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

  • Posted on

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

Filed under: NewsTagged with: , ,

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

  • Posted on

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

Filed under: eNews, NewsTagged with: , ,

KAI Build Named MOWIT 2021 Breaking Barriers Contractor of the Year

  • Posted on

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

Filed under: NewsTagged with: , , ,

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

  • Posted on

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

Filed under: eNews, NewsTagged with: , ,

Initiative Highlights, Supports SoCal Women in Construction during Women in Construction Week

  • Posted on

Coinciding with the celebration of Women in Construction Week, McCarthy Building Companies highlights its creation of the McCarthy Partnership for Women initiative — a national employee resource group providing opportunities, support and a network for its female employee-partners. This executive-sponsored and employee-driven group propels the recruitment, development and retention of the best women in the construction industry to broaden the general contractor’s diversity of perspective, as well as offer its female employees opportunities for personal and professional development, internal and external networking and a platform for sharing goals and exploring solutions. Participants also join in community outreach to young women … Read more

Filed under: NewsTagged with: , , ,