BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Suffolk, one of the most innovative and successful builders and real estate enterprises in the country, today unveiled Rebuild the Ratio, a commitment dedicated to increasing visibility and career opportunities for women and girls in the construction and STEM industries, where there is great disparity between the representation of men and women.
Only 9.9 percent [1] of construction workers and 28 percent [2] of the STEM workforce is comprised of women, leaving many job opportunities for women untapped. While a study conducted by Girl Scouts of the USA found that 74 percent of teen girls said they were interested in STEM, with 81 percent of these girls considering careers in STEM fields, only 13 percent of those girls decide to actually pursue those careers. [3] This is often due to gender stereotypes, lack of mentorship and feelings of alienation in a male-dominated culture that starts from a very young age.[2]
“The disparity between men and women in the construction industry is no secret,” says Lea Stendahl, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer for Suffolk. “This is what inspired Rebuild the Ratio, which is designed to pique and support girls’ career interest in STEM-related fields. We need to provide more opportunities for women to join an exciting and rewarding industry. We realize this is a marathon and not a sprint, but we believe there is no organization better suited to lead the charge than…
