Breaking Ground: Empowering Women in Construction with Carla Gallardo

The landscape of the construction industry is undeniably undergoing a transformation. Traditionally a male-dominated field, it is slowly but surely opening its doors to a more diverse workforce, with women increasingly making their mark. At the forefront of this exciting shift is individuals like Carla Gallardo, a project engineer whose journey from aspiring architect to seasoned construction professional serves as a powerful testament to the growing opportunities and persistent challenges for women in this vital sector.

Carla Gallardo’s career trajectory began with an unexpected turn. Initially, her passion lay in architecture, a path that resonated with her creative spirit and desire to build. However, the pragmatic influence of her engineer father gently steered her towards civil engineering. This decision proved to be pivotal, especially since construction was an industry entirely new to her family, a world she entered without preconceived notions or inherited insights.

From University Dreams to On-Site Realities: Carla’s Early Career

While still pursuing her education at the University of Texas at El Paso, Carla seized a transformative opportunity in 2008: a construction internship. This experience, working alongside project engineers on a massive undertaking of over a thousand military housing units at Fort Bliss, ignited her passion and laid the groundwork for her future. It was during this period that her journey with Balfour Beatty Construction began, eventually leading her to McCarthy Building Companies, where she continues to thrive today.

Carla represents a growing wave of young female professionals courageously entering the construction industry, a sector historically recognized as one of the least gender-diverse. While women constitute a significant 47 percent of the national workforce, their presence in construction lags dramatically, making up a mere nine percent. This stark disparity is even more pronounced when examining specific roles, with only three percent of women employed in hands-on production positions. The majority of female roles in construction often fall into administrative, human resources, or marketing functions, highlighting a crucial area for growth and inclusion within core construction operations.

Gallardo’s commitment to professional growth didn’t stop with her civil engineering degree. She pursued further education at UTEP, successfully earning an MBA while simultaneously managing a demanding full-time career. This dedication equipped her with both the technical expertise and the business acumen necessary to excel. Soon, she was coordinating intricate multi-family projects, often involving hundreds of units and LEED-certified community centers. These projects, as Carla describes, are complex ecosystems of “lots of moving parts and interdependent wheels turning to stay on time and on budget,” demanding meticulous planning and agile problem-solving.

The Allure of the Blueprint: What Drives a Construction Professional

So, what was it about construction that first captivated Carla? “I love that every day is different,” she affirms. This dynamic environment, far from being monotonous, presents a constant stream of fresh challenges. “There’s a lot of adrenaline happening when there’s a problem to solve, and initially you have no idea how to tackle it,” she explains. This inherent unpredictability and the intellectual stimulation of finding solutions resonate deeply with her, fueling her passion for the work.

Her talents and dedication quickly led to a promotion to senior project engineer, a role that took her to Clovis, New Mexico, for two years, and subsequently to Houston. It was there, upon joining McCarthy Building Companies, that she truly discovered her unique edge within the industry. “I was an assistant superintendent for a couple of years, so I was out there on the job site leading work on a daily basis,” Gallardo recalls, her slight accent adding to the authenticity of her experience. Her ability to “speak the same language as workers on the site” proved to be an immense asset, fostering stronger communication and more effective leadership.

Unpacking the Numbers: Gender Disparity in Construction

Statistics from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shed further light on the demographic makeup of the construction workforce. Notably, 27 percent of all men and women employed in the construction industry identify as Hispanic or of Latino ethnicity, underscoring the significant contribution of this community. However, other BLS figures reveal a stark reality regarding gender representation, which can be quite eye-opening.

The latest available reports indicate that in 2016, a total of 10.3 million people were working in the construction sector. Of this substantial workforce, approximately 9,389,000 were men, while women comprised a significantly smaller segment, numbering only 939,000. This means women make up less than 10 percent of the entire U.S. construction workforce, highlighting a persistent and considerable gender gap. This numerical imbalance has profound implications for diversity, innovation, and the future talent pipeline of the industry.

Total Workers in Construction ……………………………… 10,328,000
Men in Construction ……………………………………………..9,389,000
Women in Construction ……………………………………….. 939,000

The question naturally arises: why are so few women employed in the construction industry? While there are indeed some long-standing, stereotypical reasons that contribute to this phenomenon, the underlying factors are often complex and interconnected.

One major contributing factor is the lower representation of girls in academic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) studies. This educational disparity at foundational levels directly translates into fewer women pursuing careers in science, technology, and engineering, which are critical pathways into construction.

Another challenge lies in mentorship. While successful women often mentor both men and women, guiding them into higher professional roles and encouraging a ripple effect of mentorship, younger women are statistically less likely to actively seek out mentorship opportunities compared to their male counterparts. This reluctance, combined with the sheer lack of female role models in senior positions within construction, creates a cyclical problem.

Simple arithmetic further illuminates this issue: with women making up less than 10 percent of the construction workforce, there are inherently fewer clear mentorship opportunities and subsequent advancement paths available to them. This scarcity can make it harder for women to envision and navigate a long-term career in the industry. Furthermore, the broader industry faces a challenge as statistics show a steady year-over-year decline in the overall workforce entering construction, making the need for attracting diverse talent even more urgent.

Finding Guidance: The Power of Mentorship

For Carla Gallardo, the scarcity of women in mentorship roles meant she had to proactively seek guidance from male mentors. This adaptability proved crucial for her professional development. “I have about four mentors that are people whom I trust and ask for advice,” Gallardo shares. Her network is diverse, extending “from the vice president level, to project engineer, to people younger than me.” She emphasizes that these individuals are not just advisors, but “100 percent advocates of my career and talent.” This robust support system ensures that “whenever I feel like I need help, I know there are people who I can call,” providing invaluable confidence and direction.

Despite her resilience and strong support network, Carla has inevitably encountered challenges as a woman operating in a predominantly male environment. She recounts an instance where she had to enlist the help of her male boss to ensure her voice was heard. “I had a subcontractor who refused to answer my calls,” Gallardo explains. When she informed her manager about the communication breakdown, he decided to call the subcontractor on speakerphone. The subcontractor, surprisingly, answered immediately. After some back-and-forth, Carla confronted him directly: “‘Is it because I’m a woman?'” The question, delivered with directness, embarrassed the subcontractor, and the issue “never happened again.” This anecdote powerfully illustrates the subtle, yet pervasive, biases women can face and the importance of having allies who can amplify their voices.

The Unsung Advantage: Bridging the Gender Pay Gap

While every industry presents its own set of challenges for women, minorities, and underrepresented groups, construction holds a distinct and often overlooked advantage that simply cannot be overstated. “The gender pay gap is small or nonexistent,” Gallardo proudly states. “That’s a big deal and a major recruiting point.” This aspect positions construction as a surprisingly equitable field in terms of compensation, a factor that should be heavily leveraged to attract more female talent.

According to a July 2018 women’s earnings report by Catalyst, a New York-based non-profit dedicated to accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion, women in construction earn approximately 96 cents for every dollar men earn. This figure makes construction the single industry closest to achieving rate parity, a remarkable achievement when compared to the broader workforce trends.

Across all industries, women earned 81.8 percent of what men earned in 2017, based on the median weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers. This represents an improvement from a stark 62.3 percent in 1979, but it still falls significantly short of the near-parity seen in construction. The relatively equitable pay in construction offers a compelling reason for women to consider careers in the field, challenging perceptions about compensation inequalities often associated with professional life.

Paving the Way Forward: Opportunities for a Diverse Future

Carla Gallardo’s insights culminate in a powerful call to action: “Putting emphasis on women is an opportunity we can’t afford to ignore.” The construction industry stands at a critical juncture, facing both workforce shortages and an increasing demand for diverse perspectives. Embracing women is not merely a matter of fairness; it is a strategic imperative for innovation, problem-solving, and long-term sustainability.

To truly foster a more inclusive environment, stakeholders must actively work on multiple fronts. This includes promoting STEM education for girls from an early age, creating robust outreach programs that showcase the exciting and varied career paths available in construction, and implementing inclusive workplace policies that support work-life balance and prevent harassment. Highlighting success stories like Carla Gallardo’s is also essential, providing tangible role models and demonstrating what is achievable.

The benefits of a diverse workforce extend far beyond gender equality; they contribute to stronger teams, enhanced creativity, and a better understanding of diverse client needs. As the construction industry continues to evolve, the integration of more women will undoubtedly lead to richer perspectives, innovative solutions, and a more robust, resilient future. Carla Gallardo’s journey is a beacon, illuminating the path forward for countless women ready to build their own legacies in construction, piece by challenging, rewarding piece.