Posted on 03/27/2025 3:38:15 PM PDT by Angelino97
As LA Metro prepares for global events coming to the region and major projects on the horizon, the Board of Directors Thursday advanced an effort to increase opportunities for women in construction.
In a unanimous vote, the Board approved a report and instructed staff to expand initiatives to help women, meet equity and hiring goals. Staff are expected to provide a progress update in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026.
“Our goal is that we want to make the trades simpler for women,” Board Chair and L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said. “Our leaning in is to make it simpler and easier, and to break down those barriers so that women can have a co-equal chance at succeeding in the construction trades.”
In 2019, Metro took steps to examine the disparity in construction opportunities for women. They authorized a study that assessed female participation levels in various trades and discussed barriers in recruitment and retention of women in construction roles.
As a start, the transportation agency launched several initiatives — such as the Women Build Metro LA program, the implementation of a report card system to measure how many contracts are awarded to women, and the Women in the Trades Resource Guide, among other things. Metro also began outreach to high schools that promote careers in construction. The agency has partnered with Women in Non-Traditional Employment, known as WINTER, a nonprofit dedicated to workforce development for women.
In April 2024, Metro formally commissioned the Female Construction Workforce Disparity Study, which was published March 14.
According to the study, female workers remain “significantly underrepresented” across regional infrastructure projects throughout L.A. County and the Greater Los Angeles Area. Between 2019-2023, women participated on Metro construction projects by 3.6% compared to 2.2% of L.A. County, and 1.9% of the Greater LA Area, which includes L.A., Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.
Metro previously made it a goal to reach a 6.9% female participation, as stated in its Project Labor Agreement/Construction Careers Policy.
Key findings showed the following:
— There were more women (as employees and apprenticeships) in trades such as laborers, electricians, carpenters and operating engineers compared to construction;
— Women in apprenticeships was on a positive trend through 2019, but it decreased significantly in 2020. From 2020-23, this trend began increasing, but it has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels;
— There are more older women in construction than there are younger, a 10% increase and decrease, respectively
— Systemic barriers such as childcare accessibility, reliable transportation, supportive work environments hinder women’s retention and career advancement in construction.
The study indicated, under moderate growth, Metro could achieve a 5% female participation rate by 2043, while rapid supply growth could reach a 6.9% rate by 2040.
Among the recommendations to improve opportunities for women, Metro could implement requirements of its contractors to hire more women; establish a regional roundtable with union trades, contractor’s associations and other stakeholders to formulate a strategic action plan; host a regional summit for women in various trades; establish an advisory group focused on women construction workers; and also launch a social media campaign to focused on women, youth and mentorship opportunities.
why?
Last summer, I saw a roofing guy go up a ladder to the second story carrying a 4x8 sheet of OSB, probably 5/8ths.
Just can’t let go of DEI.
There’s a joke in there somewhere.
I was watching him, and I said to myself - “you’d best hope a wind gust doesn’t come along...”
That’s the first thing I thought of.
How far can this thing fly?
Does that mean construction is too complicated for women? Inquiring minds want to know.
How much of the modern lack of quality in America is caused by putting people into work that they really weren’t drawn to and now work at jobs they aren’t passionate about and aren’t well suited for example women forced into STEM, and when it comes to female bodies in physical trades, how much does it cost to deal with their disabilities and early retirements, like we see happen in the military?
Why not push young guys who like building things and the outdoors into a lifetime of CPA desk work instead and see what happens to the field after a few decades, but at least they wouldn’t wreck their bodies doing something they aren’t built for.
Around my house, women do all the construction work.
I buy them the best tools and give them lots of encouragement.
A large part is probably more upper body strength, but spatial visualization plays a part as well.
If you have women lifting heavy loads their bodies will break down more quickly. Equality of outcomes is a fake religion.
Priorities... amiright?
A sample of one is insignificant.
FTA: “Our goal is that we want to make the trades simpler for women…”
I had no idea that level, plumb, and square means something different because of sex.
“Our leaning in is to make it simpler and easier, and to break down those barriers so that women can have a co-equal chance at succeeding in the construction trades.”
So by this the clowns are admitting they put up and keep barriers to all construction projects.
Discrimination by any other name would smell as nasty.
Look at male/female ratios in nursing, elementary education, bricklaying, plumbers, etc. it is never 100 percent but they are heavily weighted. It doesn’t mean one sex is better than the other, just that they have different interests and skills.
Are you worried about discrimination in elementary school teachers?
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