Report identifies key strategies for addressing work force challenges in the construction industry. 

Fort Worth, Texas. June 17, 2026. The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has released the 2025 Construction Congress report. The Construction Congress, held in Boston, leveraged the experiences and concerns of a cross section of senior construction executives, educators, workforce strategists, trade workers, and policy influencers. During this inaugural meeting, the Congress convened and shared their concerns, identified critical flashpoints, and shared potential solutions on accelerating needed progress for a stronger industry. Of primary concern was addressing the workforce challenges facing the modern construction industry both in the field and in office and management of workspaces. 

"A major finding of our sessions was that the workplace crisis is not a labor shortage, it is a leadership, culture, and systems-alignment challenge we have to address moving forward," said Rita Brown, 2025-26 President of NAWIC and a chief moderator at the Congress. 

An abbreviated report was published in the most recent issue of Industry Impact, NAWIC's newly revamped publication. Core findings included that workforce sustainability requires executive ownership, fragmented talent pipelines limit industry capacity, workplace culture is a business variable, and innovation adoption is leadership dependent. 

"Construction faces a choice: maintain outdated cultural norms or rebuild around transparent systems and inclusive leadership," says Chong-Anna Canfora, Executive Director at MI AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute and 2025 Construction Congress attendee. "The Congress made clear that apprenticeships and mentoring matter most when we create cultures where diverse talent wants to lead."  

The report also addresses trends in the educational system that are leading youth toward more craft-driven instruction, heightened awareness and mitigation of bullying and harassment, and the renewed focus needed on the importance of normalizing mental health support. 

This think tank emphasized that women's experiences in the industry are not a "women's issue" but an industry performance issue. It emphasized that gender equity attracts talent and improves retention. Key findings included that women face disproportionate scrutiny and pressure to conform to male-enculturated norms, and assertive leadership behaviors are often mischaracterized. 

"The Congress identified establishing gender-neutral leadership competencies as a key to industry success and overall equity," Brown noted. The report also discusses the importance of establishing transparent advancement criteria to remove bias. 

The full 2025 Construction Congress report is now available and offers industry leaders a practical framework for strengthening workforce systems, advancing inclusive leadership, and building a more sustainable future for construction. 

About NAWIC: The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) continues the vision of its founding members by advocating for the value and impact of women builders, professionals, and tradeswomen in all aspects of the construction industry. With more than 120 chapters and over 6,000 members across the country, NAWIC offers its members opportunities for professional development, education, networking, and leadership training. To learn more, visit nawic.org.