Hometown Jobs: Branch GIRL Construction Experience

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – October is Careers in Construction Month in Virginia.

Earlier this month a construction company hosted an event, just for the girls.

“We started the girl event about three years ago, when we noticed that we are going to be losing 53% of our workforce across the industry across the United States by 2036,” said Kim Sargent, Director of Marketing and Communications.

Hundreds of children ranging from age five and up participated in the Branch GIRL Construction experience.

“What we noticed was a lot of our outreach efforts were focused towards high schoolers, which is often way too late, so we wanted to get kids interested at a much earlier age. So the K-through-five and the middle school ages are the ones we really want to reach out to, because that’s when these talents and these interests are really formed,” said Sargent.

There were hands-on activities that demonstrated the different types of careers in construction.

“Usually shy and hesitant at first, and as soon as they start to engage in those first couple of activities, then it really takes off. And you can just see them get excited to go and try all the different things that are available,” said Cathy Underwood, Corporate Business Development Officer.

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The event hopes to bring awareness to jobs in construction and that women have much needed roles in the industry.

“Sometimes the families don‘t necessarily understand the construction industry, and so the hesitation to let their daughters or granddaughters get involved in the industry that typically has been a boys’ industry or male-dominated, sometimes those barriers can come down just with an understanding of what the different roles can be, what the different opportunities are,” said Underwood.

It gives a whole new meaning to girl power.

“A lot of times, girls, especially as they get to middle school and high school, are told they can’t do certain jobs, or they only have certain opportunities that are more female-traditional, like nursing or teaching, and letting them know that that’s not their only option is the most empowering thing for us,” said Sargent.

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