Next week, March 6-12, will be designated as Women in Construction Week in Iowa following a signature from Gov. Kim Reynolds on March 8, the National Association of Women in Construction announced. Though women make up nearly half of the total workforce in the U.S., they only represent 11% of jobs in the construction industry. Additionally, women in construction make 96 cents for every $1 that their male counterparts make. “Women in Construction Week is a time set aside to not only thank those women for all their efforts toward successful construction projects, but also bring attention to the industry and encourage others to realize that construction is a viable, profitable career choice,” said Tammy Rico, president of the Greater Des Moines chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction. The organization will host a variety of events, including a networking event, a career discovery session at DMACC, and a members-only coffee and job-site tour. For more information about the events, email nawicgreaterdsm@gmail.com.