The construction industry in the United States is alive and well with a growing female workforce—apprentices, craftspersons, project managers, estimators, and executives are all positions held by women in this burgeoning sector of American employment. Women in construction are finding more opportunities, increased mentorship, and more attractive benefits to entering the field, and the momentum is staggering.
There are so many reasons for the shift. For one thing, the United States is experiencing a growing labor shortage that is impacting and will continue to impact the entire country for years to come. Currently, women in construction only make up three percent of the overall workforce in America, including hands-on field work (carpentry, electrical, sheet metal installers) and office and management positions like estimation and forepersons. But here’s the thing: if we woke up tomorrow and twice as many women were working in construction, the industry’s labor shortage would be more or less eradicated, according to data from the US Department of Labor.
Women are discovering the immense benefit to working in this industry, creating a level of job satisfaction that brings an enormous contribution to any job site. Earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship models mean women can provide for their families while still being with their families. Several women in the field report that starting early and finishing early mean they can enjoy a fulfilling career and still pick their kids up from school at the end of the day. The field is accessible: whether applicants have a high school or a post-secondary education, they are welcome to apply and most likely have an excellent chance of entering some component of construction.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average annual salary for construction employees in California, for example, is $58,010, and construction managers in Washington State can make nearly double that, according to the same source. The best news for women is the lower pay gap—where women make about $0.80 on every dollar men make in other professions, women make 93.5 cents to the dollar in construction.
So, why the low numbers? With all these benefits, why do women in construction only account for three percent of the American workforce? For one thing, history—construction has traditionally been a male-dominated field and the status quo is hard to change—note I said “hard” and not “impossible”. Mentorship— one of the most often stated reasons for women leaving or not entering the construction field is lack of mentorship or being the only woman on the jobsite. But times are changing. Women are making up more of the workforce, women’s groups are popping up in Locals and associations, and women’s conferences and networking events are popping up all over the place.
It will take time, but like all things, with hard work and enthusiasm will prevail and it won’t be long before there will be nothing left to talk about. Women in construction will be a common occurrence and no one will find it progressive or magical to see a women on a jobsite—it will just be the way things are. In the meantime, the support and education provided through initiatives like SMACNA-WW’s Women in Construction (WIC) Week initiative are driving progress and bringing women closer to their goals in construction. Check out page 5 for more details.
