August 13, 2024
At Power Design, we're passionate about shaping not only skylines, but the future of construction and the workforce that makes it possible. We’re proud to be a company where inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword – it’s part of our identity. It’s no secret that the industry is heavily male dominated, but what if we could help change that?
As construction evolves, so does the need for diverse perspectives and talents – and we believe women are ready to answer the call!
Commitment of Power Design’s Ladies Leadership Committee
With our executive leadership committee over 63% women, we’re proud to say that we’re already ahead of our industry when it comes to female representation across the company. But our efforts don’t stop at the top!
Enter the Ladies Leadership Committee – a group designed to organize our efforts to further support the badass women in our #PDIFamily! This committee is a powerhouse of driven, passionate women from across the organization with one major thing in common: the commitment to advancing the presence and influence of the women at Power Design, and across our industry. Their goals are clear: recruit more women into the field, retain the talent we already have, and help them grow. It's not just about numbers; it’s about creating an environment where women feel supported, valued, and ready to take on leadership roles.
We are and always have been a company that strives to be inclusive and a great place to work for all top performers. As an executive team, we often casually talked about how we can support the women in the organization and implemented networking events and made changes along the way. This year we decided to formalize the group to maximize our impact at Power Design.
Lauren Permuy | Chief Growth Officer
Why Do We Need More Women in Construction?
It’s no secret that the construction industry is facing a serious labor shortage. With an estimated 501,000 additional workers necessary to meet demand in 2024, we need all-hands-on-deck to ensure that we can continue shaping skylines and building better in the future. Even though Power Design leads the industry with 16% of our workforce female (industry average is at 9%), we don’t want to stop there. Women constitute 57% of the overall U.S. workforce so we are challenging ourselves to grow even more.
Power Design was recently one of the original companies to sign the Million Women in Construction Community Pledge with the U.S. Department of Commerce – pledging to take bold actions that will cultivate a strong and diverse workforce for the future! From ensuring female representation in all our trade advocacy initiatives to supporting women-owned businesses with our production partners and vendor networks, we are ensuring our future workforce and partners reflect our values of diversity and inclusion. We’re also addressing gender-specific challenges in the workplace and supporting women-focused communities within the industry, such as ULI’s Women’s Leadership Initiative and the National Association of Women in Construction.
But adding more women into the construction fold isn’t only about filling the labor gaps; it’s about bringing diverse perspectives to the table to help drive better decision-making and innovation. When women see other women thrive in construction, it creates a ripple effect and encourages more to dive into the industry and build flourishing careers.
It was always my dream to work in construction, and the industry being male dominated was never an issue for me. My job site has a ton of hard-working women, and I know my Power Design team always has our backs. The trades need all the help they can get – we're here and we’re ready!
Jumiah Watkins | Apprentice
Interested in Getting Involved?
If you find yourself as fired up about women in construction as we are, there are plenty of ways to learn more, get involved, and help make a difference! From education resources to upcoming events, visit The National Association of Women in Construction for more information on how you can support women taking on the trades.
At Power Design, we’re not just shaping skylines – we’re shaping the future of the industry. And that future includes more women in every role, at every level!
