March 5-11, 2023: Women in Construction Week

WHEREAS, the largest employment imbalance between men and women appears in Construction and Extraction occupations, which are 97 percent men and 3 percent women, according to the 2021 Women in the Michigan Workforce report from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives; and,

WHEREAS, as of December 2021, Michigan had 11,850 active apprentices in the construction industry, of which 521 were women; and,

WHEREAS, Michigan’s construction industry continues to grow with an unprecedented demand for workers in the skilled trades to support the billions of investment dollars coming into the state for infrastructure, broadband expansion, chip plants, housing and more; and,

WHEREAS, more women are encouraged to get on the pathway to the higher-paying jobs available in the construction sector through registered apprenticeships, Michigan Reconnect and the Going PRO Talent Fund; and,

WHEREAS, organizations like the Lansing Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction and their sister chapters are a voice for women working in all facets of the construction industry; and,

WHEREAS, the theme of the 2023 Women in Construction Week is “Many Paths, One Mission,” celebrating the different journeys women take in construction, and strengthening and amplifying the success of women in the construction industry; and,

WHEREAS, we encourage community organizations to intentionally recruit, support and uplift women in construction;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim March 5 – 11, 2023 as Women in Construction Week in Michigan.