The number of women in construction has hit a record high, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with nearly one in 10 construction workers now being a woman. Looking back just 25 years ago, there were approximately 798,000 women working in construction. Today, there are more than one million.
Earlier this year, the 25th annual Women in Construction Week (WIC) event was held. The yearly U.S.-wide occasion is aimed at celebrating and promoting the role of women within construction, while also bringing awareness to numerous opportunities within the industry.
In late October 2022, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Million Women in Construction initiative that aims to build a larger female construction workforce. Speaking during the Tradeswomen Build Nations 2022 Conference, Raimondo said, “Right now, there are about one million women working in the construction industry. I’m here to tell you that together we are going to double that over the next decade to create opportunity for another million women.”
As part of the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and CHIPS and Science Act, related projects are expected to create up to 200,000 construction jobs. But who will fill these positions?
Women in construction by the years
While women account for more than half of the total U.S. population, they still represent only 10% of the construction workforce. As the industry suffers through an ongoing labor shortage that sees contractors struggle daily to find trained, skilled workers, it only makes sense to attract more women into the field.
THE STATISTICS:
New initiatives to individual successes – check out these stories:
To support recruiting efforts, we have put together a range of stories that cover women in construction – from new initiatives to individual successes. By celebrating and promoting the role of women in construction, we not only are filling gaps, but we are growing – and that two-million milestone might very well come sooner than later.
Women in industry: Solving the skills shortage
Women in construction are a new driving force
Forward focus: Interview with the Women in Construction
Interview: Our Rental Pumps’ President Samantha Ruttura
Interview – Julie Rainville, Co-President of Fraco
Interview – Jennifer Lombard and Elizabeth Faruzzi, Lizzy Lift
Why the pandemic is encouraging more women to work in construction
