US Department of Labor indicates that in 2019 there were 11,181 women in the Construction Management Industry who accounted for (10% ) of construction professionals.
“The percentage of women in construction overall has hovered somewhere between 9% and 10% since 1996 and is currently at 9.9%. But of the 8.3 million that were employed in field production of the construction and extraction industries in 2018, only 3.4% were women.
Building inspectors (14%), painters (7.2%) and helpers (5.6%) saw the highest participation by women last year, with their percentages in trades like carpet installation, carpenters, drywall hangers and electricians landing somewhere between 1.9% and 3.7%.
Of the 40 trades listed under the construction and mining category, more than half didn’t include enough women to muster up a statistically significant percentage at all. These included such in-demand trades as plasterers and stucco masons, iron and rebar workers and solar panel installers.
The percentage of women classified as construction managers, however, has grown from 5.9% in 2003 to 7.7% in 2018.” —Construction Dive 2019, “By the Numbers…Women in Construction”
How do we account for the lack of women in the industry? and What can be done to not only stop the declining population of women in the industry and influence huge increases in our numbers in the industry. Research seems to point to factors such as the fluctuations of the US Economy since 2008, the other suggested factors include a lack of recruiting Women grads from Colleges and University with industry related programs, educating young women about the safety and practical career options available to Women (answering the question “Why construction…its dirty hard work isn’t it? or How do ensure our safety around men on a jobsite”)
To stop the decline and create a greater influx of women entering the industry with a chance at having a fulfilling long term career in construction, there must be a sizeable, organized effort starting with the education of children by creating opportunities for their exposure to ‘the business’, which includes mentoring of young girls and young women by female professionals among the ranks of construction managers, Project Managers, Project Engineers, Field Engineers, Superintendents, Tradespersons, Architects, Professional Engineers of all disciplines.
Our Mission at Ilovebuildingconstruction.com is to:
Affect an increase of women entering the General Construction and Construction Trade industry and provide resources to retain the population of women in the industry, by publishing writings and commentary related to hot topics for Women, that are rarely discussed in open forum so as to affect change through far reaching awareness via online articles and information, seminars etc.
How
- Research the conditions and trends in the industry that impact Women in construction, and provide information/ resources to mitigate impacts. (Partnering with the US Department of Labor to obtain statistics that provide a basis for developing strategies to attract and retain Women to the industry.)
- Networking opportunities that provide Women opportunities to be recognized and to celebrate professional Achievements of Women, raise scholarships to cover educational costs for women entering college studies in Construction related fields. Maintain a directory of Women in Construction. Advertise Women owned businesses. Obtain corporate sponsorship of events.
- Forum to share experiences and Lessons Learned that will empower and inspire others to avoid pitfalls.
- To report on Women’s Health, Economic and Domestic issues impacting Women in the industry.
- Interview Women and publish feature stories and profiles of women who are employed at all levels: Executive positions, Laborers, Trades persons, and students.
- News: Celebrate Promotions, Women’s accomplishments in the industry (nominate for annual awards and recognition….annual galas) Report Industry Trends ; NEW PROJECTS; PROJECT BEING AWARDED
- “Enrich, Empower, Educate, Inspire”- mentor Junior High, High School Girls who have interest in Construction (raise scholarship funds for young women pursuing careers in the Building Industry)