Creating More Career Pathways for Women in Construction
The construction industry is facing a talent shortage that can no longer be framed as a future problem. It’s here, and it’s reshaping how we think about education, workforce development, and who gets to see themselves in the trades.
A 2025 Associated General Contractors of America survey found that in Washington state, the vast majority of construction firms struggle to fill hourly craft positions and salaried jobs, echoing a national trend.
But solving the shortage isn’t just about filling open roles. It’s about expanding who views careers in construction and related fields as viable options in the first place.
For many girls and young women, inspiration begins with seeing people who look like them thriving in the field.
That visibility is powerful. It turns abstract ideas about “the trades” into tangible career possibilities and helps students imagine themselves getting there.
The construction industry is facing a talent shortage that can no longer be framed as a future problem. It’s here, and it’s reshaping how we think about education, workforce development, and who gets to see themselves in the trades.
A 2025 Associated General Contractors of America survey found that in Washington state, the vast majority of construction firms struggle to fill hourly craft positions and salaried jobs, echoing a national trend.
But solving the shortage isn’t just about filling open roles. It’s about expanding who views careers in construction and related fields as viable options in the first place.
For many girls and young women, inspiration begins with seeing people who look like them thriving in the field.
That visibility is powerful. It turns abstract ideas about “the trades” into tangible career possibilities and helps students imagine themselves getting there.
Seeing a future in the trades
Lewis General Foreman Lorie Tibbetts speaks to a group of students at Kent’s Meridian Middle School at a December 2025 career fair.
At a winter career fair at Meridian Middle School in Kent, Lewis general foreman Lorie Tibbetts did exactly that. She and superintendent Dustin Zyph connected with students about life at Lewis, the many pathways into the industry, and the wide range of roles available in construction—from hands-on field leadership to project management, engineering, and operations.
Beyond handing out Lewis swag, the kids gravitated to Tibbets as she shared her personal journey and what she loves about her work. Tibbets has had a hand in building many of Lewis’ large-scale Lewis commercial projects in Seattle, including Rainier Square Tower. Her journey with Lewis began back in 1990 during a concrete pour on the Second & Seneca tower project.
For students, hearing directly from a woman leading work in the field helped challenge outdated assumptions about who construction is for and what success can look like.
They even felt comfortable asking Tibbets and Zyph a question that was undoubtedly top of mind: how much money do people working in construction make?
These moments of connection may seem small, but their impact can be lasting.
Building confidence through learning
Coriann Presser (center) took part in a panel discussion at Camp BuildHER in the summer 2025, sharing about her career journey and the many pathways available in construction.
Building confidence through learning
Turning inspiration into action requires creating spaces where girls can actively explore and experience the trades, especially at a time when students and families are seeking affordable pathways into stable careers.
Last summer, Lewis helped sponsor Camp BuildHER, a free, weeklong construction camp for girls in grades 7-10 held in Kent. Campers learned foundational trade skills and leadership skills and connected with women working across the construction industry.
Organizers also hosted panel discussions where female leaders shared their stories and offered candid advice. Participating in one of these panels and hearing from other speakers reminded me once again that there’s no single “right” path for everyone. That said, across all of our experiences, there were consistent themes for success: resiliency, being self-motivated, being a hard worker, having a desire to work in a team, and being able to creatively problem solve. That was true of each of the speakers, regardless of their ultimate career path.
It was gratifying to hear that the campers left feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to explore all the opportunities ahead.
Expanding education and training opportunities
Maya Berns-Janousek works as foreman at Lewis, managing subcontractors and leading teams of up to 100 workers on complex projects. But her path to construction wasn’t traditional. Through training and support from Oregon Tradeswomen and Lewis, she joined a union, entered an apprenticeship, and launched her career here.
Building a sustainable talent pipeline requires not only getting students into training and education programs, but also supporting them so they succeed once they’re there.
That means connecting motivated learners with resources, mentorship, hands-on training, and structured pathways into careers—especially for women and historically underrepresented groups. This ensures that those initial sparks translate into lasting careers.
One way Lewis bridges the gap between education and employment is supporting pre-apprenticeship programs like Seattle-based ANEW, which provides safety, technical, and physical training while actively recruiting women, people of color and formerly incarcerated individuals.
A variety of Lewis employees came to the company through ANEW, and Lewis field leaders regularly support participants through mentorship, mock union interviews, recommendation letters, and direct job placements on our projects.
The Lease Crutcher Lewis Foundation also provides a platform for making a meaningful impact.
Since its inception in 2021, the foundation has committed more than $720,000 to nonprofit partners focused on building a more diverse construction workforce. That includes scholarships for historically underrepresented individuals at local colleges and universities and support for organizations across the Pacific Northwest like Sawhorse Revolution and ANEW.
Empowering women at all stages of their careers
In 2024, Lewis’ Women’s Development Group hosted a fireside chat with Washington division leaders including president Coriann Presser (center) and vice president Shannon Testa (right), creating space for open dialogue about career development, inclusion, and how employees can play an active role in shaping the company’s future.
Supporting long-term success for women in construction also requires supporting employees’ growth, development, and sense of belonging once they’re on the job.
At Lewis, our Women’s Development Group helps provide that support. It’s one of several company-wide affinity groups designed to foster connection, mentorship and shared learning.
Members meet regularly to discuss the opportunities and challenges unique to being a woman in construction.
Reflecting on these efforts — from early exposure in classrooms and camps to mentorship and community-building — it’s clear there’s enormous potential to make careers in construction more accessible and equitable to more people.
Working together across the industry, we can create a future where anyone with the passion and talent to build has the opportunity to succeed.
This article orginally appeared in the Seattle DJC as part of the newspaper's Women in Construction Week 2026 special section.