Celebrating Women in Construction Week 2025
Celebrating the Innovation and Resilience of Women in the Construction Industry
By Christina Rupp MAEd., Director, Washington State Construction Center of Excellence
As we celebrate Women in Construction Week, it’s a time to reflect on the incredible strides women have made in the construction industry—and the trail they continue to blaze for future generations. From job sites to boardrooms, women are reshaping the landscape of construction, demonstrating resilience, leadership, and expertise in every role they take on.
The attached image from GLY captures a moment that speaks volumes: women in hard hats and safety vests, engaged and leading the charge, while mentoring and inspiring the next generation. These images are powerful reminders that representation matters. Every woman who steps onto a construction site as a superintendent, foreperson, skilled craftsperson, or project manager is paving the way for more women to enter and thrive in this dynamic field.
Women Leading the Way in Construction
Women are making significant contributions at every level of the industry:
Principals & Executives: Women own and lead construction firms, influencing business strategies, and driving workforce development initiatives to ensure a stronger, more diverse industry.
Superintendents & Forepersons: These leaders oversee job sites, manage crews, and ensure that projects are completed safely and efficiently, proving that leadership in construction is not defined by gender.
Skilled Tradeswomen: Women electricians, heavy equipment operators, brick layers, cement masons, ironworkers, laborers, carpenters, and so many other skilled trades are not only excelling in their crafts but are also mentoring apprentices and demonstrating that the skilled trades are for everyone.
Educators & Workforce Advocates: Women are also at the forefront of training the next generation, advocating for policies that remove barriers to entry and ensuring equitable access to opportunities in apprenticeship programs and beyond. These stakeholders promote access and equitable opportunities for generations to come.
The Role of Women in Building a Safer, More Inclusive Industry
Beyond their technical expertise and leadership roles, women in construction are also leading the charge in critical areas that impact the well-being of the workforce and the overall industry culture. These women are:
Creating Psychological Safety on Job Sites: By fostering inclusive work environments where team members feel heard, valued, and safe to speak up, women in leadership are helping to cultivate healthier job sites where open communication and collaboration thrive.
Providing Guidance on Substance Misuse and Mental Health: Construction has one of the highest rates of substance misuse and mental health struggles. Many women in the industry, from safety personnel to HR leaders, are actively involved in programs that address addiction recovery, mental health support, and well-being initiatives that keep workers healthy and safe.
Advocating for Suicide Awareness and Prevention: The construction industry faces one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. Women leaders are taking an active role in promoting mental health awareness, ensuring that resources and conversations around suicide prevention are integrated into toolbox talks, training, and leadership programs.
Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment: Women are at the forefront of combating workplace harassment and gender-based violence in construction. Through policy development, training, and advocacy, they are pushing for zero-tolerance policies and creating workplace cultures where respect and safety are non-negotiable.
Breaking Barriers and Building the Future
Despite progress, women still make up less than 11% of the construction workforce. This highlights the continued need for advocacy, mentorship, and systemic change. Initiatives like Women in Construction Week shine a light on these issues and celebrate the women who are breaking down barriers.
The Washington State Construction Center of Excellence is committed to fostering an inclusive industry where women not only enter the field but thrive in it. We are working with industry partners, educational institutions, and apprenticeship programs to create pathways that support women at all career stages.
The Leadership Shift Construction Needs
The construction industry is at a crossroads. Labor shortages, high turnover rates, and changing workforce expectations mean that traditional leadership models are failing. Yet, instead of adapting, the industry continues to prioritize outdated leadership structures that overlook the strengths women bring to the table.
The 2025 Building Better: Rethinking Leadership in Construction report, developed by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and Ambition Theory, exposes these gaps in leadership and highlights the urgent need for change. Women, who often exhibit transformational leadership styles, are not just underrepresented—they are systematically passed over for leadership roles that could drive the very engagement, retention, and innovation the industry desperately needs.
Key Findings from Building Better: Rethinking Leadership in Construction (from NCCER 3.3.25: download the report here: http://nccer.org/women-in-construction/)
Women excel at transformational leadership, and it’s time we recognize it. Women I’ve had the honor of collaborating with in the construction industry foster collaboration, innovation, and long-term team/project success.
Mentorship alone is not enough. While 63% of companies report offering mentorship programs, only 37% of women have participated in one. The issue isn’t access—it’s that mentorship doesn’t lead to career-defining opportunities. Women are prepared and ready for a seat at the table, not just mentorship advice and insights.
Sponsorship is the missing piece. Women are half as likely to receive sponsorship as men, leaving them without the advocacy and visibility necessary to advance. Without sponsors actively advocating for women in leadership, talented professionals remain overlooked, stuck in roles that fail to showcase their full potential. True sponsorship isn’t just about guidance—it’s about action. Sponsors recognize potential, invest time in understanding a person’s skills and abilities, and boldly create opportunities for them to step into leadership. They don’t just hold power; they use it to elevate others, ensuring the next generation of leaders isn’t left waiting in the wings. Who are you advocating for? Who are you lifting up? The future of construction leadership depends on those willing to take that risk.
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) aren’t moving careers forward. While many companies invest in ERGs to support women in the workplace, 35% of women report that these groups have little to no impact on their career advancement. Without direct ties to leadership development, sponsorship opportunities, and strategic business initiatives, ERGs become passive support networks instead of active career accelerators.
Action Steps to Support Women in Construction
Prioritize Leadership that Move Beyond Transactions: Leadership selection must evolve to recognize potential and strategic thinking as well as technical competencies. While transactional skills can be taught through training, transformational leadership is cultivated through real-world experience and the ability to lead diverse teams through change.
Move Beyond Mentorship to Sponsorship: Mentorship offers guidance, but sponsorship drives action. Companies must go beyond offering career advice and actively advocate for women—creating high-visibility opportunities that position them for leadership. True sponsorship means opening doors, challenging traditional pathways, and ensuring women have direct routes to achieving their full potential in the construction industry.
Ensure ERGs Lead to Career Growth: ERGs must be connected to leadership pipelines, sponsorship programs, and measurable advancement outcomes.
Increase Visibility for Women Leaders: Companies must actively promote and position women for leadership roles—not just entry-level positions.
Transform Workplace Culture: The industry must move beyond simply “welcoming” women and actively provide multiple pathways into leadership, starting with including women in the rooms where decisions are made.
Inspire Excellence for the Current and Future Workforce
Women in construction are blazing a trail—not just for themselves but for the next generation of builders, engineers, and leaders. We cannot afford to lose the incredible women already in the industry because leadership opportunities remain reserved for those who fit into traditional systems. If the future workforce is to see their full potential in construction, they must see people in leadership who reflect who they are. Without visibility, there is no pathway. Without systemic change, we risk alienating the very talent that can transform the industry for the better.
I want to personally acknowledge the incredible women in this industry who inspire me daily—those who persevere despite the challenges, those who push for progress when traditional pathways fail, and those who redefine what leadership should look like. You take on one of the most demanding careers in the world with unwavering dedication. To my mentors and sponsors, thank you for giving me the tools to carve my own path, the wisdom to use them effectively, and the vision to see potential instead of closed doors.
#wicweek #wicweek25 #womeninconstructionweek2025
