Women in Construction and the Workforce Investment Act: Evidence from Boston and the Big Dig. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arcand, Carolyn
• Is Part Of: Labor studies journal. Volume 41:Number 4(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 333
• Page End: 354
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: women -- construction -- training -- Workforce Investment Act -- nontraditional employment; Industrial relations -- Periodicals; Labor unions -- Periodicals; Industrial relations -- United States -- Periodicals; Labor unions -- United States -- Periodicals; Labor -- Periodicals; 331
• DOI: 10.1177/0160449X16664416
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-449X

Abstract

This article examines whether women's representation among senior-level construction jobs increased over time during a long-term, large-scale construction project in Boston, Massachusetts, and whether enactment of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) has fostered support and connection to construction career opportunities for women in this metropolitan area. Results show that the proportion of hours worked by women in senior-level positions on the project was relatively high for a few years, followed by a general decline across all job types, and the WIA did not significantly enhance opportunities for women in construction.