Women Reshaping Heavy Civil Construction

The Leadership Revolution in a Male-Dominated Industry

Heavy civil construction is essential to the economy, but it remains one of the most male-dominated fields. Women are now transforming the industry, taking on leadership roles and founding companies. However, challenges persist that must be addressed to support female workers as they advance in their careers. Discover the benefits of hiring women leaders and how you can help remove the obstacles they face in achieving their goals.

How Female Leaders Boost Workplace Performance

In civil construction, a traditionally male-dominated sector, women’s impacts are frequently overlooked. However, industry demands and global workforce demographics are evolving. Today, gender diversity in the construction industry is a critical driver of organizational success. A study by McKinsey & Company revealed that organizations with women’s representation exceeding 30% are significantly more likely to outperform financially than those with representation of 30% or fewer.

This shows that diversity can lead to potentially higher earnings. Choosing women in construction leadership positions has moved from a social goal to a critical business strategy for enhancing productivity, sales and profitability.

The Challenges for Women in Construction

Challenges persist despite the growing number of women entering the industry. Here are some types of employment discrimination women face in the construction industry.

Refusal to Hire Women

Some employees face unconscious bias from senior management, with candidates not getting a job simply because they’re women. In March 2023, a court ruled in favor of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and awarded it over $2.6 million against a construction-focused staffing organization that had refused to hire and assign women for laborer and demolition positions.

Sexual Harassment

A poll of the U.K.-based organization Unite revealed that 25% of respondents had been sexually assaulted, 8% were victims of sexual coercion and 56% had received sexually offensive jokes. The same study found this more prevalent in construction and other male-dominated industries. Unfortunately, many of these instances go unreported.

Discrimination

In some workplaces, women aren’t given the same level of training as their male co-workers. Such discrimination can put their safety and that of everyone on the jobsite at risk. There are also instances in which female apprentices were not provided with the right information on safety procedures, depriving them of opportunities to upskill.

How to Develop Female Leaders in a Male-Dominated Space

Business leaders can do so much more to create a more inclusive and supportive workplace. Here’s how you can support female executives in male-dominated industries, such as heavy civil construction.

Honor Your Female Employees

Women’s efforts can easily go unnoticed in a male-dominated field, making high-visibility events crucial for their recognition. You can launch or participate in events that celebrate and spotlight female talent as invaluable. For instance, celebrate the Women in Construction Week to celebrate the achievements of women on the team.

Recognizing female employees in the workplace can potentially enhance job satisfaction. Shaelyn, a dozer operator at Morgan Corp., attests to the positive impact of this recognition, saying, “Being in construction has been extremely rewarding. Being able to move Earth from hills and valleys to the design of which the client wants is truly something special. There’s no way to describe the feeling of getting to the end of a job and knowing you were a part of building something special that will last for generations to come.”

According to Erika, a Survey Coordinator, “I would tell other women who want to work in construction to always advocate for yourself and stay resilient. It’s important to speak up for yourself and make sure you are heard in this industry. Your opinion and contributions are important!”

Formalize Mentorship Programs

Mentorship is a critical component of a broader construction workforce transformation required to address discrimination and labor shortages. However, with only 1% of construction chief executives being female, opportunities remain scarce.

Misha Homara, CEO of Tricore Panels, exemplifies leadership in this field. Despite her extensive experience, she values continuous learning by not being afraid to ask questions. She says, “It’s not possible to do anything alone. Find the people that believe in you, and then ask them questions, even if you feel like they’re like silly questions.”

Mulisius Joe, Regional project coordinator at the Carpenters’ Regional Council’s Apprentice Integration and Development program, says mentorship is vital to helping women succeed in the industry. “Mentoring helps to encourage women to keep going, especially when they’re having a difficult day or dealing with a difficult situation on-site,” she shares.

Champion an Inclusive Corporate Culture

Building an inclusive workplace goes beyond having nondiscrimination policies. It is about creating a space where every employee, especially those in the minority, feels safe, respected and empowered to contribute their best work. Use inclusive language in all communications, set zero-tolerance policies on bias or harassment and create channels — like anonymous surveys — for employees to voice complaints without fear of reprisal.

Such strategies can make your workplace more inviting to women interested in the construction industry. Jennifer Todd, founder and president of LMS General Contractors, believes this is key to meeting the rising global demand for skilled laborers. “We cannot meet this global demand without women. The labor shortage isn’t just a U.S. issue, it’s a global reality. And with women making up nearly half the world’s population, we’re an essential part of the solution,” she says.

The Future of a Transformed Industry

Modernizing heavy civil construction management requires adopting innovative leadership styles to solve persistent challenges. It is time for women to take leadership roles in male-dominated industries. As a CEO or mentor, you can support their growth by fostering their skills and celebrating their achievements.