The National Association of Women in Construction’s (NAWIC) Women in Construction Week 2025 is happening March 2–8. This year’s theme is Together We Rise, which, according to NAWIC, “celebrates the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up just over 14% of the construction workforce. The 2024 Profile of the Electrical Contractor placed that number lower for electrical construction, at only around 5%—although women were more likely to work in larger firms than smaller ones.

Stefanie Reichman, customer success manager at Bluebeam Inc., Pasadena, Calif., worked on construction job sites as a project manager for years and knows the barriers women often face while working in the industry.

She noted that on the company side, it is important for employers to talk to female employees and ask what they need to be successful. Participation in WIC Week can provide an opportunity to have these necessary conversations and meet female workers where they are. Listening to the employees themselves is the best way to get information.

Reichman also gave some tips for women who need to have these conversations with their employers:

• Empower and advocate for yourself and others
• Be clear with yourself and what you want. For example, how many hours do you want to work?
• Take daily stock of what is happening and what is not working, especially when it comes to interactions with others
• Where do you want your career to go and what training or support do you need to get there?

Reichman also spoke about the importance of employing people with diverse perceptions and ideas. It is noticeable, according to Reichman, when a room does or does not contain the potential for diverse thoughts. There is a net benefit to having a diverse workforce, because there is a greater potential to grow fresh ideas and possibilities when more people can come to the table.

There are NAWIC chapters around the country, and construction firms are encouraged to participate in WIC Week events to show their support. Events are happening all week, and topics include ways to balance career and caregiving responsibilities, empowering the next generation of women in construction and new approaches to personal development.

Image: stock.adobe.com / NVB Stocker