This article is part of a blog series on the risk of labor shortages in the construction industry, exploring how women can be the solution.
In the USA the construction industry, the worker shortage is 650,000, and the gap is similar everywhere else in the world.
The industry is heavily dominated by males. So why not hire more women to help mitigate that risk?
Women can take on any role in the construction industry.
The introduction of new technologies, like robotics and drones, made the job less physically demanding and has attracted more women in the industry. In 2022 they represent 10.9 percent of the workforce in the U.S. construction industry.
It is reassuring to see that women in construction, not only occupy low-paid jobs but are also found in critical roles from project managers all the way to CEOs.
Maja Rosenquist, senior vice president of M.A. Mortenson Company, a construction and engineering firm said:
From a gender perspective, it’s always been male-dominated and so getting both the industry and companies to provide an inclusive work environment for women is something that I think people need to double down on.
The breakdown of females working in the construction industry is as follows:
The average wage of women in the U.S.A. versus men represents 82.9 percent of what men bring home according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Construction topped the list for the smallest gap, with female construction workers earning 94.3% of male workers' wages
The share of female employees in the construction sector represented 9.1% in 2017 and grew to almost 11% in 2021. Below you will see how women's employment evolved in the sector according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
As per Sarah Dean's infographic in the article 1,001 Women in Construction Speak Out About the Industry, women in construction work:
Some challenges are common to all workers in the industry, and some are more challenging for, or specific to women. Most women in construction love their jobs despite the many challenges they encounter:
It is very difficult for a woman to get respect from their co-workers. It is reassuring to see that 81% of interviewed women said that their leaders encourage respect towards them but a bit disappointing that only 65% feel that leaders do not listen to men and women equally.
A subcontractor in California said:
The most challenging part of working in the construction industry as a woman is earning the same amount/an ounce of respect men get for doing the same thing.
Working in unfavorable weather conditions is a big challenge for all workers in the construction industry.
Bad weather is one of the major sources of delays in construction projects. It causes:
An office administrator in North Carolina said:
My least favorite thing about construction are the delays due to weather, it can halt a project for days, weeks or even months at a time and severely affect the progress.
Construction is a dirty job, even off-site
An administrative assistant for a concrete supplier said:
The concrete dust is everywhere fortunately for me, I’m in the office so I don’t have to deal with that unless I go down to the warehouse for something.
Well, not everyone agrees that construction is dirty.
A project manager in Texas said:
Construction’s reputation as a dirty job is actually a misconception. That’s why we need to educate.
Poor collaboration and communication are very well-known problems in the industry.
One project manager in California said the worst part of working in construction is:
The never-ending battles between general contractors and subcontractors.
Collaboration and communication are not specific to women but are exacerbated for them as they have to deal with the lack of respect they get from their men colleagues.
The CEO of a subcontractor in Florida said:
Construction has a problem with lying. The industry is saturated with men (sorry) who can’t just accept blame, be honest [about] timelines, and not be shady when it comes to getting a project done. Lying and manipulation seem to be way too common.”
Dealing with another gender is complicated but dealing with other women can also be an issue.
One woman in California finds it even more challenging to collaborate with competitive women. She said:
Other women are threatened by other women in this business which makes it more difficult when communicating and succeeding.
If a woman works in a small company and is the only woman in the firm she can feel lonely and intimidated.
An office administrator in Virginia said:
You’re the only woman most men see in their entire day of work This leads to some unwanted treatment.
Women in the industry have less access to mentors than men. They find it difficult to network with other women.
One woman who works for an engineering firm in Michigan said the pandemic has made the problem worse for her:
COVID leaves me isolated, I am the only female technical professional in my office and not physically being in the same room with other female team leaders and technical professionals, has been isolating. Team meetings are not the same as grabbing lunch with other women.
Project timelines and spec changes are common in the industry and represent a cause of anxiety for many women.
If you do not have the right automated tools to deal with inevitable changes, in the scope or price of problematic projects, it can be stressful.
One manager in Arizona said the least favorite part of her job is:
“Completion delays and change orders. Delays because of change orders. Did I mention change orders?”
Projects can be delayed or shut down as the industry experienced during the pandemic for the following reasons:
For the president of an Ohio subcontractor, uncertainty on public works projects can affect her profitability:
The work is often seasonal. The government funding of infrastructure is inconsistent, [and] the risk becomes greater every year. Dealing with risks in the construction industry is a day-to-day job but it can be very daunting and stressful. Failure is a constant risk if not managed properly, whether in a booming economy or a recession.
An office administrator in Georgia said:
I feel that construction is impacted most heavily when there are market swings, the pandemic we are in, etc. While we know construction will always be needed, the cycles it goes through are sometimes unnerving. Thankfully, I am part of a great company led by sound minds, and dependable ownership, who have shown great skill in navigating these cycles.
An inevitable feature of any construction job site, which is certainly more of a challenge for women than men, is the portable restrooms.
The president of a Washington subcontractor said:
They are small and set up for men. Ladies have hygiene to take care of monthly. When your knees almost hit the closed door, hygienic care becomes an issue.
In the USA, ADA Porta Potty is larger and wider to give the comfort and maneuverability needed for women, but is not widely used.
Now is a great time for women to join the industry as:
Due to the worker shortage, the industry offered specific programs for women which resulted in a big change in workplace attitudes toward gender diversity. A McKinsey research paper demonstrated that companies with high gender diversity performed 15% better than less varied competitors.
New organizations supporting women in construction have been developed allowing a strong network of female colleagues. Groups like the National Association of Women in Construction host conferences and events and offer resources for women in all areas of the industry.
For example, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) offers several training courses and job placement resources to women from any background and age group. It has successfully helped over 3,000 women earn jobs in construction and trades over the last 10 years. Programs like this are great for the industry and help women find well-paying, rewarding careers, even in traditionally male fields.
Online guides can offer advice for women interested in getting into the construction industry.
It is easier than in other industries for women in construction to access leadership and sales posts:
Women have a great talent for collaboration, which is now essential to succeed in construction. Female employees, in problem-solving situations, consider all perspectives and communicate effectively.
These bridging skills women demonstrate are priceless for the industry.
A survey from the OECD PISA discovered that girls are better than boys at working together to solve problems, thanks to their analytical thinking skills to deal with:
In construction, both in managerial and labor jobs, it is essential to apply these skills to provide a safe and efficient work environment:
Equal pay between men and women in construction coupled with high wages, $18 in the USA for laborers, means that women with little education can earn up to $37,000 a year in the construction industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that is:
The job prospects for women in the industry are exceptional, meaning:
This is true for engineering and architectural positions as well as labor and trade jobs.
Women with very different skill sets and educational backgrounds will help the construction industry to develop diversity in their organization at all levels.
Women will find, in the current work environment in the construction industry:
Despite the male dominance in the construction industry, it is recognized that women are often better qualified for both trade and executive positions than men.
There is a total of 10,786,000 workers in construction, of which are:
Women still have to get more positions in trade and executive jobs as they only represent:
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