The U.S. Department of Commerce wants to double the number of women working in construction and is getting contractors to commit to the effort.

In May 2024, the department announced its Million Women in Construction Community Pledge, calling for more companies, unions and training organizations to sign on to boost women within the construction workforce.

Women currently make up less than 11% of jobs in construction and only 4% in skilled trades (including electrical work), but if all stakeholders within the industry commit to hiring more, those percentages could increase markedly, said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The endeavor is critical to adequately staff the industry’s workforce to rebuild U.S. infrastructure and supply chains, as well as complement other federal government investments.

“If we’re going to meet this moment, we need more women in the construction, and we need an industry-wide commitment,” Raimondo said in the press release announcing the pledge. “Which is why I’m calling on everyone to join our Community Pledge to commit to solutions and support proven strategies that help overcome barriers faced by women and underserved communities in construction and the trades.”

Companies that sign on to the pledge commit to the principles set forth in the Commerce’s Department’s CHIPS Women in Construction Framework, a set of five best practices already being used by industry leaders and building trades unions:

1. Set goals and monitor progress towards increasing the participation of women.
2. Build community partnerships with organizations that have a track record of increasing women and economically disadvantaged individuals’ exposure to and recruitment into the construction industry.
3. Develop training pathways such as training investments, apprentice utilization goals or apprentice-readiness program partnerships that serve women and economically disadvantaged individuals.
4. Provide access to supportive services such as childcare or transportation that will increase retention of women and economically disadvantaged individuals in the workforce.
5. Maintain healthy, safe and respectful workplaces and prevent and address harassment, discrimination, retaliation and violence through workplace training, policy and practice.