Women and the ENR 500

I received my copy of ENR (Engineering News-Record) yesterday.  It was the issue listing the top 500 design firms (when you list the firms in order of revenue and then plot - - the very best visual example of a "Long-Tail" industry that you can find).  The issue also listed the top "green" firms (as measured by LEED certification projects) and a special advertisement on women in engineering and construction.

If you go through the entire magazine, most of the stories and quotes have a male dominance.  Women are quoted - - but the numbers are small compared to the men.  Small, but growing - - ten or fifteen years ago it probably would have been rare to see a quote from a female in the profession.

What is interesting are the titles of the women quoted (many are big firms with big titles).  Here is a sample:

Director North Dakota Department of Transportation

President of the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

Vice President and Sustainable Design Director

Sustainable Design Leader

Associate Principal

Architect

Health-Care Market Sector Leader

Vice President and National Practice Leader

President of Global Water Business

Semiconductor Market Director

Vice President Construction Remediation

Executive Director/CEO Design-Build Institute of America

Diversity is coming and picking up steam.  More in titles than numbers, but the numbers will follow.  For the first time in U.S. history, more women are enrolled in college than men.  This will produce greater STEM numbers and leadership titles.

Changing demographics (i.e., more women in college) will drive the old idea that demographics is destiny.  Watch the quotes in the coming years.