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WASHINGTON, DC—It's no longer a surprise to walk by a construction site and see women on the job. But you shouldn't take that for granted; it warrants a closer look. The presence of a large number of women in the construction industry represents real progress and it gives you just a glimpse at the impact women are having, filling key roles in an industry that has struggled to meet its employment needs. It is really just a starting point, because even greater opportunities exist in the future for women in construction.

The latest statistics indicate that women make up 9 percent of construction personnel and they're part of a growing workforce. The construction industry has been expanding, much like other sectors in the ongoing surge in employment of recent years. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, 283,000 more workers were employed in construction at the end of 2018 than in 2017.

To meet that market expansion, women are filling a wide variety of roles in construction, ranging from laborer to management positions. On the management side, women are now filling both design and construction roles.

In many cases, women are following a family tradition by joining the construction workforce. They saw a family member, often their fathers, work in the field, in many cases operating their own businesses as building contractors. Sometimes, these women remember visiting construction sites as children, even “working” alongside the grownups. That tradition and those memories put them on the path to a career today.

Others, like me, chose this field as a great way to make use of our education. In fact, women are discovering that a variety of college degrees can lead to opportunities in the construction field.

I graduated from college with a degree in safety and environmental management and knew I wanted a job that enabled me to communicate effectively with other people while solving problems. I also wanted to enter a field where I could learn quickly by working on a variety of projects.

Now I use my skills to ensure workers have a safe work environment, that they are fully aware of the best practices for properly doing their job, and that they are aware of the relevant local, state and federal regulations that apply to the worksite.

Every day is different—something else I sought in my future career, and I spend a lot of my time out in the field, working on challenging, interesting projects across the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

The week of March 3-9 marks National Women in Construction Week, sponsored by the National Association of Women in Construction. It is designed to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in construction-related jobs and emphasize the growing role of women across the industry. For those of us involved in construction, this week allows us to come together, recognize the accomplishments of our peers, show support for the communities around us, and to seek ways to advance the position of women in the industry in the future.

Many companies, including my employer, Skanska, are now committed to an inclusive environment where there is mutual respect for the diversity of all employee backgrounds. A culture committed to diversity and inclusion is now part of the business approach of many companies. This means there will likely be even more opportunities for women in the construction industry in the coming years.

The next time that you pass a construction site, don't just take note of how many women are working there. Appreciate the fact that you are likely to see even more women in the future, and that will benefit them and all of us.

Sara Casado is Environment, Health and Safety Director at Skanska USA.

Instant Insights /

One Woman's View of a Career in Construction

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