Women in Construction Week

03.04.2026

March 1 – 7, 2026

Women in Construction Week celebrates the vital contributions women make across the building trades — and highlights the opportunities ahead.

At The Campaign for Historic Trades, we’re using this week to amplify pathways, scholarships, and support networks that help women enter and thrive in historic preservation trades.

Why Representation in Historic Trades Matters

Historic preservation depends on highly skilled craftspeople trained in traditional carpentry, historic masonry, plasterwork, window restoration, metalwork and more. Increasing participation of women in these fields strengthens the industry by expanding the skilled workforce, brining broader perspectives to preservation work, and supporting a more sustainable future for historic trades.

  • Women make up approximately 11% of the construction workforce.
  • Only about 4% are craft professionals such as carpenters, masons, and electricians.
  • Women remain underrepresented in heritage trades.

(Statistics sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Association of Women in Construction.)

Female bricklayers and laborers preparing the site for a new airplane production shop at the Austin Motor Works, Northfield, Birmingham, during World War I (1914–1918).
© Imperial War Museums (IWM), Q 109787.
Sixteen-year-old Stella Day holding a hammer and saw while working as a carpenter in a hut production workshop, England, 1941.
© Imperial War Museums (IWM), D 2697.









Women working at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Long Beach, California (1935-1943).  Library Of Congress.














A female woodworker operating a chamfering machine fitted with safety guards for the Ministry of Munitions, World War I (1914–1918).
© Imperial War Museums (IWM), Q 109969.









Pathways into Historic Trades





There is no single path into the trades — and a four-year degree is not required to build a meaningful, skilled career.









Opportunities include:





    

  • Registered Apprenticeships 
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  • Preservation workshops
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  • Trade school programs
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  • On-the-job training
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  • Community-based trade programs
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Learn more about The Campaign for Historic Trades’ nationally Registered Apprenticeship Program and explore our nationwide events calendar, featuring historic trades classes, workshops, volunteer opportunities, internships, employment listings, and a growing directory of trade schools and trainers.









A female carpenter employed by N. G. Tarrant Sons & Co. at work in France for the British Army during World War I (1914–1918).
© Imperial War Museums (IWM), Q 109801.














Scholarships for Women in the Trades














Workshops & Trade Schools





    

  • The Stone Trust offers women-focused and introductory workshops in traditional stone masonry.
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  • A Workshop of Our Own provides hands-on trade training designed specifically for women and gender-expansive individuals.
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  • Hammerstone School empowers women and gender-diverse individuals through hands-on carpentry training
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  • Girls Build programs provide hands-on construction and trade skills education for girls aged 8 to 15
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Organizations & Support Networks





Strong networks matter. These organizations provide mentorship, advocacy, training resources, and community:






















Tradeswomen, 1981. Library of Congress














Online Communities & Media






















Looking Forward





Women have always been builders — even when history overlooked their contributions. This Women in Construction Week, we celebrate the women shaping our built environment today and commit to building stronger, more inclusive pathways into historic trades for the next generation.





If you’re interested in learning more about apprenticeships, preservation training, or partnership opportunities, explore our website https://historictrades.org/










Sources





Imperial War Museum Photograph Archive.
“Photograph Collections.” Imperial War Museums.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/photographs





Library of Congress.
“Prints & Photographs Online Catalog.” Library of Congress.
https://www.loc.gov/pictures/





U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey (Table 18).”
https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat18.htm





National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
“Building a Million Women in Construction.”
https://nawic.org/building-a-million-women-in-construction/