Winter 2022

Concepts
A Family Discussion: Why Aren’t There More Women in Engineering?

BY JOSEPH V. WARINO P.E., P.S., F.NSPE

Having been blessed with a wife, a daughter, and two daughters-in-law, all of whom are career professionals, the subject of gender equality in business came up at a family gathering over Labor Day weekend. As background, my wife is a registered nurse of more than 48 years; my daughter is a medical doctor who is board certified in both dermatology and dermatopathology; one daughter-in-law is a registered professional geologist, a West Virginia licensed remediation specialist, and a project management professional; and my other daughter-in-law is a mastersprepared art educator.

Over the holiday break, I simply asked the women in my life, “Why aren’t there more women in engineering?”

My family discussion centered on the workplace and focused on opportunities for advancement to chief officer and boardlevel positions. I learned that while major strides have been made to accept women and improve their comfort level in the workplace, there is still very little opportunity for professional advancement. I was surprised to discover that even in femaledominated professions, including nursing and education, the vast majority of chief executive officers, chief operating officers, chief financial officers, administrators, and superintendents are male.

The women in my family said that when companies lack initiative to consider women for board appointments or chief officer positions, many women will leave their profession for more promising career opportunities. This results in a slimmeddown roster of women within the profession that fails to provide favorable circumstances for job growth.

Although the number of women in STEM fields appears to be increasing, recent studies show that many do not stay in these professions after graduation or after a few years on the job. According to my daughterin-law, Stephanie Warino, who is a licensed environmental professional and an advisor for Zweig Group, turnover among women in the AEC industry is more than 10%, and most of that turnover is voluntary. A 2021 Zweig Group survey asked AEC firm principals if they had ever considered leaving the industry—nearly 100% of female principals said “yes,” as opposed to a far smaller percentage of men.

A 2020 survey conducted by the Structural Engineering, Engagement, and Equity Committee of the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations found that at every level of advancing positions, the percentage of women in structural engineering decreased. Women represented 37% of staff or entry level respondents, 34% of project engineers, 23% of senior engineers or project managers, 20% of associates or shareholders, and 10% of principals or owners.

I have learned that in addressing the issue of the advancement of women into management positions, Zweig Group has started ElevateHER, a movement for the future of the AEC industry. ElevateHER works with organizations like the Women’s Energy Network, a group that is nearly 6,000 members strong today. WEN is designed to support women who work in the energy industries and create awareness around employment disparities, with the hope of leveling the playing field.

The National Society for Professional Engineers, through its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, can be a champion for elevating women in the workforce by encouraging members to be mindful of the disparity. In fact, the Society’s professional policy on diversity calls for a diverse and welcoming environment for everyone interested in the licensed practice of engineering. To that end, I urge our engineering leaders to look within their own workforces, where there may be a shining star hidden among the ranks. Doing so could also serve as a treasured tool for membership recruitment.

What else can we do? As a start, I challenge you to look around your workplace and identify as well as address any employment disparities that may exist. You’ll be taking an important step in shaping the profession’s future.

Joseph V. Warino P.E., P.S., F.NSPE, is vice president of legislative and government affairs for the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers.

What other ideas do you have for improving the profession’s diversity? Email your thoughts to [email protected] or post them in NSPE’s online Open Forum.