Why We Need Women in Construction
Take a moment to picture a person working in the construction industry. It’s a pretty safe bet you envisioned a man.
That’s understandable. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women – who make up 47% of the national workforce – constitute just 10.9% of construction industry workers, with only 1% of jobsite workers being female; most women in construction work in office and project management positions.
More than 80% of construction companies today report difficulty in finding workers, so the potential for building a diverse, inclusive workforce is at an all-time high. While American women earn just 81 cents for every dollar earned by men across the board, women in construction make 99 cents for every dollar earned by a man, says the National Association of Women in Construction. No other industry provides that opportunity.
There are well-paid jobs in construction trades that don’t require college degrees (or student loan debt!), and for those who do go to college, jobs in engineering, design and cost management are abundant. Just because construction hasn’t been the typical career path for women in the past doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be.
To celebrate Women in Construction Week 2022, Kahua will share blogs this week featuring women who are our customers, partners and employees. I think you’ll be impressed by their backgrounds, their grit and their vision.
Just look at the photo that accompanies this blog. It shows Kahua’s female workforce, and they hold jobs in development, professional services, sales, finance and marketing. I know without a doubt that they contribute a great deal to making Kahua the best-in-class construction project management information system.
If you have the opportunity to encourage a young woman to consider a career in construction, think about doing so. The industry needs them!