When it comes to the construction and asphalt industry, women are grossly underrepresented. In fact, only about 9% of those employed are women, according to 2015 U.S. Census Bureau data, making it one of the most male-dominated industries in the world. Now, the Women of Asphalt Council (WOAC) is trying to change that.
The WOAC is a national coalition aimed at not only encouraging women to seek careers in the asphalt industry, but also empowering women through education, training, networking and mentoring to foster a sense of community and sisterhood within the asphalt industry.
This mission of inspiring and supporting women in asphalt is one very near and dear to our hearts at Blacklidge, and a reason why we are a proud sponsor of the WOAC. We believe that there is a tremendous amount of opportunity for women to thrive in all aspects of the asphalt industry and, with the help of the WOAC, hope our vision can become a reality.
To kick off this revolutionary effort, the WOAC will make its debut at the World of Asphalt conference in Houston on March 6th and 7th. The two inaugural events include a mixer as well as a roundtable featuring leading women in the industry. If you can’t be a part of the conference, we will be live tweeting at the event as well as broadcasting video of the panel and interviews via Facebook live.
To learn more about the WOAC and to find out how you can get involved, follow Women of Asphalt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Also, check out their I Am a Woman of Asphalt social campaign #IamaWOA to meet some of the women who are paving the way in asphalt. Together, we will strive to bridge the gender gap in asphalt and ensure a bright future for women in the industry.