Virginia Labor Department Highlights Women in Construction Week
Virginia labor officials are recognizing Women in Construction Week by highlighting the growing role of women in the state’s construction workforce and promoting workplace safety initiatives.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Mar 06, 2026
State labor officials are recognizing Women in Construction Week this March by highlighting the contributions of women working across Virginia’s construction industry.
The national initiative, organized by the National Association of Women in Construction, celebrates the achievements of women in the trades while encouraging more women to pursue careers in construction. This year’s theme, “Level Up, Build Strong,” focuses on advancing opportunities and strengthening the industry’s workforce.
The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry said it is joining the celebration by spotlighting women who help build the state’s infrastructure, economy and communities.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 230,000 people worked in Virginia’s construction industry in 2024. Data from the American Community Survey shows that about 12% of those workers were women.
State data also shows women accounted for 4% of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in the private construction sector between 2023 and 2024. Across all private industries in Virginia during the same period, women represented 44% of nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work or job transfers.
Labor officials said the department works with employers and workers to promote safe and healthful workplaces through training, cooperative programs and compliance assistance.
One initiative supporting safety improvements is Virginia’s Voluntary Protection Programs, which recognize employers that go beyond regulatory requirements to implement comprehensive workplace safety and health management systems. The program is designed to encourage organizations to strengthen safety practices and better protect their workforce.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.