Declaring March 3, 2024, to March 9, 2024, as Women in Construction Week and celebrating the countless contributions of women in construction.
Impact
The resolution specifically addresses the gender disparity in the construction workforce, where women comprise only 9 percent of that workforce in Wisconsin, significantly lower than the national average of 14 percent. By declaring this week, the legislation aims to raise awareness of the opportunities available to women in this economically rewarding industry. The intent is to encourage more women to consider careers in construction, thereby contributing to the workforce and filling vacancies caused by an aging male workforce, as one in five construction workers in Wisconsin is 55 or older.
Summary
SJR116 is a resolution introduced to declare March 3, 2024, to March 9, 2024, as Women in Construction Week in Wisconsin. This initiative aims to acknowledge the vital contributions of women in the construction sector, which plays a crucial role in the state's economy. With the construction industry generating over $50 billion in economic output and over $27 billion to the state's GDP, this resolution highlights the importance of inclusivity and diversity within this field. Given the urgent need for new skilled workers, with an estimated 400,000 positions to fill nationwide, this resolution comes at a critical time.
Contention
SJR116 seeks to promote the construction industry as a viable and rewarding career path for women, emphasizing long-term, family-supporting jobs. While the resolution itself is largely celebratory, it does invite discussions about barriers to entry for women in construction and the systemic issues within the industry that have historically limited women's participation. The resolution may generate varying opinions about the effectiveness of such awareness campaigns in actually increasing female representation, pointing to the larger ongoing dialogue around gender equality in traditionally male-dominated fields.