DENVER -- Beginning this week, a group of young girls is learning about jobs in the transportation and construction industries in Colorado. The Regional Transportation District hosted a dozen girls on Monday from Colorado and New Mexico as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Career Days for Girls Initiative. This is the second year of the program.
Currently, the construction industry is experiencing a major labor shortage, with women making up only 8 percent of the construction workforce. The need for qualified workers in transportation and construction is growing throughout the United States and in Colorado.
"Things like this did not exist when I was younger and I didn't know what to do,” said Zamy Silva, RTD Civil Rights Division Senior Manager. “So to see that these young women 8th grade and on are coming to an organization such as this and get to explore the multitude of careers in transportation as well as construction has been amazing."
The group of girls will also make stops at Denver International Airport, Iron Horse Architects Inc., asphalt contractor P&H Equipment and Wagner Equipment. From July 16 through July 20, a second group of 11 girls will meet with leaders from CDOT, Martin Marietta, Fiore & Sons, Gilmore Construction and Adolfson & Peterson Construction.