There are more women in construction occupations today than ever before. The rate of women in construction in the U.S. has grown by two percent since 2010. Still, women are vastly underrepresented in the industry, making up only about one in 10 construction workers, and one in 20 new construction apprentices.

This is dramatically different than women’s representation in the U.S. workforce across all industries, where women currently account for nearly half of all workers.

Opportunity abounds for women in construction

The construction industry presents significant opportunity not only for women, but for all workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects four percent industry growth from 2021 – 2031. This growth is happening as large numbers of current construction workers near retirement: nearly 20 percent of today’s construction workers are 55 or older.

More than just jobs, construction occupations provide the opportunity for high-paying jobs, even without a college degree. And, although gender pay gaps still exist in construction, they are much smaller than gender pay gaps across all occupations. Women in the U.S. earn, on average, 83.8 cents for every dollar earned by men. The gender pay gap is significantly smaller in construction occupations, where women earn 95.5 cents for every dollar earned by men.

BLS data show that most women in construction hold office positions, followed by professional/sales and management/finance. Women hold less than three percent of all construction industry jobs in transportation and material moving, maintenance, and construction/extraction.

Why are women reluctant to enter—or stay—in the construction industry?

The 2021 Institute for Women’s Policy Research Tradeswomen’s Retention and Advancement Survey demonstrates persistent issues for women in construction. Among the issues reported by survey respondents were frequent harassment for being a woman (26.5 percent of respondents) and frequent sexual harassment (23.6 percent of respondents). To make matters worse, evidence suggests a correlation between harassment and higher risk for injuries on a job site.

Additional issues faced by women in construction include lack of female mentorship, gender bias in hiring, and more practical matters, including lack of properly fitting personal protective equipment and lack of access to restrooms with appropriate women’s hygiene products and disposal. In addition, women—who bear a disproportionate share of parenting responsibilities—also may have difficulty finding childcare that supports long hours and changing work schedules in construction.

Drawing more women to construction

A recent National Center for Construction Education & Research survey highlights the unique benefits women bring to construction, including a stronger focus on teamwork, greater attention to detail, better jobsite organization, and improved safety performance.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month and Women in Construction Week, here are some practical ways to support women in construction:

• Create avenues for women’s connection and mentorship. Does your organization have female leaders and mentors? Is there an employee resource group for women? JLG offers employees access to the Oshkosh Women’s Network (OWN), an active women’s group supporting professional development for women within the company and the local community.
• Review your workplace policies. Do you have a strong code of ethics? What about anti-discrimination, anti-harassment or anti-retaliation policies? Are policies enforced? Do you offer a paid parental leave policy? These policies have strong potential to attract and support female employees.
• Consider if women have access to the right gear and facilities. Ill-fitting PPE can be a hazard on the jobsite. Do you offer PPE specifically designed for women? Do women have access to separate locker rooms and/or restrooms? Have you considered employees’ feminine hygiene needs?
• Brainstorm ways to attract more women to the industry and your company. Do your marketing materials (website, social media, recruitment materials) include images of women? Do you spotlight female employees? Can you work with local schools or community organizations to offer pre-apprenticeships or apprenticeships to female students?
• Connect with national associations. Organizations like the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Women Construction Owners & Executives provide mentorship, marketing and networking opportunities to help women in construction, especially those who are new to the industry.

There is significant opportunity for women in construction—and the industry will benefit immensely by adding more women. But it’s up to all of us to make changes to bring women into the industry and keep them there, long-term.

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