More and more women are building careers in Construction
Report finds more women building construction careers in the US, says Construction Dive.
The Smart Asset study used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks information on jobs in all industries. Its most recent analysis shows that the construction jobs popular with women have a range of salaries, from about $156,000 for the high end of a construction manager salary to a high end of about $68,000 for laborers and painters.
The latest available data from the BLS is good news for women job seekers but doesn’t come as a surprise to Hope Pollard, president and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors Maine Chapter.
Pollard told Construction Dive that she has seen the number of women significantly increase during the last 20 years in both management and craft positions.
“Construction is starting to change its image as a ‘dirty job’ and, instead, is seen as an industry that provides limitless career opportunities for people with all types of backgrounds, education levels and experiences,” she said. “And with an earn-while-you-learn-education model and the need for a diverse set of skills, women are finding success in an industry that values hard work, drive and creativity.”
But there is still work to be done in attracting women to the construction industry, according to Brian Turmail, vice president of public affairs and strategic initiatives at the Associated General Contractors of America.