MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The construction industry has traditionally been a male dominated field. However, more women are now joining the workforce. A day dedicated to showcasing the opportunities for women in the construction trades was held at Northern Michigan University, helping young women decide if a career in the construction trade is right for them.
Woodworking, welding and leadership. It’s not your typical classroom, but for hundreds of students, it’s a glimpse into a future they may have never considered. It’s called “Women in Construction Day”, a free one day event hosted by Northern Michigan University and led by female professionals in the construction field, and open to all genders.
“You feel like you kind of have something to prove, like you’ll be out on the job site and you’re the only girl with like 20 guys, and it’s just kind of overwhelming, but you just want to work 10 times harder and be the best that you could possibly be,” said Kade Schlitz, a student in the construction management program.
While women make up just 11% of the construction workforce. NMU’S construction management program is ahead of the curve, with 15% female students and 50% female faculty and staff.
“We’re actually the fourth largest program on campus, and we brag about a 100% placement rate. So every one of our students graduates with a job,” said Kate Havel, event coordinator.
Students engage in safe, supervised, hands on sessions while connecting with women who are breaking barriers in the trades.
“You get all these skills here. They teach you pretty much everything you’ll need to know, and you’ll always be learning more on the job. So no matter where you go, you’re always going to learn. So you don’t need to feel like you don’t have the skills to go somewhere, because there’s always somebody there that’s willing to teach you,” said Kendra Schwemin, Women in Construction alumni.
And with a growing labor shortage and one of the smallest gender wage gaps in any industry, just 1% (the national average is 89%, where women earn only 89% of what men do in the same job) c
Construction is now among the most equitable career paths in the country for women.
