On March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day, but from the 3rd to 9th this month, we celebrate Women in Construction (WIC) Week. Now in its 26th year, WIC Week applauds women in this field with webinars and in-person happenings across the U.S.
In honor of WIC Week, Metal Construction News asked Shanthi Rajan—founder and CEO of construction management software company Linarc—to share her thoughts on women in the industry.
Metal Construction News: Why is WIC Week important?
Shanthi Rajan: Construction has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, especially the field side of it. Now, more and more, it’s shifting to inclusivity. Construction can still be physically intensive work, but there are a lot of tools and equipment that make the work not as laborious.
When women began to gain traction in the construction industry, they were typically seen in more traditional office roles like CFO or project manager. But now, women in the field are becoming a big part of every facet of construction, which is important. Women are superintendents, forepersons, equipment operators; they are taking on all types of roles in the field—even the ones that traditionally have been male dominated.
MCN: Why should the industry care about encouraging women to work in construction?
SR: The industry is suffering from labor shortages. Women represent a highly motivated and capable labor force that the construction industry can tap into. Women have a great deal to offer in expertise, innovation, and execution of projects.
MCN: How can the industry support women?
SR: Men in the industry must be educated on how to support women and encourage them even more to enter the construction industry. Respect women, make sure they are supported, and understand that women may have different needs in how they approach the work. Construction Week helps companies to pause and take a moment to clearly assess how women can be supported by the rest of their team members.
MCN: Almost 11%1 of women work in construction in the U.S. How can the industry increase this number?
SR: It’s a great positive step that we have so many women in the construction trades today. Moreover, it’s important that we continue educating women and letting them know that this opportunity in construction exists today. The key is helping women to think that construction is a career path with a future for them. This is not, in any sense, a minimum wage industry. If you’re a good professional in the field, there is a great opportunity to have a rewarding career.
MCN: What is the construction industry doing right to get more women into this industry?
SR: There’s a lot of support, especially with contractors who are working with the government. The government has a mandate that a percentage of construction work be done by subcontractor companies with women in leadership roles. If you’re an owner or developer, you’re highly motivated to hire a contractor where there are women running the business.
MCN: What do you want the industry to be thinking about during this week and especially March 8, International Women’s Day?
SR: I want the industry to think beyond the week. It’s great to celebrate and bring all the women in your company together and take photos to mark the week. But you can’t expect women to really believe you mean it unless you have policies that go hand in hand with supporting women. A company should think…How am I going to tap into this talent pool? How am I going to retain women? What are our policies and culture? Do they support women? How are we training all our workers, particularly women? Those who have traditionally worked with only men fail to understand this.
MCN: Any last thoughts?
SR: Construction is undergoing a lot of transition, including the tools, materials, techniques, and processes it uses, as well as a changing workforce. Construction is evolving and modernizing. It’s important for contractors, owners, and developers to understand these transitions are happening and take advantage of the expertise and unique perspective that women bring to the industry.
1 See eyeonhousing.org/2021/09/american-construction-10-9-of-employment-is-women/
To find out about the events happening during Women in Construction (WIC) Week, go to wicweek.org.