F E AT U R E Women in Construction Week: How to Foster an Inclusive Workplace Environment by Elissa Arms, Raken
Every March, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) hosts Women in Construction Week, a special celebration of—and for—women in the industry. While NAWIC works throughout the year providing professional development, networking opportunities, and more for its members, Women in Construction Week shines a spotlight on women contractors and business owners and aims to inspire others to pursue their own careers in trade fields.
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In honor of this year’s theme, Envision Equity, we’re examining ways construction leadership can do their part to welcome women to the construction workforce and build a supportive environment for all employees.
Why should your construction business focus on inclusivity? The construction industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, as of 2022 only 10.9% of the construction workforce are women. As more women are entering into traditionally male-dominated fields, it’s natural that construction companies would want to take advantage of this untapped resource, especially in a competitive job market. Excluding
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women from the hiring process would mean cutting the pool of potential candidates by half. You may miss out on the chance to hire the most skilled, motivated person for the job. It’s one thing to have the right mindset about wanting to hire more women, it’s another thing entirely to make sure your workplace culture is inviting to them. How can you make sure your company can attract and keep top talent, including women?
How to build an inclusive workplace for women in construction Start with job listings. When creating job listings for open positions at your company, be sure to avoid using gendered language. For example, if you’re describing job
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