The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) announced record membership figures for 2025, with 5,800 active members across 115 chapters nationwide. Restoration and remediation trades — including water damage, mold remediation, and fire recovery — ranked among the top three fastest-growing specialty areas for new female members, according to the organization's annual workforce report.
NAWIC President Tara Dunn credited the growth to targeted outreach programs at community colleges and vocational schools, as well as partnerships with IICRC-certified training centers that have developed women-specific mentorship tracks. "The restoration industry is one of the most accessible entry points for women in construction," Dunn said. "The work is technical, the pay is competitive, and the career ladder is clear."
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that women now represent 11.2 percent of the construction and extraction workforce, up from 9.1 percent in 2019. Within the specialty trades — which include restoration contractors — the share of women-owned businesses has grown to 14.3 percent, according to the Census Bureau's Annual Business Survey.
