Women in Construction Week
March 1–7 is Women in Construction Week, a time to recognize the women who have shaped, and continue to shape, the construction industry.
At D+H Construction, this celebration feels especially meaningful. Women make up over 33% of our workforce, spanning project management, operations, safety, administration, and leadership. That’s not something we take for granted in an industry where women still represent only about 11% of the construction workforce nationwide, and an even smaller percentage of on-site and leadership roles.
“I really enjoy working at D+H, especially as a woman in construction, because of the opportunities to learn and grow in my career. D+H is particularly strong with mentoring employees, helping them focus on areas of growth and strengthening skills. From my experience, this comes from strong leadership whom are willing to invest in their employees.”
melanie woo | pre-construction project manager
While the industry still has work to do, women have been contributing to construction far longer than most people realize.
One of our favorite pieces of construction history is the story of Emily Warren Roebling, whose role in building the Brooklyn Bridge was critical to its completion. When her husband, Washington Roebling, the bridge’s chief engineer, became severely ill and bed-ridden, Emily stepped in to manage the project. For more than a decade, she oversaw daily construction operations, coordinated with engineers and contractors, interpreted complex technical drawings, and served as the primary liaison between the jobsite and decision-makers. When the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883, Emily Roebling was the first person to cross it, a quiet but powerful acknowledgment of her leadership.
Emily Roebling’s story is a reminder that women have always belonged in construction, even when history failed to fully credit their work.