Although construction continues to be a male-dominated field, women are making progress in Missouri and throughout the country. Deputy Director Walsh said women are beginning to see the value of the building trades and are finding that they have a place at the table.
Walsh then began talking about the upcoming Trades Women Build Nations (TWBN) Conference. The annual conference is the largest annual conference held by North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) with over 3,000 in attendance when the event was held in Minnesota last year.
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions the event is being held virtually and will last one day compared to the usual three days. She said people can register for the virtual event, which will include a virtual workshop, on the NABTU website.
Walsh said that although women are making progress in the construction industry, they still may feel isolated in the workplace. She said the TWBN Conference is perfect for women to come and discuss the issues they face and ask questions of fellow tradeswomen.
She left listeners with a hope that more women will give the construction trades a chance. The healthcare benefits and wages are too valuable to pass up.
You can listen to her full interview below: