BREAKING BARRIERS: Beth Cassidy's Journey as a Woman in Construction

My name is Beth Cassidy, I currently work as a Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO) on a United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project. My journey in the construction field began over 20 years ago when I became a union carpenter. I was not always accepted on construction sites and sadly, most of the women that started with me in my apprenticeship program did not finish it. Here is a little glimpse of my life in the construction industry through the years.

I did not grow up thinking I would work in construction. Like many women, I was subtly steered toward careers that seemed more “suitable” for me. When I was growing up in Kentucky, I was always a little on the “Tom Boy” side. I was the one my dad was putting on the roof to clean out the gutters, as my brother was not a huge fan of heights. Growing up with mostly boys for cousins, I had to get out and hang with them on the farm jumping hay bales, swinging from ropes in the “Moo Moo Motel,” or just going on adventures.

I did attempt college a couple times; it was not for me. I wanted to make sure I was able to make a good living, so I started looking into the apprenticeships offered by different trades. I ended up testing into the Mid Central Illinois Regional Council of Carpenters-Journeyman Apprentice Training Center to begin my 4-year working apprenticeship. When I started my apprenticeship, I had two infant boys, one 6 months old and the other 17 months old. To say I had a very tough road ahead of me – all 5’2” 125 pounds of me – was an understatement. Believe me, I had more people in my life who didn’t think that I could pull it off than I did people who believed in me and my determination enough to know that I would succeed. The more people doubted that I would be able to take on the challenge, the more determined I was.

The more people doubted that I would be able to take on the challenge, the more determined I was.

In 2005, women made up about 2.5-3% of the construction trades workforce, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This percentage only includes women working physically demanding roles such as carpentry, electrical work, plumbing and other trades. As of 2023, this number has only reached 4.3%. The overall total, including nonphysical construction jobs for women, is just over 10% according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.   

Over 20 years ago, I had a dream to complete my apprenticeship. It took me almost five years, instead of four, but I did it. I wore my tools for over 15 years, all the while striving for my dream job in construction: a role in jobsite safety. In my early years in construction, I’d seen many near misses, injuries and even a death, unfortunately. I wanted to help prevent these kinds of accidents from happening. Now, that’s exactly what I do. My work makes a difference and yours can too … the sky is the limit!

I was clearly not built the same as most everyone I worked with; I had to work twice as hard at times to prove that I could accomplish the job. I will never forget the time I was decking a bridge that was being rebuilt and one of the “old timers” took two minutes to show me how to carry those 75-pound sheets of plywood. You want to talk about a game changer! From that day on, I was a plywood-carrying, bridge-decking fool! All it took was someone willing to take the time to show me the right way to do it instead of just ignoring me because they didn’t feel like I belonged out there with them.

Now, I’m 45 years old and I’m the one that the younger generation looks at as “the old timer.” That’s okay – I’ve earned it, but I have a long way to go before retirement. In the meantime, I’ll always be that person who spends the two minutes it takes to teach someone something that could be a gamer changer for them. I encourage you all to be that person as well.

The future of women in construction is bright and I am excited to be part of the movement driving the change. I want to continue to be part of building a legacy that inspires other women to step into the construction field with confidence. To all the women out there considering a career in construction: YOU CAN DO IT! Your skills, perspective, and leadership are needed. If my journey proves anything, it’s that when we challenge the status quo, we do not just build structures; we build a better construction industry all together.