The labor shortage in construction (and equipment operation) is well documented and unfortunately, continuing. One of the foremost pains in most managers’ necks seems to be attracting and keeping good workers.
There has been a small amount of progress.
Women make up nearly half (47%) of the labor force in the U.S., yet women only make up 14.2% of the construction workforce.
Shouldn’t more employers be hiring women—and where might they step in immediately?
An aftermarket parts and components company, EPD, out of Austin, Texas, looked at some of the fastest-growing construction and construction-related roles with the least number of women.
By the numbers
Telecommunication installer/repair is projected to grow 18.2% in the next 10 years; the number of women in the category today is 8.2%. Electricians are also estimated to experience double-digit growth in the next decade. Only 2.7% of this trade is staffed by women.
The construction manager position anticipates 9.7% growth soon, and only 9.4% of the current workforce are women. Of all the positions EPD covers using statistics from the Department of Labor, AGC, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this position’s median pay is the most, at $103,310.
For more stats and corresponding median salaries, see the chart above.
Construction laborers also have an underrepresentation of women, at 3.4%, but the field will see a 9.2% growth rate.
Industrial machinery mechanics (we like to call them technicians) have women making up a mere 4% of their ranks. The category needs 5.6% more workers in the next 10 years. Again, opportunity.
Hello operators
Finally, women account for 10% of “industrial truck and tractor operators,” an area that is predicted to undergo 4.5% growth, despite all we hear about autonomous and semi-autonomous operation.
Progress is slow, but it is there. The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, representing Chicago, its suburbs, and a fairly large swath of Northern Illinois, recently attended the Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference in Chicago and reported that the number of women operating engineers in attendance was 264—in 2016 at the same meeting there were only 14.
Five of the 264 that attended the conference were from Local 150.
Additionally, the website Moxy, dedicated to telling stories about and empowering women working in infrastructure, cites an analysis from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research that said the number of women working in construction increased by 17.6% in the years just before Covid.
This was nearly five times faster, Moxy reported, than construction job growth (3.7%) in the same period.
Granted that was some time ago, but any progress is noteworthy, particularly as DEI policies have fallen out of style with some companies.
“Bringing more women into the construction industry isn’t just about equity—it’s about meeting a critical workforce need," said Calum Mair, commercial director North America for EPD.
“Women bring fresh perspectives, problem-solving skills, and leadership that strengthen project outcomes. Our research shows that expanding their representation is essential to closing the labor gap and building a stronger future for the industry.”
About the Author
Frank Raczon
Raczon’s writing career spans nearly 25 years, including magazine publishing and public relations work with some of the industry’s major equipment manufacturers. He has won numerous awards in his career, including nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and BtoB magazine. He is responsible for the magazine's Buying Files.