What is Women in Construction Week?
Women in Construction (WIC) Week is an annual event organized by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), that celebrates the contributions and achievements of women in the construction industry. The event promotes gender diversity and aims to inspire future generations of women in construction.
This year, the theme is ‘Keys to the Future,’ focusing on the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry.
When is Women in Construction week?
WIC Week typically takes place the first full week in March— this year it will be held from March 3 – 9, 2024.
How can your construction company participate in Women in Construction Week?
Every year, construction companies across the country find unique ways to highlight and celebrate the vital role women play in our traditionally male-dominated industry during WIC Week. We gathered 4 ways your construction company can celebrate women in construction below.
Host a get together to celebrate the women on your team
This year, M3 will be hosting a WIC-themed workout!
One thing about M3 is that we’ll never miss an opportunity to crush goals in the gym together. If workouts are a team-favorite activity at your company, too, consider leading a workout that spells out “WIC” as a unique way to get the team involved. Here are some exercise ideas you could pull from:
‘W’ – wall sits, wide-grip pull-ups, walking lunges, wall push-ups, walking, weighted squats, etc.
‘I’- incline bench press, inverted rows, isometric planks, incline walking, inch worms, ect.
‘C’ – chest press, chin-ups, crunches, curls, curtsy lunges, cleans, cycling, climbing, calf-raises, cat/cow, ect.
If a team workout isn’t your thing, you could consider planning a potluck, happy hour, or mixer to celebrate. You could even invite other local construction companies to your event to encourage networking and collaboration.
Attend Local Women in Construction Week events
If planning your own event is too much, you could check to see if other companies in your region are hosting any events you could join.
NAWIC’s event calendar is a great resource for discovering WIC Week events. Just follow the link and select your region to find events happening near you.
If you’re in Sacramento like us, here’s 2 WIC celebrations you could attend this year:
CFMA Women in Construction Luncheon
- March 21, 2024 | 11:30 AM PT
- DoubleTree Hotel
SRBX & CIEF 2024 Women in Construction Conference
- September 19, 2024 | 8 AM – 4:30 PM PT
- SAFE Credit Union Convention Center
Recognize/thank the women on your team
Working as a woman in a male-dominated industry often means breaking through social barriers— going out of your way to introduce yourself or do something kind for a female counterpart is a simple way to encourage camaraderie amongst your team. Celebrating the women on your team can even be as simple as showing appreciation via email or sharing a great story about them to others.
Pro tip: If your company has core value (or employee recognition) awards like us, consider nominating your female peers for their accomplishments!
Join your local NAWIC chapter
NAWIC was founded in 1953 by 16 women working in the construction industry as a support network for women working in the male-dominated field. Today, NAWIC continues the vision of its founding members by advocating for the value and impact of women builders, professionals, and tradeswomen in all aspects of the construction industry.
The organization now has more than 115 chapters around the U.S.. Consider joining your local chapter for access to opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service, and more.
Click here to find out if there’s a NAWIC chapter in your region.
Careers in Construction
The construction industry is facing labor demand, and women can help fill that gap. If you work in the industry, share your experience and encourage women in your life to learn more about a career in construction. Let them know that M3 is hiring!
Browse our open positions: https://mark-three.com/careers/.