Women in Public Works: The Engineering Pipeline

Abstract

Although engineering is a traditional route to public works management, the percentage of women in public works management is significantly less than the percentage of engineering graduates who are women, which seems stuck at under 20%. Serious change can be achieved when leaders in schools, colleges, and the workforce take action. A joint effort by public works and engineering communities could improve conditions for women in public works and provide opportunities to enter meaningful professions and contribute to society. Unless more women are attracted to public works management, students will lack role models and public works will remain “invisible” to them. APWA chapters working with local schools and colleges can provide leadership in programs to attract women to public works and to engineering and to increase the public's appreciation of the links between effective public works and a productive but fair society.