By Japlan “Jazz” Allen

Women still make up a small fraction of construction workers and apprentices. And the progress we’ve made toward a more inclusive industry has been hit hard under the Trump administration. We need local leaders to stand up for workforce diversity.

I’ve been an ironworker with Local 1 since 2002. I earn a good hourly wage with full health insurance and a pension. I love connecting beams and welding 60 to 100 feet up in the air. When I drive across Chicagoland with my daughters, I can point to buildings and say, “I built that.”

But after more than 20 years, I still experience the industry’s inequality: regularly overlooked for job opportunities, hired first and laid off first. Men who started apprenticeships at the same time as I did will retire with more than 30 pension credits, but I will only have 17 because I wasn’t given the same work hours. I’ll have to wait until I’m 73 to retire.

I am not alone. I still see too many women—especially women of color—struggling to stay in the field due to unfair hiring practices and unwelcoming workplaces. The construction industry talks about workforce shortages while pushing out qualified workers who just want a fair shot.

I never heard the word “construction” before I enrolled in pre-apprenticeship training at Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) after exiting the penal system. It changed my life. Now, as Chair of CWIT’s Board, I’m honored to stand on the shoulders of the women who came before me and lead the women who will come behind me. But we alone cannot fix this industry.

Young women are coming out of high school looking for these opportunities. Women leaving prison are looking for real careers. Single mothers are looking to change careers to provide for their children. These workers need a pathway that actually works.

With federal diversity protections being dismantled, state and local governments need to step up. I’m proud that Chicago and Illinois have challenged federal restrictions on diversity programs in court. But court cases aren’t enough. We need real policy that makes a difference.

Chicago needs to move forward with the Chicago Construction Workforce Equity Ordinance. This would create real accountability for workforce diversity on city construction projects and give workers a voice through community monitoring. It’s not asking for special treatment—it’s asking the city to enforce and provide transparency for what’s already supposed to be happening.

Public projects have always been a way to open doors for women. When the federal government walks away from that, the city and state need to fill the gap. Chicago leaders say they support equity and inclusion. Now is the time to prove it with action, not just words.

Women’s History Month should be a celebration, not just a reminder of how far we still need to go. Chicago has a chance to lead—let’s take it.

Japlan “Jazz” Allen is an ironworker with more than 20 years in the construction trades. She has worked on major projects across Chicago and is committed to opening doors for the next generation of tradeswomen. She serves as board chair of Chicago Women in Trades, a nonprofit organization that trains and advocates for women in the trades.