Thirty-one female leaders from CRH gathered in Washington, D.C., to celebrate Women in Construction Week.
The event preceded International Women’s Day as part of CRH’s inaugural Women’s Impact Conference. The women engaged with Congress to educate them on issues facing the industry.
Over two days, the group met with 45 representatives, senators and chiefs of staff, lobbying Congress to discuss critical issues for the industry. Those issues included workforce development, infrastructure funding and regulatory and permitting reform.
“The conference gave us a platform to tell our story as women and construction industry professionals,” says Sheila Barkevich, hot-mix asphalt performance manager at CRH Americas Materials. “Decisions made at the federal level can directly affect our lives and businesses. It’s up to us as industry experts to help guide them to make the best decisions. To be given the opportunity to make an impact with this amazing group of women was an awesome experience.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 1.1 million women work in construction. Women now represent 9.9 percent of the industry’s workforce.
Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the gender pay gap is significantly smaller in construction occupations, with women earning 99.1 percent on average of what men make. The U.S. average is 81.1 percent.
CRH set a goal to achieve 33 percent female senior leadership by 2030, aligning with the standard set for Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 companies.
