Advice From the Field: Honoring Women in Construction Week

Women in Construction Week is an annual event dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the contributions of women in the construction industry. The campaign was first held in 1998 by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) to highlight the invaluable role women play in a traditionally male-dominated field.

This week-long observance aims to raise awareness about the achievements, challenges and opportunities for women in construction. It serves as a platform to highlight their accomplishments, promote diversity within the industry and inspire more women to pursue careers in building safety.

See Related: Empowering Women: 3 Trends That Are Shaping the Future of the Building Safety Industry

In honor of this week, the International Code Council connected with women in the field, inviting them to share their insight and advice for aspiring women seeking to enter and advance within the industry.

Advice for Women in the Construction Industry

• “Be flexible in your approach to your job and what you can do. Continue to educate yourself – technologies are changing so fast. Listen – you can learn from everyone,” said Kimberly Paarlberg, Senior Staff Architect for the Code Council.
• “Find a company whose values most align with yours and that won’t tolerate harassment. Find a female mentor, contact Oregon Tradeswomen, or another industry organization available in your area, as these organizations can be valuable resources,” said Dre Jazombek, Plumbing Apprentice from Portland, Oregon.
• “Pave your own road. The construction industry is a challenging field for all involved, not only women. Develop confidence in your skills, knowledge, choices and decisions, and always be a source for problem-solving,” said Samhar Hoz, CLA-Firestopping, LEED Green Assoc., Strategy Execution certificate program – Harvard Business School On., Staff Engineer for the Code Council’s Codes and Standards Development division.
• “Be confident, be curious, be yourself and never settle,” said Riley Halvorson, Journeywoman Plumber from Portland, Oregon.

Emerging Trends Witnessed in the Construction Industry

• “I am encouraged that I am seeing more women in the design, construction and inspection fields than ever before,” said Paarlberg.
• “Women in the trades are on the rise, and the face of the trades is beginning to shift slowly towards diversity, equality and inclusivity,” said Jazombek.
• “There is no denying the fact that women are shining in every field. The best part of the construction industry is that you see the results as buildings, roads, bridges and other structures. I feel proud every time I see women as designers, project managers, office management, etc. Women are natural organizers and leaders, working cooperatively and collaboratively. They are used to coming up with solutions and are logically minded,” said Hoz.

Thoughts From on the Field

• “What I really appreciate about my job is being able to help develop requirements that make buildings and homes safer. I volunteer with my county emergency response team. So, I have seen firsthand how when bad things happen, what we are doing is helping people survive the disasters, reducing damage and helping a community recover faster,” said Paarlberg.
• “I’m barely two years into my apprenticeship, but my craftsmanship, cleanliness and customer service skills have gained me a great deal of respect in my company and with our customers. Plumbers are already in demand, but how you work puts you in higher demand,” said Jazombek.
• Based on my experience, critical factors will help you throughout your career, including having resources and skills (technical and non-technical). Work on enhancing your communication skills and on being qualified for the job you are doing. There is always a need for continuous education and licenses and certifications,” said Hoz.

For resources and support on how to enter and grow within the building safety industry, visit the International Code Council’s Safety 2.0 website here.   

Advance your career and create opportunities to learn and engage with peers and building safety experts by becoming a Code Council member here.