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Durham County honors women in construction and highlights mentorship and training partnerships
Summary
The board adopted a resolution celebrating women in construction, noted statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics about workforce representation, and heard from local women-owned firms about mentoring and partnerships with Durham Public Schools and Durham Tech.
The Durham Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution recognizing women in construction and promoting pathways into skilled trades. Commissioner Michelle Burton presented the resolution, citing BLS figures that women comprised about 11.2% of the nation's construction workforce in 2024 and noting that pay parity in the construction industry compares favorably to other sectors.
Local representatives from women- and minority-owned contracting firms spoke to the board about mentorship and training programs. One presenter described partnerships with Durham Public Schools and Durham Technical Community College that include job-shadowing, site tours and mentorship: "So there are always opportunities, to learn," the presenter said, describing on-site tours and collaboration with local education programs. Commissioners emphasized the county's role in promoting MWBE participation in local contracting and thanked staff who coordinate outreach to students and companies.
The board commended the presenters and encouraged continued partnership between industry and education to build diverse pipelines into construction trades.
