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Southwest Washington Girls Connect with Women in Building and Manufacturing

11/05/2024

"Blueprints for Success," held on October 18th,  brought middle and high school girls from across Southwest Washington to Clark College’s Columbia Tech Center where they spent the morning connecting with inspiring women who are excelling in manufacturing and construction/building industries. Part of the Washington State Women’s Commission's Activate 3.8 campaign, the event aimed to broaden career horizons, empowering girls to consider high-paying careers with quality benefits that are vital to Washington’s present and future economy.

Why Focus on Building and Manufacturing Careers?

The growing number of careers in construction and manufacturing in and around Southwest Washington offers valuable training resources, such as apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. These resources will be available to the young women who attended 'Blueprints for Success' as they consider higher education pathways and eventually enter the workforce.

Growing Number of Construction Projects

There is a growing number of building projects in Southwest Washington. Currently, there is a nationwide shortage of 500,000 construction workers that is expected to increase.1 Investing in young girls interested in working in this industry now, is good for their future financial security and for the state. Major upcoming projects include:

  • Southwest Washington is gearing up for a major program to replace the bridge between Vancouver and Portland. With an estimated cost of $6 billion from 2025-2035 the Interstate Bridge Replacement program will create nearly 19,000 person-year jobs directly involved in developing the bridge.2
  • To address the Affordable Housing Crisis and meet new and existing demand, Vancouver aims to add 2,500 new housing units each year over the next decade.3

Manufacturing is a Key Contributor to the Economy

Manufacturing is another key sector driving Southwest Washington's economy, particularly in areas like semiconductor and silicon wafer production. With a growing demand for clean technology from consumers and government initiatives, this industry is set to expand rapidly. Key facts about the local manufacturing sector:

  • Currently, advanced manufacturing contributes 8% of private sector jobs and 11% of the total payroll in the greater Southwest Washington-Portland area. However, only 28% of the workforce is female.4
  • Experts project that jobs in clean technology, semiconductors, and infrastructure will grow by 100,000 before 2032 thanks to state, local, and federal climate policies generating large amounts of federal funding through programs like the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.5

Panel Discussion

The event kicked off with a powerful panel featuring industry leaders:

  • Alaina Robertson Portland Division President, Taylor Morrison
  • Barbara Alexander Workforce Equity Compliance Specialist, Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, WSDOT
  • Karress LaFrance Shift Training Supervisor, TSMC Washington
  • Donna Hammond Executive Director, Oregon Tradeswomen

In this discussion, moderated by Noelle Lovern Government Affairs Director, Building Industry Association of Clark County, Panelists shared their personal journeys and the opportunities in manufacturing and building, helping students envision themselves in similar roles.

Hands-On Activities

Students rotated through interactive stations that highlighted various aspects of the manufacturing and construction industries:

  • Blueprint Building Basics with PARR Lumber: Sales representatives from PARR Lumber taught students how to read home blueprints and tackle a remodeling challenge, giving them a firsthand look at problem-solving in construction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • SEH-America Clean Suit Challenge: This station introduced the meticulous protocols of the manufacturing field, where students carefully followed instructions to put on “bunny suits” that technicians wear when inspecting semiconductors and nanotechnology. Shin-Etsu Handotai America donated 12 suits for the event.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Land Surveying in Action: Students explored the diverse applications of land surveying. Staff with S&F Land Services introduced students to critical tools used in the field, including drones and total stations. They explained how surveyors use these tools to assess different landscapes and problem solve building projects in varied environments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Silicon Wafer Handling: Staff from TSMC Washington brought Front Opening Unified Pods, a specialized plastic carrier used to handle silicon wafers without harming them. This station gave students the opportunity to handle the pods both properly and improperly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data Insights

Survey responses collected before and after the event underscore the powerful impact of connecting with women who have firsthand experience in these fields, with exciting results.

  • Interest in Manufacturing increased from 17% to 33%.
  • Interest in Building/Construction increased from 48% to 64%.
  • Not interested in either field decreased from 45% to 21%.
  • Interest in Mentorship: 100% of students expressed a desire to connect with mentors in these industries.

The responses highlight the power of representation. Thanks to our speakers, facilitators, and volunteers, students were able to see that women not only succeed but thrive in these industries. Through the activities and discussions, they painted a vivid picture of what a future in these fields could look like. With just one event, the number of students who were not interested in these industries dropped by over half.

Another important survey finding was that over 80% of the young women attending said they were already aware that "there are a lot fewer women than men working in manufacturing and construction jobs." This early awareness could be cause for concern, as it suggests that by middle and high school, many young women have already absorbed messages—whether through media, personal experience, or education—that these fields are male-dominated. This awareness can unintentionally discourage them from considering these careers, limiting their view of potential career paths and perpetuating occupational gender gaps.

Blueprints for Success in the Broader Activate 3.8: Pay Equity Tour

Careers in construction and manufacturing are among the many STEM and trades fields where women remain underrepresented, a disparity that reflects occupational segregation. This phenomenon stems from social biases and gendered messaging, which influence men and women toward different career paths.

Traditionally female-dominated roles—like education, caregiving, and other essential work—are often undervalued and underpaid, while male-dominated fields in STEM and trades offer substantially higher salaries and quality benefits. "Blueprints for Success" and the other stops on WSWC’s 10-city Pay Equity Tour seek to guide young women to explore all career options as a means of developing workforces across sectors that are representative of the population.

 

 

Thank you to our partners!

Blueprints for Success was made possible by our incredible partners. During our planning and outreach process we were amazed by the collaboration and connectivity between organizations in Southwest Washington working to increase access to opportunities in education and the workforce.

Learn about them and the resources they offer to youth and young adults below.

How you can be a part of Activate 3.8: The Pay Equity Tour

Activate 3.8: the Pay Equity Tour uplifts pathways for girls to pursue high-paying careers in WA where women remain underrepresented—fields such as STEM, Aerospace, Construction, and the Trades.

Each stop's programming is customized to meet the unique needs of the community, guided by outreach, partnerships, and local research. For organizations interested in partnering on future events, please reach out to Eliza Craig, Communications & Outreach Coordinator, Washington State Women’s Commission eliza.craig@wswc.wa.gov.

Making a Change Through our Legislature

As we travel to each stop on our Pay Equity Tour, we’re gathering information on pay inequity experiences from adults across Washington. This data is crucial in demonstrating to legislators why we need policies that address the driving factors of the wage gap, such as childcare costs, limited benefits, workplace discrimination/harassment, and occupational segregation.

We’re seeking insights from people of all genders. If you have a few moments, please consider filling out the survey below. Your response truly makes a difference and helps drive real change!

Personal stories are essential to bringing these issues to life for policymakers. If you’d like to share more, please visit this link, where you can submit video responses to three questions and provide additional details about your experience.

 

1 (2024, January 31). ABC: 2024 construction workforce shortage TOPS HALF A Million. Contractor. https://www.contractormag.com/construction-data/article/21281843/abc-202...

2 Cost, funding, economic benefits. (n.d.). Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. https://www.interstatebridge.org/EconomicBenefits

3 CITY OF VANCOUVER. (2024). 2023 Housing Report. In CITY OF VANCOUVER 2023 HOUSING REPORT (pp. 1–6) [Report]. https://www.cityofvancouver.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2023HousingRep...

4 THE COLUMBIA-WILLAMETTE WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE. (2021). Advanced Manufacturing Labor Market Report.

5 Skill up for our future. (2024). In Washington State Job Growth to Surge in High-demand Industries (pp. 2–5).