Submitted by Building Talent Foundation
Women are rewriting the narrative and smashing through longstanding barriers in occupations traditionally dominated by men. Recent data reveals a positive surge of female talent entering nontraditional fields, signaling a shift. However, amidst this promising wave of change, the construction industry grapples with a slower pace of growth, revealing the need for a closer look at the challenges and triumphs within its evolving landscape.
The U.S. Department of Labor defines nontraditional occupations for women as those where women make up 25% or less of the total number of workers in that occupation. As of the end of 2023, only farming, fishing, and forestry had more than 25% representation by women, with 27.1%. The two occupation groups with the lowest representation of women were construction and extraction (4.3% in 2023) and installation, maintenance, and repair (4.1% in 2023). While occupations in transportation and farming, fishing, and forestry saw significant increases over the past 10 years (5.7 and 4.7 percentage points, respectively), construction and extraction and installation, maintenance, and repair saw only minor increases (1.7 and 0.6 percentage points, respectively).
As women boldly redefine their roles in traditionally male-dominated fields, the construction industry grapples with a sluggish momentum, underscoring the imperative for a nuanced examination of the sector’s evolving challenges and triumphs.
Why Aren’t More Women Entering the Construction Industry?
The slow growth of women entering construction is influenced by deep-seated societal beliefs and workplace dynamics. Outdated narratives linking construction to physical strength and masculinity discourage women from pursuing these careers. This is reinforced by internalized gender biases affecting how women view their capabilities. Discrimination and harassment also persist, leading to unequal opportunities and subtle biases. The absence of female co-workers compounds isolation for women in construction.
Paving the Way for Women in Construction
Building Talent Foundation (BTF) and its partners have made significant progress in addressing these issues and fostering a more inclusive environment for women in construction. In 2023, 15.7% of BTF’s placements were females compared to the 4.3% of women in construction and extraction occupations. BTF reaches women by inspiring the next generation with positive female role models, promoting careers in construction to women and girls in schools, and providing mentorship to those with an interest in the field. BTF engagement managers coach women toward training and job opportunities that fit their interests and build relationships with key community organizations. BTF has also provided resources to support the industry in recruiting, training, and retaining more women.
One key resource is Women Breaking Barriers. Building Talent Foundation studied the barriers women face when pursuing skilled trades careers. The resulting research, Women Breaking Barriers: A Guide to Recruiting, Training and Retaining Women in the Residential Construction Trades, explores how the industry can strengthen the workforce by tapping into the skills and expertise of women. The research identified the following key actions for recruiting, training, and retaining more women: targeted recruiting; ecosystems & partnerships; equitable supports; and respectful, dignifying, and inclusive workplace cultures.
Empowering Women in Construction
For employers seeking to diversify their workforce, JobsToBuild.com is the go-to, no-cost platform. As of Jan. 31, 23% of the job seekers registered on JobsToBuild.com are female, highlighting the platform’s success in attracting a diverse pool of talent to the sector. BTF invites employers looking to hire more female candidates to register and explore the qualified, prescreened talent available on www.JobsToBuild.com.
BTF continues to pave a transformative path for women in construction, showcasing the industry’s potential and the strides yet to be made with a strategic approach.
