Roofing is women

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how NWIR is building careers and supporting female-identifying people in roofing.  

The roofing industry has traditionally been a male-dominated field, but that demographic is shifting every day. A large proponent of this shift is the National Women in Roofing (NWIR), which is a volunteer-based organization that supports and advances the careers of female-identifying roofing professionals. In an episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth got the chance to meet with NWIR Recruitment Chair Shelby Smith about recruiting and keeping female-identifying people in roofing and the larger trades industry.  

Shelby noted that the biggest challenge to bringing female-identifying people into the industry is showing them that it’s a possible career path for them. She explained, “Historically, women tend to be drawn more to retail and hospitality industries. But if you look at the skills that it takes to be successful there, super transferable. You can be really successful in the roofing industry.” To help get more female-identifying people into the industry, whether they’re on the roof or in office positions, NWIR focuses a lot of their effort on raising awareness and sharing resources with them. One such effort is their microsite, RoofingisWomen.org. Shelby explained, “The goal of this site is to be accessible. It's available. You don't have to login. And it's targeting people who might not be in our industry already. It has resources, resume-building tips and different tools and resources that will help women in their career search.” 

But NWIR isn’t only about bringing female-identifying people into the industry, they want to create the support system needed to keep them in the field as well. An example of this is their work with NWIR Days, which is their annual conference. This is the premier space for female-identifying members of the roofing industry to hone leaderships skills, learn new business tips and support one another. From networking and education sessions to fun activities, this event has it all. The next NWIR Days will be hosted prior to the 2025 International Roofing Expo in San Antonio, Texas from February 16, 2025 to February 17, 2025.  

Read the transcript or Listen to episode to learn more about how NWIR supports female-identifying individuals entering and already in the industry. You can also register for the 2025 NWIR Days!