women

Women in Construction Week 2022 (WIC Week) returns to the Twin Cities from March 6-12. And it returns with some in person events after being a virtual-only event last year. “Depending on the venue some will require a mask, but at least it’s in person,” said Janelle Miller, WIC Week Chair who works for Peterson Companies.

WIC Week highlights women as a visible component of the construction industry and raises awareness about the opportunities available for women who are construction workers. Though women represent an enormous potential workforce, they are a significant minority in the union building trades. Women make up about 11% of the construction industry’s workforce. The construction industry is brimming with opportunities for women with the right skills and capabilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the construction industry will grow six percent from 2020-30, adding about 400,000 new jobs.

The week starts on Sunday, March 6, when participants will be able to get their virtual bingo card online. They can play bingo throughout the week for prizes to be awarded after the week is over. One in-person event designed to help women meet their unique apparel needs is Beyond the Pink which takes place on Tues., March 8, at the St. Paul Tool Library. Women will be treated to workwear product demos with the opportunity to swap gear as well. Workplace apparel manufacturers are making clothes designed to fit the female form better, says Miller. “I worked 12 years in the field as a Laborer. I know firsthand how we wear clothes is different from our male counterparts. These are things being addressed in our industry.”

In total 12 events are scheduled this year. The 2022 WIC Week calendar of events is available here: https://www.nawicmsp.org/wic-week

Cement mason, hockey coach, fitness competitor, single mom – those are all roles Kate Zelko has in her life. Sometimes all in the same day. When you consider she often commutes from her home in Sauk Rapids to jobs in the Metro area, one wonders how she does it in a 24 hour day.

A kinesiology major at Augsburg University, after college she decided she wanted to work outside and do something physical. She actually started in the trade by answering an ad on Craig’s List for a non-union company. “I had a son and needed to make money,” she said. While working non-union on a Ryan Companies job, she was approached about joining the union. She thought the pay and benefits were hard to beat.

Being a woman in a male dominated industry didn’t intimidate her. Rather it challenged her. “I challenged myself to hang with the boys,” she explained. “In the union the men have treated me absolutely great. They are just like my brothers. When I worked non-union, it wasn’t so hot.”

Brian Farmer, Apprenticeship Coordinator at Cement Masons Local 633, recognized her commitment to the trade and hired her as a teacher at the cement masons training center. He needed someone to represent the female side of the industry, someone who could be a guide to the ever-increasing role of women in the industry. Added Zelko, “It’s been exciting working with apprentices, particularly in the role of a female mentor. For single moms like me or just women going it alone, through me I hope they realize it’s not just a man’s job. They can do it too.”

Women in Construction Week 2022

Inspiring By Any Measure