Women’s History Month: Looking to the Past to Build a Better Future

Although there is evidence that women worked in construction in Europe as early as the 17th century, it has not been until recent decades that women’s achievements in construction have been recognized.

Historically, the construction industry has been a male-dominated field, and the roles of women in construction have been limited.

However, as the construction industry moves forward and the roles and recognition of women continue to increase, many companies, including Alpha & Omega Industries, seek to employ and train women in the field, hoping to impact the next generation of women by empowering them to build careers their mothers and grandmothers only dreamed of.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s take a look at the early achievements women made in the construction industry and how they paved the way for today’s women to build a career and future in construction.

Celebrating Women’s Past Achievements in Construction

In the 17th century, women worked in the construction industry as laborers who assisted in carrying water, digging ditches, mixing mortar, and thatching roofs. Many were single or poor, married women trying to support themselves and their families.

However, there is historical evidence to suggest there were women who achieved more than day-laborer status in the construction industry during this time. Many women were not recognized for their work because it was a widespread belief that a woman’s work should be restricted to her home and family. It is believed that credit was given to their husbands or other successful men in construction.

For example, Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham is known as the first woman architect. She is remembered for designing houses for her family and tutoring one of the most highly acclaimed architects in the history of England, Sir Christopher Wren. However, it is also believed that Wilbraham did more than tutor Wren. Historians now claim she assisted Wren in designing 18 of the 52 London churches that were commissioned by him following the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Looking at American history, we find another significant woman in the construction industry whose achievements who accredited to her husband. In 1872, Emily Roebling’s husband fell ill while working on the Brooklyn Bridge, so she took over his duties as chief engineer, learning about materials science, stress analysis, and cable performance. She served as project manager and construction supervisor for over a decade until the bridge’s completion.

By World War II, the workforce landscape was changing as men were off fighting the war, leaving women at home to fill many of the country’s critical labor roles, including in the construction industry. After the war, men would return to their jobs, decreasing opportunities for women in construction.

As a result, in 1953, a group of sixteen women in the construction industry founded the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) first known as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, Texas. Its name changed after the organization successfully gained its national charter in 1955. The purpose of their organization was to provide its members with opportunities for education, networking, and training.

Today, with over 117 chapters, NAWIC continues to live into its mission by advocating for the value and impact of women builders, professionals, and tradeswomen in all aspects of the construction industry. And they continue to recognize the women who impact the construction industry today and celebrate their achievements to inspire young women to follow in their footsteps.

Recognizing Women in Construction Today

Throughout the 20th century, our nation saw a rise in women working in the construction industry. During this time, women’s roles were mainly limited to managerial and administrative positions; however, in the 21st century, as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices lead the way, women’s role in construction is not only increasing but also evolving.

In 2023, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report that showed 10.8% of jobs in the construction industry are held by women. This is an increase of approximately 2% from the bureau’s 2010 report.

Although women still work mainly in sales and office roles, women workers are also increasing in construction and maintenance and executive roles. As the first woman credited with leading a major engineering and construction company, Patricia Galloway, paved the way for women in construction to rise to executive roles within the industry. 

Patricia Zugibe is Holt Construction’s first woman CEO, and Taylor Morrison named Sheryl Palmer as the company’s CEO in their efforts to promote gender equality in the workplace. These women, along with many others, work hard to inspire young women who have dreams of rising through the ranks in a male-dominated field.

Unlike their early predecessors, women today are recognized for their many contributions to the construction industry as engineers, architects, project managers, and leaders. As more jobs are created in the construction industry, we look forward to more women joining our workforce.

Building a Better Future for Women in Construction

At Alpha & Omega Industries, we are committed to helping women reach their potential in the construction industry. From foremen to journeymen to project managers and executive leadership, we are looking to train, mentor, and employ women at all levels within our company.

As a minority-owned business, we work hard to provide an inclusive workplace through an active DEI policy that reflects the makeup of our communities and promotes inclusion in our partners, teams, and vendor supply chain.

As part of our commitment to DEI, our company also supports women-owned companies. One of our partners, ONC National, owned and operated by Jacquelyn Clayborn, is a network services provider that offers low-voltage services. We work together on projects to serve our customers and impact our community.

Since we believe no one can build alone, we believe we must come together to build a future where men and women can work side-by-side in the construction industry, providing a strong foundation for an inclusive world built on equality and equity.

Connect with us today to learn more about our company’s commitment to building a better future in construction for our community.