BANGOR, Maine — Women in construction and trade careers across the country are being celebrated this week.

Nationally, women make up just 11.3% of the construction workforce, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

In Maine, where women make up 15% of the construction workforce, the celebration of Women in Construction week is well underway.

In a proclamation, Maine Gov. Janet Mills encouraged Mainers to take part in connecting with and elevating women in the industry.

“Women are a crucial part of Maine’s workforce, and they should be welcomed and embraced in every sector of our economy, like the construction industry and the trades,” said Mills. “We can’t afford to leave talented workers on the sidelines.”

In 2024, Mills signed Executive Order 7, “An Order Regarding Women in Construction,” to increase the representation of women in the field.

Bangor, Maine, Career Center Consultant Theresa Drew (middle) speaks with a woman at a hiring event Wednesday. (Spectrum News/David Ledford)

According to the Maine Department of Labor, state agencies have since partnered with employers, industry associations, and education providers to expand opportunities for all Mainers, including women in the construction sector.

The MDOL said these efforts have put more than 300 women in trades positions and over 400 in an educational program, pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship. 

“A lot of women think that men are more labor-dominated and all that kind of stuff,” said Mainer Sydney Eaton, who is interested in pursuing a career in welding. “But women can do anything that men can do, and we can show that it doesn’t need to be a male-dominated field.”

Representatives of Maine’s Bath Iron Works, a shipbuilder that designs and builds ships for the U.S. Navy, stressed the value of hiring women into what have traditionally been male-dominated fields.

“We have ladies in every department at the shipyard, especially the trades, which is a very male-dominant field,” said Amanda Reibel, senior recruitment coordinator for General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. “But our numbers continue to increase every year, so we’re proud of our ladies.”

The MDOL and the Maine Department of Transportation have also announced $300,000 in grant awards to “expand the Commercial Driver’s License workforce pipeline” and train Mainers for careers in construction and transportation. 

“With these grant awards, we will be able to reduce barriers and connect more people across Maine, including women, with these life-changing opportunities,” said Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman.