Construction Inclusion Week Toolbox Talk 14

Growing the Pipeline of Women in the Skilled Trades

"The barrier was never capability; it was access. Change the access, and you change the industry."

— Dr. Anita Hill

Growing the Pipeline of Women in the Skilled Trades

With the construction industry needing to attract hundreds of thousands of net new workers annually, tapping into the entire talent pool is a business imperative. While women make up a growing portion of the total construction workforce, they remain significantly underrepresented in active field craft roles. Closing this gap requires actively dispelling outdated industry myths, providing properly fitted PPE and secure site facilities, and ensuring fair access to high-skill task assignments. When jobsites set high standards for respect and offer clear paths for craft advancement, skilled women thrive, retention improves, and project teams operate at higher overall performance.

PILLARS:

Attract & Retain, Belonging & Workforce Culture, Community Engagement

OBJECTIVE:

Equip teams with practical strategies to attract, onboard, and retain skilled women across the trades through active mentorship, fair skill distribution, properly fitted safety gear, and respectful jobsite standards.

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Sample Activities

Discussion Questions

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Sample Activity Options

JOBSITE ACTIVITY

Review task distribution with superintendents to confirm high-skill assignments are offered fairly and verify properly fitted PPE is available.

OFFICE ACTIVITY

Draft a feature highlighting a female craft worker or superintendent on your team to spotlight career pathways and achievements.

School/Community Activity

Outline a 15-minute presentation for a local school or career fair to share authentic career stories and dispel trade myths.

Group Activity

Divide into small groups and select one low-cost action item to execute over the next 30 days to support female craft professionals.

Discussion Questions

Closing our industry's skilled labor gap means looking beyond traditional recruiting. In this discussion, we will talk about how properly fitted safety equipment, daily jobsite respect, and active mentorship help female craft professionals build long-term careers on our projects.

Which local schools, workforce partners, or industry organizations can our team partner with to build stronger pipelines for women in the trades?
How can we better leverage storytelling to highlight women building across our jobsites?
What practical steps can we take on our jobsites today to ensure that all individuals have access to the right PPE, supportive mentorship, and equal opportunities for high-skill task assignments?
What is one low-cost, outside-the-box action our team can take over the next 30 days to encourage more women to consider a career in construction?