Strategies to Boost Women’s Presence in Construction Industry
When we think of construction workers, most of us imagine men in yellow hard hats and vests. No women. Construction has always been known as a male-dominated field, which is why private companies, educators, trade associations and public agencies should make an effort to redefine today’s construction worker.
Women in Construction Statistics
Women’s representation in the construction industry remains low, with recent data showing that only 10.8% of U.S. construction workers are female.
Despite making up 47% of the overall employed population, women constitute just 1.25% of the construction workforce. This underrepresentation is attributed to factors such as unconscious gender bias, limited training opportunities, and negative stereotypes.
However, the construction industry is projected to grow by 4% between 2021 and 2031, creating approximately 168,500 new jobs annually. This growth is prompting companies to actively recruit women, recognizing the need to tap into their skills and potential. Despite the challenges, women continue to make inroads in this traditionally male-dominated field, with their participation slowly but steadily increasing over the past decade.
Read also: Top 5 most expensive mega construction projects in the world
The construction industry is facing a significant labor shortage.
Right now, women are not being hired in the trades that desperately need more workers, such as onsite construction, trucking and auto mechanics, to name a few. Therefore, one way to tackle the labor shortage is to hire more women.
Diversity Drives Performance
According to Forbes, citing the McKinsey Diversity Matters report, companies that prioritize diversity and inclusion significantly outperform their less diverse counterparts. The report reveals striking statistics:
- Companies in the top quartile for ethnic diversity are 39% more likely to outperform those in the bottom quartile.
- Organizations with over 30% female representation in executive teams are substantially more likely to achieve better financial results than those with 30% or fewer women.
- Firms ranking in the top quartile for ethnic diversity demonstrate an average 27% financial advantage over less diverse companies.
These findings underscore the tangible business benefits of fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, highlighting that diversity is not just a social imperative but also a key driver of financial performance and competitive advantage in today’s global market.
How to Attract More Women to Construction
1. Boost Recruitment Efforts
One way of encouraging women to consider careers in construction is to beef up recruiting efforts at trade schools and colleges, staffing and recruiting companies, job search websites, public job fairs and advocacy groups and associations.
Employers can be more proactive in recruiting women by, for example, choosing the words in their job descriptions deliberately to attract more female job applicants, including more women in the hiring process, reaching out to women who have potential to succeed in construction jobs, providing career advancement opportunities tailored to women and offering professional support network opportunities.
2. Offer and Advertise Equal Pay
Generally, women earn 81.5% of what men earn, but in construction the gender pay gap is lower, with women earning 94.3% compared to what men earn. That may be better, but it’s not equal pay.
Women are aware of the gender pay gap that exists in most industries, so they will be more likely to apply for jobs at companies that offer equal pay and that advertise this fact in job postings, networking events and career fairs.
3. Improve Safety at Job Sites
Construction sites are dangerous places. Construction work typically involves safety hazards such as falls from heights, trench collapses, electrical shock, being struck by heavy equipment, scaffolding or ladder collapses, injuries from repetitive motions, and hearing damage caused by exposure to loud noises. While both men and women are equally at risk for injuries, these hazards tend to deter women from considering jobs in construction.
4. Give Them Paid Maternity Leave
Many people are surprised to learn that most U.S. companies don’t offer paid maternity or family leave to their employees. Among civilian workers 93 percent of management, professional, and related occupations had access to unpaid family leave and 39 percent had access to paid leave, while 83 percent of service occupations had access to unpaid family leave and 16 percent had access to paid leave, according to BLS data. Therefore, offering paid maternity leave is an effective way of encouraging more women to consider jobs in construction.
5. Provide PPE That Fits Women
Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hard hats, respirators, googles, boots and gloves, is essential for working safely in the construction industry. Unfortunately, most standard PPE comes in sizes designed to fit men. Construction companies that provide properly sized PPE are in a position to attract and retain more women workers.
6. Educate Young People
Many girls and young women are unaware of the career opportunities available to them in the construction industry. They’ve grown up seeing construction workers, at job sites and at executive offices, portrayed as men. Construction companies and educators should partner to raise awareness among young women about the variety of jobs available to them in the construction industry.
7. Build a Welcoming Environment
Some women have reservations about working in construction because of mindsets and attitudes they may face at the workplace. Women in traditionally male jobs sometimes are expected to toughen up and put up with discrimination and harassment. Construction firms should have zero-tolerance policies that protect women from this type of behavior. All employees, including leaders, regularly should receive adequate training that covers workplace diversity, sexism, bias and misogyny.
Read also: CIC Construction Group Employees Recognized for Outstanding Safety Performance
Resources for Women in Construction
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Professional Women in Construction (PWC), Tradeswomen Inc, and Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE) offer memberships, conferences, educational courses, scholarships, advocacy services, publications and networking opportunities that support and promote women in construction.
Final Word
Clearly, there are a variety of ways to attract more women to the construction industry and to support them once they’re there. Women not only can add diversity to the workplace, which is a good thing, but also can be crucial to make a dent
