Mar 8, 2024 4 min read

84 Lumber is recognizing women in the construction industry during National Women in Construction week.

84 Lumber, an advocate for women in the construction industry, employs women in a variety of roles in the company.

84 Lumber is recognizing women in the construction industry during National Women in Construction week.

The construction industry isn’t necessarily a career path women consider when planning their future. But this week, women in construction are celebrating and shining a spotlight on many opportunities emerging.

March 3-9 is National Women in Construction week, which aims to raise awareness about the opportunities available for women and highlight the growing role in shaping the industry.

Before 2016, women accounted for 9 out of every 100 employees in the construction workforce. Since then, the number of female workers in construction has climbed nearly every year, hitting 11.1% in 2022. They are playing a key role in filling labor shortages.

“I think a great way to recruit some is to highlight the women already working in the industry. Women need to know how many have flourished and found success in the construction industry to feel more comfortable pursuing construction jobs,” said Hannah Steinhauser, an outside sales rep for 84 Lumber, which is headquartered in Eighty Four. “Most women I’ve talked to are unaware of the earning potential in this industry.”

Increasingly, women are filling skilled trade roles such as electricians, carpenters and plumbers, and are breaking down barriers in a male-dominated field as project managers, estimators, accountants, marketing experts, and sales people.

Jasmine Carter, 84 Sales Program Specialist/Installed Sales manager at the company’s Bridgeville store with seven years of experience in the industry, said she never envisioned working in the construction industry.

She had worked in retail and attended college, where she majored in psychology, but wasn’t sure what career path she wanted to pursue. She was encouraged to interview for a position at 84 Lumber by a woman who worked for a Pittsburgh construction company, “and my life changed that day,” said Carter.

“It was all very new to me. I was someone who had never touched a hammer in my life,” said Carter, who started working in the West Mifflin lumberyard at age 26. As a result of her work ethic and willingness to learn new things, Carter has moved her way up through the company.

“I became very familiar with the ins and outs, and I worked at so many positions. I drove forklifts, I used saws and other equipment and tools, I worked with building materials. I became multi-faceted,” said Carter.

84 Lumber, owned by Maggie Hardy, has National Women’s Business Enterprise certification and is a strong advocate for women in the construction industry.

Through an 84 Lumber diversity tuition assistance program that existed at the time, Carter earned a college degree in building and construction technology.

She said mentors – male and female – have supported, guided and taught her over the years.

“Dave Fisher, area manager of the Central market, hired me and gave me my start in the company. He always told me anything was possible if I was willing to work for it,” Carter said.

Great strides have been made, but as the construction industry grapples with a growing workforce shortage – it will need to attract an estimated 500,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2024 to meet the demand for labor, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors – companies are working to recruit more women.

Carter encourages women to pursue careers in construction, noting “there’s never a dull moment,” and believes women bring a lot to the table.

“I believe women offer a lot of spice to any male-driven career. Often we are able to provide a different perspective to the way things are viewed,” said Carter. “I believe women have that capability to share empathy, understanding and skill, no matter the circumstances.”