Earlier this month, we celebrated Women in Construction Week—a time to recognize the invaluable contributions of women in the construction industry. This observance highlights the achievements of women who have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations. In this article, we will explore the historical context, current landscape, and the personal stories of women in construction.
Bridging a Legacy in Construction
The journey of women in construction has been one of resilience and determination. While construction has historically been a male-dominated field, women have always played a crucial role, often behind the scenes. Over the years, women made significant strides—from working as laborers during World War II to becoming architects, engineers, and project managers. One notable pioneer was Emily Roebling, who played a crucial role in the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge, especially after her husband, Washington Roebling, became ill and could no longer oversee the project. She became the bridge's chief engineer and effectively managed the day-to-day operations from 1872 until its completion in 1883.
Today, women are increasingly represented in all areas of construction. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women in the construction industry have grown from 323,000 to 1,170,000, nearly tripling in the last 50 years. While women in construction today still face challenges such as gender bias and limited opportunities for advancement, many women have overcome these barriers and achieved remarkable success.
Stories of Success for Women in Construction
Hearing directly from women in the industry provides valuable insights into their experiences and challenges. For instance, assistant project manager Cindi Givens shares how she has navigated a career path in construction over the last decade.
Cindi's journey into the industry began during her college years.
"Eleven years ago, when I was in college, I was offered a position as a tool room attendant for an industrial subcontractor at the refinery. After that role, I moved into the field as a pipefitter’s and welder’s helper. As I continued working on my business degree, I started working for a small commercial construction company as their admin, learning the ways of commercial construction. Soon after, I became a project engineer."
Her professional journey has been one of steady progression. "My career path in construction began at the entry level (as a helper/admin) and worked my way up from project engineer to assistant project manager.”
Cindi has faced hurdles as a woman in construction but has always found ways to overcome them. "Although women are becoming more common in this field, your knowledge and strength are still often tested, and some men can be intimidating. To overcome these challenges, I focus on building relationships and setting boundaries with subcontractors. I’ve found that intimidation can sometimes go both ways, and by establishing these relationships, everyone knows what to expect—creating a much better work environment."
Describing a typical day in her current role, Cindi emphasizes the variety of her work. “With multiple projects underway, there are many moving parts to manage and stay on top of. One day, I might be in the office catching up on invoices, pay applications, submittals, and other paperwork. On other days, I could be creating bid manuals and preparing for the next project to kick off. However, my favorite days are when I am onsite with multiple trades working simultaneously."
The most rewarding aspect of her job, Cindi notes, is seeing a project through to close out. "Completion of the project is most rewarding. Although breaking ground is very exciting for the owners, subs, and team members as they are about to start a new project, handing over the keys to the owners to their new or remodeled building is pure satisfaction."
Finally, Cindi offers encouraging advice to young women considering a career in construction: "There is nothing in or about construction that you cannot do. You are needed."
Project engineer Dallis Reed was inspired to pursue a career in construction because she wanted to improve communities and use her love for creative expression.
Dallis attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where she majored in Industrial Technology Management and Applied Engineering with an emphasis in Construction Management. She was surrounded by brilliant instructors who helped her grow her passion for construction. After graduation, she began working in equipment rental and sales, shadowing representatives and visiting various job sites. This hands-on experience introduced her to the construction industry. Shortly after, she joined Ross Group and has been thriving ever since.
When asked about the most valuable lesson she learned from her instructors, Dallis emphasized the importance of paying attention to details and staying engaged with peers and professors.
Reflecting on her career path so far, Dallis explained that over the last two years, she has gained a lot of confidence in her willingness to communicate with contractors and designers. She is now more open with asking and answering questions for different people, and her confidence has increased with field experience.
When discussing the challenges she has faced as a woman in construction, Dallis pointed out that gender stereotypes and bias are significant obstacles. “Many people still see construction as a ‘man’s job,’ which can lead to skepticism about a woman’s abilities and skills.” She has overcome these challenges by building confidence through further education, certifications, hands-on experience, and proving herself to skeptics. Her advice to other women facing similar challenges is to build confidence and learn more. “Sometimes, taking a backseat and asking questions, learning independently, and taking initiative to step up and show your capability can make a big difference.”
When asked about the most rewarding aspects of her job, Dallis shared that breaking barriers, contributing to society, and creative problem-solving are particularly fulfilling. She approaches creative problem-solving by “involving the team in various ways, incorporating my own twist to things, and putting heads together to find solutions.”
For our final spotlight, project engineer Brytin Roedemeister emphasizes the importance of mentorship and managing a work-life balance in the industry.
Brytin started off in residential construction, initially in a purchasing position, and then moved to estimating. Her work mainly consisted of research, documentation, and quality checking with a few opportunities to go into the field to see how theories on paper worked when physically built. Now that she has moved to commercial construction, she is more involved with the field side, which she says is, “in a class of its own with how big of a step it is from residential.”
When discussing mentors or role models who have influenced her career, she mentioned that in her residential construction roles, her trainers were women. They gave her advice on how they navigated their positions and the industry as women. They were her introduction to construction—encouraging her not to give up and showing her that there are many opportunities to take hold of.
Managing work-life balance, especially in a demanding field like construction, can be difficult. Brytin shared that mentally and physically distancing from work is a challenge because there is always something to look into or do. It is easy to let the balance tip over. Leaving connections to work (including her work phone) in another room is taking ‘out of sight and out of mind’ literally but has been the most effective way to set boundaries and recharge at the end of the day.
When asked what advice she would give to young women considering a career in construction, she acknowledged that “it may feel paralyzing at times going into an industry heavily occupied by men, to the point where carving a place for yourself may seem out of reach. But it's not. Women face challenges, unconsciously placed on them or not, but have just as much opportunity to find their place in construction as anyone else. If you want it, don’t be afraid to pursue it. You may be told no, you may feel like you fail, but you only actually fail if you don’t learn from your experiences or if you stop trying.”
These personal anecdotes highlight the diverse roles and career paths available to women in construction.
A Bright Future for Women in Construction
The future of women in construction looks promising, with increasing awareness and efforts to promote gender diversity. As the construction landscape evolves rapidly—from sustainable building practices to the integration of artificial intelligence—there are new opportunities for women to play pivotal roles in shaping the industry. Encouraging more women to join the field involves addressing systemic issues, providing equal opportunities, and fostering an inclusive work environment.
As we celebrate Women in Construction, together let’s recognize the achievements of women who have shaped the industry and continue to drive progress. By supporting and empowering women in construction, we can build a more diverse, innovative, and resilient industry.
Take this opportunity to learn from their stories, advocate for equality, and inspire the next generation of women builders.