KAI Build’s Women Speak Out for Women in Construction Week March 6-12

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There’s an old adage that says, “Women can do anything men can do,” and for the 1.2 million U.S. women employed in the male-dominated world of construction, that statement couldn’t be more true. And why wouldn’t women want to work in construction—a career that offers competitive salaries and benefits, opportunities to advance and a wide range of roles and responsibilities? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, since 2012 the number of women employed in construction has increased 54.7% from 802,000 to 1.2 million in 2021, with the majority of women holding sales and office positions. Although there are … Read more

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Recent Study Provides Best Practices for Recruiting, Training + Retaining Women in Building Trades

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The residential construction industry is battling a severe talent shortage. To help the industry win this battle, Building Talent Foundation partnered with two Research Fellows to study the barriers women face when pursuing skilled trades careers. The resulting research paper, Women Breaking Barriers: A Guide to Recruiting, Training and Retaining Women in the Residential Construction Trades, explores how the industry can strengthen the workforce by tapping into an underused source of skill and expertise — women. The report reveals the construction sector is dominated by males, with women making up just 10.9% of its workers, and representing only 3.4% of … Read more

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Kaylin Leas Wins Empowering Women in Industry Initiative 2021 Tradeswoman of the Year Award

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TDIndustries, Inc.’s Fort Worth, Texas’ construction partner and “welder woman” Kaylin Leas was awarded 2021 Tradeswoman of the Year by the Empowering Women in Industry initiative. Empowering Women in Industry is an online community with the mission to connect, educate and empower women to not only inspire the next generation of leaders, but provide a community for those currently leading. The conference was held in October in Chicago, Illinois. A former high school rodeo champion, Leas began welding on the job by befriending other welders and learning the trade. After diligent practice, she passed her first welding test in 2013. … Read more

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KAI Build Named MOWIT 2021 Breaking Barriers Contractor of the Year

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KAI Build has been named the 2021 Breaking Barriers Contractor of the Year by the Missouri Women in Trades organization. KAI accepted the award during MOWIT’s Blue Collar Black Tie Awards Gala honoring and celebrating women in the trades on Sept. 17 at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 Grand Hall in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 2008, MOWIT works to expand opportunities for women to enter and succeed in apprenticeship and careers in the construction and building trades in the greater St. Louis area. MOWIT works with employers, unions, educational organizations and other entities to increase women’s equal employment … Read more

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Construction Specifications Institute Foundation Expands Let’s Build Construction Camp for Girls

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Expansion is underway for the Let’s Build Construction Camp for Girls, a successful five-year camp developed by the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute to interest school-age girls in becoming architects, engineers, electricians, carpenters or any other building industry professional. The CSI Foundation is encouraging 127 CSI chapters nationwide to offer the camps as a way to recruit women to the profession. The camp is modeled after a program created by the CSI Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter in Pennsylvania. During the past five years, more than 70 girls and young women experienced the challenges, joys, confidence-building and sense … Read more

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