March 7-13, 2021: Women in Construction Week

WHEREAS, according to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, as of December 2020, Michigan had 11,494 active apprentices in the construction industry with 425 of them filled by women; and,

 

WHEREAS, according to the 2019 Construction Industry Cluster Report, construction in Michigan is an overwhelmingly male industry with just under 87% of positions held by men, which proves the need to increase the number of women exploring these career opportunities; and,

 

WHEREAS, per the 2019 Construction Industry Cluster Report, the construction cluster had the highest number of complete registered apprentices each year between 2008 and 2015, and many jobs in the construction cluster require only a high school diploma and some level of postsecondary training in specific skills; and,

 

WHEREAS, registered apprenticeship programs help individuals get training in Michigan, and the share of female registered apprentices is growing; and,

 

WHEREAS, the Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction has worked to support the employment and advancement of women in the construction industry since 1971 and will continue to strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry through community development and educational programs; and,

 

WHEREAS, we join the construction industry in our state, the Detroit Chapter of NAWIC and their sister chapters, and other community organizations across the state and country to connect, collaborate, and construct during the 2021 Women in Construction Week;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim March 7-13, 2021 as Women in Construction Week in Michigan.