The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) announced the Million Women in Construction Community Pledge to bring more women into the construction workforce. The initiative is a nationwide call to action for the construction industry to “commit to bold steps that will ensure a robust and diverse workforce in the years ahead,” according to the DOC.
As part of the announcement of the initiative, seven construction companies signed the pledge: Baker Construction, Gilbane Building Company, McKissack & McKissack, Mortenson, Power Design, Shawmut Design and Construction, and Suffolk.
By signing the pledge, leaders in the industry are demonstrating a commitment to increase women’s access to training, jobs, and leadership opportunities in the construction industry. The announcement follows the launch of the CHIPS Women in Construction Framework, a set of five best practices to boost employment of women in the sector.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is creating a construction boom all over the country, and with that boom comes a huge increase in jobs and opportunities for workers in construction and the trades. But right now, women make up less than 11% of jobs in construction and only 4% in skilled trades. Many of these are good-paying, quality jobs you can get without a college degree, and women deserve equal opportunity for these jobs,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “If we’re going to meet this moment, we need more women in the construction, and we need an industry-wide commitment, which is why I’m calling on everyone – contractors, labor unions, training organizations – to join our Community Pledge to commit to solutions and support proven strategies that help overcome barriers faced by women and underserved communities in construction and the trades.”
