Why women are critical to the Washington construction industry

The recent Women in Construction Week 2016, celebrated from March 6-12, reminds us of the critical role women play in the construction industry in Washington and beyond. At AGC of Washington, we are grateful for the women who are part of our association and who serve in leadership roles at construction firms throughout our region.

We also stand in appreciation of organizations such as the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), which promotes career development, networking and mentorship among women in our industry. NAWIC has been in operation for more than half a century, and its mission has never wavered since 16 women founded the group in 1953.

Did you know women represent one out of every 10 construction workers in the U.S.? Or that approaching 1 million women are employed in our sector of the economy? Those are just two compelling statistics shared by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics on their websites. We are in full support of increasing those totals and encouraging more women to get into the industry.

Women make countless positive contributions to our industry, as our own Northern District manager Liz Evans recently noted in an excellent article for the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. “Women are collaborators, team builders, organizers, networkers and communicators,” Evans writes. “Women are also technically adept and ready to embrace new ideas.”

And a recent report commissioned for City of Seattle Purchasing and Contracting Services notes leaders continue to emphasize opportunities to “increase construction employment and optimize career ladders to improve access to these jobs” for women and other people who have traditionally faced disadvantages.

This March, we’re grateful for the women who are part of the Washington construction industry. We look forward to working together to create more employment opportunities as the next generation of professionals enters the workforce.