Based on analysis performed in December 2023 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), girls made up about 10.8 % of building general (this consists of authorized, administrative, and so forth., girls represented 4.3 % within the trades). Evaluating that to a November 2024 report from the U.S. Division of Commerce, girls’s employment in building represents about 1 in 7 jobs in building – a share of about 14 %. For those who question the BLS for poured concrete basis and construction contractors, girls characterize 19.9 % of jobs (newest commentary Nov. 2024). With your complete {industry} challenged for expert labor, it is simple to see that ladies are a rising demographic on the earth that’s skilled concrete work.
Concrete Contractor linked with three girls representing various areas of the {industry}:
- Dr. Maria Juenger, Vice President of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), is a Professor and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Centennial Chair in Engineering #2 within the Fariborz Maseeh Division of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering on the College of Texas at Austin;
- Liz Howard, P.E., is the development senior undertaking supervisor at Superior Development and member of the steering committee of the Superior Ladies in Development skilled girls’s group, designed to help, empower, and advance girls in building; and
- Kilah Engelke is the Enterprise Supervisor of the Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ Worldwide Affiliation Native 599 representing the state of Wisconsin.
Q. What received you interested by the concrete {industry}?
Juenger: My curiosity in concrete began in a little bit of an uncommon method, by means of an curiosity in chemistry. Cement chemistry is admittedly complicated and strange. There are such a lot of completely different points to the chemistry of concrete from the excessive temperature chemistry in a cement kiln, to hydration, to sturdiness mechanisms. After I first began, I additionally preferred that cement analysis doesn’t contain animal testing or working with hazardous chemical substances! 
Dr. Maria Juenger, Vice President of the American Concrete InstituteAmerican Concrete Institute
I began working in cements once I did my PhD at Northwestern College in Supplies Science and Engineering, about 30 years in the past. I used to be working with cement hydration and microstructure at that time, and I grew to become more and more taken with concrete in any respect scales once I joined the College of Texas at Austin. There are such a lot of completely different areas of analysis in concrete, together with structural engineering and building, and many various approaches.
Howard: My curiosity began once I was in faculty at Tulane College. A professor—who was an ideal mentor to me—acknowledged that I had a ardour for constructing issues and guided me towards building. That led to me getting an internship at a big building firm.
After finishing my grasp’s at The College of Texas at Austin, I used to be drawn to concrete work because it’s so prevalent within the Southeast, notably in foundations and bridges. I’m nonetheless fascinated by the truth that combining just a few parts can create one thing so lasting and sturdy.
Engelke: My curiosity occurred due to my stepdad. He was an estimator for James Cape & Sons, an enormous freeway paving operation that labored round within the Midwest. We had these lengthy plans from street constructing tasks pasted collectively in our basement in all places so he might plan it out. He would at all times speak about going to the World of Concrete and bidding these tasks.
I graduated from highschool and I received placed on a crew to pay for faculty. There I used to be, 17 and began watching concrete. My obligation was to submit up on an intersection and be sure that pedestrians and bicycles stayed off the concrete till it dried. I began working summers proper after highschool on a paving crew. It was an apprenticeship for me within the Cement Masons (OPCMIA) and that ultimately led to the place I’m at the moment.
Q. What’s it like being a lady on this {industry}? How is it completely different at the moment as in comparison with once you began?
Juenger: Since I’m at a college, my expertise with the concrete {industry} is completely different than these working immediately in it each day. In my position as an educator and mentor, I assist college students from numerous backgrounds discover careers which can be satisfying and rewarding. The concrete {industry} has a whole lot of profession paths accessible, a few of which have been traditionally extra welcoming to girls than others. I’m completely satisfied to say that I see our feminine college students discover welcoming work environments within the concrete {industry}, and I feel it is going to be more and more so.
I’ve seen in 2024-2025 a higher emphasis on embracing girls within the {industry}, particularly by means of efforts from teams like Ladies in ACI and the Ladies in Concrete Panel on the ACI Fall conference in Philadelphia. This panel offered a discussion board for open dialogue of obstacles girls encounter within the {industry} and learn how to overcome them. It was actually encouraging to listen to the tales from the panel and the help and recommendation they gave the contributors. I hope we see extra of these kind of occasions shifting ahead, and I hope we will broaden it past simply girls and may help extra folks from underrepresented teams.
Howard: There are considerably extra girls within the {industry} at the moment than once I began within the early 2000s. I used to be the primary feminine intern and engineer employed full-time at my firm. Now, girls have a rising presence, particularly in business building.
At Superior Development, we’ve fashioned a bunch known as Superior Ladies in Development (SWiC) to extend visibility and advocacy. This {industry} has a labor scarcity, and if we will get extra girls to hitch us, it is going to be all the higher. 
Liz Howard, P.E.Superior Development
Engelke: After I began, there have been only a few girls. There was one other girl on my crew once I first began. She was older, just like the smart “mom of the crew” girl, and really a concrete finisher. However there was loads of days and weeks and years the place I used to be the one woman on the positioning. There was loads of occasions when it was me and one different woman. However I’ve undoubtedly seen a selected curiosity in areas like human and workforce growth that the quantity has grown. There’s undoubtedly an enormous push and outreach for a distinct demographic of individuals to fill the roles. I characterize one of many commerce unions, however all the different commerce unions, moreover for the concrete finishers or the cement masons—everybody, slowly however certainly, is implementing issues like maternity depart, placing plans into place for serving to out with little one care, and big developments to be sure that these jobs and these careers can be found for ladies.
After I first began, it was a distinct world. However, I really feel the numbers are nonetheless low. Concrete finishers is without doubt one of the extra labor intensive trades. It’s fairly tough on coordinating household life schedule. I feel our numbers are rising in all probability slower than among the trades that don’t work with the perishable materials that sort of controls how we function much more however there’s a sluggish however regular improve. 
Q. What have been the largest challenges you’ve confronted? How had you overcome them?
Juenger: I feel the largest problem for many individuals may be self-doubt and confidence, particularly when put in a brand new scenario like a brand new job or new position the place it’s a must to adapt and be taught shortly. This will occur typically within the {industry} when you may have new tasks. My technique is to not fear about perceived obstacles and challenges forward of time, the place you’re primarily creating imaginary obstacles for your self. I attempt to enter new conditions totally ready, when doable, armed with info and help from a crew. A little bit little bit of fear is an efficient factor as a result of it helps you turn into ready. Loads of fear can undermine you.
Howard: One of many largest challenges was incomes respect in a male-dominated area. I overcame this by being a “sponge”—continually studying from everybody round me, no matter their place. I requested plenty of questions and labored carefully with skilled superintendents and undertaking managers who have been keen to show me. I’m additionally a reasonably direct communicator and that has helped me.
Engelke: The challenges that I’ve confronted have been inner—my very own perceptions of what I assumed I might do or couldn’t do. It’s been coined as imposter syndrome. I’ve heard a whole lot of completely different management and discussions the place all of the folks round you’re males they usually’re huge, robust, tough, and burly when that’s not essentially what you’re. You undoubtedly really feel completely different. I feel again to the primary days once I was engaged on a crew pondering, “I’m by no means going to make it by means of this alive.” Trying again, none of that stuff received simpler. I simply received higher at it.
Perhaps it was that I wanted to make use of leverage otherwise, like physics. Perhaps I wanted to turn into bodily stronger in sure areas however that doesn’t imply that I couldn’t do it. It’s the identical for everyone. That’s why I say, it doesn’t matter what, once you’re starting, it’s arduous for folks. I really feel like I might have been my very own largest barrier. I by no means actually realized that till I continued to maneuver ahead or develop in my position, particularly with the union.
For those who ask my largest problem, I might say, realizing in myself that I’m presupposed to be right here. That is the place I may be. I used to be at all times a extremely arduous employee. The folks round me have been actually arduous employees, and I by no means wished to be anyone that was “I’m simply right here.” My stepdad put me on a crew; I didn’t need to however that’s how I received in. I at all times had it in my thoughts that that’s not why I used to be going to remain. Folks have been keen to assist me and train me. I used to be coachable. Trainable. I wished to be good at it. I wished to do all the things that everyone did and ultimately, I might. My largest problem was inner mindset.
Q. What’s occurring proper now which can be getting extra girls concerned in concrete work?
Juenger: We’re seeing extra feminine college students taken with civil engineering and in concrete {industry} administration packages. Our undergraduate civil engineering program on the College of Texas at Austin is about half girls proper now. The Ladies in ACI reception attendance will increase yearly due to an growing variety of feminine college students and younger professionals within the {industry}. It’s well-known that having robust optimistic position fashions and mentors helps in recruiting folks from numerous backgrounds. As extra girls be part of the {industry} and attain management positions, extra girls will be part of the {industry}.
Howard: There’s a rising recognition of girls as an untapped useful resource in addressing labor shortages. Packages centered on girls in building are gaining momentum, corresponding to our SWiC group. These initiatives present help, mentorship, {and professional} growth alternatives particularly tailor-made for ladies getting into the sphere. I additionally attend boards, socials, and networking occasions that join {industry} professionals and spotlight accessible alternatives in concrete building. The variety of girls attending these occasions has undoubtedly elevated.
Engelke: There’s girls’s teams and affinity teams popping up in all places all through completely different ranges of the {industry}. The one which I work with known as Empower. We developed a mentoring program the place we’re facilitating or administering a Little one Care grant program. There’s a whole lot of consideration industry-wide placed on ensuring you can see girls which can be profitable, and that their tales are being instructed. That their feedback are being thought-about. There’s undoubtedly extra effort put in the direction of altering the tradition too, whether or not it’s psychological well being consciousness or anti-harassment—all of these sorts of points have been vital to not less than attempt to begin to transfer the needle.
I see girls being put into management roles in any respect completely different ranges of the development {industry}. You’re undoubtedly going to see extra folks, whether or not they’re estimating, undertaking managers, or these which can be getting elevated to larger stage managers and enterprise reps and instructors.
There’s extra of an concept that the entire idea of “in the event you can see it, you may be it” is actual, and it exists. There’s energy to it. There’s worth to it.
I feel it’s our fifth 12 months with an out of doors demo at World of Concrete. The OPCMIA put an enormous funding into ensuring that our sales space is run by girls. All of the work carried out and deliberate out by girls. Every thing. The folks that you simply see doing any of the work are all girls, so it was a vital funding that they made and it’s one thing that they’ve been dedicated to constructing. [The Steel Edge Women] program has grown yearly…however that’s what we do. That’s not tremendous completely different from a whole lot of many of the different trades as effectively.
Q. What was the very best recommendation you acquired? In what methods did this recommendation assist?
Howard: Among the finest items of recommendation I acquired was concerning the significance of each particular person having a task in an organization, no matter their conventional profession path. This recommendation helped me recognize the worth of numerous views and roles inside our {industry}, and it has influenced my method to crew constructing and management.
Engelke: I feel the very best recommendation would in all probability be, “you’re behind schedule, except you’re quarter-hour early.” That transpired into not essentially simply the specifics of it or actually like “it’s 6:45 I ought to be right here preparing” however figuratively into a whole lot of different issues—like being ready and being prepared.
That was one thing that my stepdad would at all times say, “you’re behind schedule, except you’re quarter-hour early.” That’s one thing that I attempt to impose on for younger children, folks which can be simply beginning, or apprentices. After I hear them inform tales on what’s occurring, it goes again to “how dedicated are you to this?” Am I getting paid for these quarter-hour? No however in these quarter-hour I stretched, I used to be capable of get myself collectively and have my instruments prepared and ready. I discovered an affordable parking spot. All of these items that occur to just remember to’re going to have a superb day.
That interprets not into simply bodily being on the jobsite, however that interprets into proper now. Did I take a couple of minutes to look over the questions earlier than we talked about this? Did I take a while to arrange for the category I’m about to show? All of that I really feel like helped get me in the best mindset and contributes to work ethic. Work ethic within the building {industry} is what will get you locations.
Q. What recommendation do you may have for concrete contractors?
Juenger: I feel that concrete contractors may gain advantage from becoming a member of organizations like ACI. Our {industry} tends to have silos, like many industries, and the way in which we’ll advance is thru collaboration between the stakeholders. Contractors on ACI committees can have a say within the paperwork which can be developed. The committees profit from listening to the views of contractors. Given the big scholar inhabitants that attends ACI conventions, contractors may also profit by utilizing the ACI neighborhood for recruiting.
Howard: Maintain an open thoughts and notice it’s a stage taking part in area— everyone seems to be on equal footing. Be adaptable and acknowledge that the {industry} is evolving. Embrace new views, applied sciences, and methodologies as a result of they’ll result in vital enhancements in effectivity and high quality. Investing in coaching and help for all staff in any respect ranges will aid you appeal to and retain expertise, together with girls.
Engelke: This can be a little little bit of an additional story however this can be a method to consider issues. I labored for this one contractor for a very long time. I might thought-about myself in all probability one among their finest staff. Was at all times on time. All the time prided myself on by no means being late. It was one among my final days working there, going from the sphere and into my position as a enterprise rep, he stated, “If I knew you have been by no means going to have children, I might have made you a foreman a very long time in the past.” I understood it. It’s sort of a backwards praise, however not likely.
My recommendation to the contractors of the longer term could be to not look essentially at issues that you simply may take into account as lodging as downfalls. Making the {industry} and the office suited to be sure that folks really feel welcome, completely satisfied, and appreciated will in all probability be vital to the success that you simply discover sooner or later.
I discuss to contractors so much that say, “I want folks, however I want folks with these experiences.” They usually have a extremely harsh outlook, however like when he this gentleman stated that to me, however I wouldn’t have modified something. I understood what he was saying, as a result of there must be a dedication stage.
On the similar time you need good folks that make good decisions, which can be completely satisfied in what they do. Open your thoughts to who you suppose is the best individual to be a frontrunner. Discover good management qualities in several types of folks is likely to be one thing that might make you a little bit bit extra profitable in your seek for your crew of the longer term.
Q. What’s one among your favourite tales from all through your profession? How has that affected your work?
Howard: One in all my favourite experiences was working at a younger age as a undertaking supervisor on Sanibel Island, Florida, within the early 2000s. It was difficult however extremely rewarding. I labored on a second undertaking on Sanibel Island in September 2022 once I was a part of Superior’s emergency restore crew that restored entry to the island after Hurricane Ian. We rebuilt three roadway sections and 5 washed-out approaches in simply 15 days. To me, the Sanibel Causeway emergency repairs strengthened the significance of teamwork, adaptability, and utilizing data from previous expertise to resolve pressing issues.
Engelke: I used to be an apprentice and chasing a paver. It was scorching, humid, and only a tough day. My job that day was to maintain up one edge. There’s folks which can be bull floating and straight edging or bump reducing, and there’s anyone on the opposite edge. However I used to be strolling backwards and tripped over my bucket, which had water in it. I fell down, scraped my elbows, my bucket fell on me and I received completely moist. Then received stung by a bee. Amidst all of this, like I stated [the concrete] is popping out unhealthy—the entire slab. We’re having to throw water and scrub and throw concrete—it was the worst factor you may think about.
One of many scariest, meanest, grouchiest outdated guys—he taught me so much, he was superior, and I really like him to demise—went over to the truck, received a Band Support, introduced it to me and mainly stated, “Come on, stand up.” He took outing of what was vital that day. We knew we have been screwed, nevertheless it was actually humorous. A Band Support wasn’t going to assist me in any respect, however the gesture of it was one thing I’ll always remember.
I really like telling that story, as a result of it alludes to how the crew comes collectively. How the folks come collectively. How the conditions you’re in collectively make you actually shut. It was a extremely candy factor for this tremendous grouchy, tremendous imply, tremendous crusty outdated man to come back and do. I’ll always remember it.
