positions due to their education, skillset and agility.
