Press Release  Governor Healey Proclaims Women in Construction Week

BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey has proclaimed March 1-7, 2026, as Women in Construction week, recognizing the essential role women play in strengthening Massachusetts’ construction industry and advancing a more inclusive, skilled workforce. 

To mark the week, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones visited the Pipefitters Local 537 and Ironworkers Local 7, bringing together stakeholders to discuss efforts to increase representation among women in construction. During the visits, Secretary Jones met with women apprentices, toured training facilities, and experienced hands-on learning apprentices gain in the classroom and on job sites.

“Women are building Massachusetts every day on job sites, in training programs, and in leadership roles across the construction industry,” said Governor Maura Healey. “A strong construction workforce depends on opening doors and removing barriers, and that is why Massachusetts is investing in its future by expanding opportunity across the construction trades and building a pipeline that reflects the full talent of our state.”

“A strong construction workforce depends on opportunity and access,” Lt. Governor Driscoll. “This week is about recognizing progress, lifting up women who are leading on job sites and in classrooms, and continuing the work to make these careers open to everyone.”

The visits build on an Executive Order Governor Healey signed in December 2024 to promote women and diversity in construction. Together, these efforts reflect the Healey-Driscoll Administration's broader strategy to strengthen talent pipelines, expand registered apprenticeship and build diverse talent for the construction industry in Massachusetts.

“Massachusetts is committed to advancing more opportunities for women in construction, especially by leveraging the state’s Registered Apprenticeship program and career pathways to attract and develop existing and future talent,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “Throughout this week and during the year, the Healey-Driscoll Administration appreciates the partnerships and programming that strengthen career pathways for young girls to see themselves in the building trades and create more opportunities for women to represent this critical part of our workforce.”

The Executive Order also established a Diverse and Equitable Construction Workforce Participation Committee within the Governor’s Office to drive interagency coordination and promote best practices. These include increasing the use of registered apprentices, hiring local and diverse businesses, and encouraging contractors to provide supportive services such as child care. The Committee also works with state agencies to identify best practices for public projects across agencies and strategies to improve data collection to measure the workforce participation. Secretary Jones serves as Chair of the Committee, which convenes quarterly. 

“We were incredibly honored to host Secretary Jones as part of the Kickoff to the state’s Women in Construction Week. As a proud skilled trade union Local 537 continues to encourage women to pursue an opportunity in the pipefitting and refrigeration field, and celebrate the success they enjoy in a career in the Pipefitting / HVAC Industry. Our recent application period showed about 3% of applicants were women. Our current apprentice roster includes 28 women, about 5% of our apprentice population. Some were on hand today to display some of the skills they have learned both in the field and here at our state of the art Training Center. Local 537 commends Governor Healey for recognizing the important role women have and continue to play in our Local Union and the rest of the Building Trades.” said Pipefitters’ Association Local Union 537 Business Manager/Financial Secretary Treasurer Daniel T. O’Brien

"Secretary Jones and Governor Healey are champions of organized labor and have been especially supportive of our efforts to recruit and advance women in our industry,” said Ironworkers Local 7 Business Manager Vincent Coyle Jr. “Local 7 was proud to host Secretary Jones as we celebrate Women In Construction Week and recognize the achievements of our 140 female members who strap on their tool belts and boots every day to help build our city and our region. Supporting working families is what we do at Local 7 and we are thankful for the support of Secretary Jones in our mission to build stronger, more vibrant communities and create safe workplaces for women."

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to expanding apprenticeship, a proven model for closing skills gaps and building a diverse construction workforce. Since January 2023, the Administration has invested nearly $14 million to train and place apprentices and pre-apprentices in the construction and building trades and in expanding industries. Additionally, Massachusetts was awarded $6 million from US Department of Labor to support Registered Apprenticeship and early childhood educator apprenticeships.

EOLWD’s Division of Apprentice Standards (DAS) maintains more than 980 registered apprenticeship programs with over with over 9,000 apprentices currently working with the majority in construction but a growing number of apprentices in the building trades, and expansion industries such as manufacturing, life sciences, and health care.

More information about Registered Apprenticeship is available at Mass.gov/Apprenticeship.

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