Greetings from Austin, where the Women in Residential Construction Conference (WIRC) is officially underway!
We're kicking off with some encouraging news: women now represent 11.2% of the construction workforce, totaling 1.34 million workers. That’s the highest percentage in 20 years.
Most women currently work in office, administrative, or management roles, but only 4% are in construction and maintenance positions; a significant marketer, because that’s precisely where the industry faces its biggest labor shortages.
These numbers show real progress, but they also highlight the tremendous opportunity ahead. Over the next few days, we'll be celebrating how far we've come while exploring ways to expand women's presence and opportunities at every level of the trade. Let’s get to WIRC!
- Pauline Hammerbeck, editor of Custom Builder, on behalf of the entire Women in Residential Construction editorial team
