Women in Construction Week is underway from March 1 to 7, 2026, recognizing the contributions of women across the architecture, engineering, and construction sectors.
Organized by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), the annual initiative includes virtual events continuing throughout the week, covering topics such as safety, industry outlook, conflict resolution, and contracts. Within the metal construction sector, industry associations and events have increasingly created opportunities to support networking, mentorship, and professional recognition for women in the field.
This year’s women in construction metals events
Last October, METALCON’s Metal and Mimosas event offered women in the metal architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry the opportunity to network and learn. To start the event, participants chose randomly from a collection of differently colored buttons that held messages of empowerment. These buttons determined the seating arrangements for the event and encouraged members to engage with new industry professionals. Printed talking points at each table prompted discussions about general work and life experiences, fostering a sense of community amongst the group.
Photo by Hanna Kowal
The event’s speaker, Jennifer Wilkerson, vice president of innovation and advancement at the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), has thoroughly researched women’s experiences in construction. Drawing on her experience interviewing 176 women in the trades and coordinating with site managers, her speech offered several interesting insights.
In terms of what motivates women to join the industry, Wilkerson narrows it down to the most common driving factors: financial prospects, family connections to the industry, and, of course, a love of the work.
Wilkerson also explained the qualities most prevalent in women that make them assets on the jobsite. This includes a team-focused mindset, which is critical in the AEC industry, as all projects require cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration, not to mention working with one’s own team. Women also bring attention to detail, organization, and an emphasis on safety practices to their work, Wilkerson explains. This streamlines jobsite processes and ensures equipment is properly cared for, helping reduce errors and making projects both more productive and safer.
This January, at the 2026 Metal Construction Association (MCA) winter meeting in San Antonio, Texas, there was another opportunity for industry professionals to network: the Women in Metal Construction Networking Dinner. An event full of lively conversation about work and personal life, the dinner represented the strength, joy, and community of women shaping the metal industry.
Growth, community, and associations
Associations also act as pillars of support, with the Association of Women in the Metals Industry (AWMI) offering resources for networking, education, mentorship, and growth. With local chapters providing an involved and integrated approach and the association as a whole serving as a safe space to foster career success, AWMI is an asset to the metals industry. It provides people at all stages of their careers with community and knowledge and promotes continuous engagement through annual association-wide events, chapter dinners and meetings, webinars, and more.
Photo courtesy MCA
The current chair of the MCA, Lee Ann Slattery, is a model of excellence in the metals industry and the association’s first female chair. Bringing 30 years of industry experience to the position, she has encouraged a bright future for women in the industry by founding and directing the Let’s Build Construction Camp for Girls.
As Women in Construction Week continues, the industry reflects on both the progress made and the ongoing efforts to expand opportunity and participation within the metal AEC sector.
