Hard hats off to women! The first full week of March marks a national recognition of women employees in the construction industry. Women in Construction Week was initiated by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in 1998, and today its goal each year is to “celebrate, educate, and promote the role of women in the construction industry.” This year’s WIC event theme is Many Paths, One Mission.

While not always highly publicized, women have in fact been making an impact in construction for centuries, with notable efforts including the historical completion of the Brooklyn Bridge under the management of Emily Roebling. Today, there is a plaque at the landmark that reads, “Back of every great work we can find the self-sacrificing devotion of a woman.”

As with many industries, construction continues to face a labor shortage, leading many companies to tap into populations that may not have been as highly involved in previous years. As a result, there has been a significant and steady increase in women working in construction roles since 2016, according to The Washington Post. In 2022, women composed 10.9% of the total U.S. construction workforce.

The NAWIC has a number of resources available to recognize and celebrate Women in Construction Week, including information on in-person panels and workshops, webinars, podcast episodes, graphics and meeting backgrounds, and more. Visit wicweek.org to explore all of the resources.

Train Your Construction Team Today

Looking to train and onboard construction team members? Amerisure offers a variety of safety trainings for construction employees, including underground utility damage and avoidance, excavation, fall protection, and OSHA 10-hour courses. Contact riskmanagement@amerisure.com for more information.