There are almost 1.2 million women working in the U.S. construction industry, and if that number doesn’t sound all that impressive, consider this: eight states in the country have fewer residents than that.
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK
Clearly, women are carrying momentum into the 28th annual Women in Construction Week, scheduled for March 2-8. Established by the National Association of Women in Construction, the event celebrates and promotes the role of women in the industry. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women in construction entered 2025 on a high note.
In December, women accounted for 14.3% of U.S. construction workers, continuing a steady rise over the past decade, according to BLS data. Though women remain underrepresented in construction, they’re clearly making major strides as industry stakeholders continue outreach efforts to women and seek to make workplaces more inclusive.
Last year, a report from the Associated Builders and Contractors found that the construction industry was facing a worker shortage of about 501,000, increasing the urgency to recruit women and other groups that are underrepresented in construction.
The federal government’s Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program also has been instrumental in helping women gain a foothold in the industry.
WANTO provides funding for organizations that develop pre-apprenticeship or nontraditional skills training programs for women; provide seminars for employers, unions and workers on creating a welcoming environment for women; and set up mentoring groups or support services for women in the industry.
Established in 2018, WANTO has grown its impact each year. The program awarded a total of $6 million to nine community-based organizations in 2024, up from just $1.4 million in the program’s first year. Last year’s recipients included Chicago Women in Trades, the Maryland Apprenticeship Connector, Southern Nevada Building Trades Union and Vermont Works for Women.
Wendy Chun-Hoon, director of the Women’s Bureau within the Department of Labor under President Joe Biden, said WANTO grants help women prepare for construction careers through “critical training support and wraparound services that ensure workers have what they need to not only survive but to thrive in the workplace.”
We create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can be at their best, be authentic and be treated with respect and dignity.
Peter Davoren
President and CEO, Turner Construction Co.
PLEDGING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Similarly, the Commerce Department last May announced the Million Women in Construction Community Pledge, encouraging companies to bring more women into the industry. Leading construction firms that voluntarily signed on to the pledge included Baker Construction, Gilbane Building Co., McKissack & McKissack, Mortenson, Power Design, Shawmut Design and Construction, Suffolk and Turner Construction Co.
Those companies have pledged to build community partnerships to reach more women and girls, increase support services such as childcare, and foster safe, healthy and respectful workplaces.
“We need more women in construction, and we need an industrywide commitment, which is why I’m calling on everyone—contractors, labor unions, training organizations—to join our community pledge,” said Gina Raimondo, secretary of Commerce in the Biden administration. In announcing the pledge, she called on industry stakeholders to “support proven strategies” that help women overcome barriers in construction and the trades.
John Fish, chief executive of Suffolk, said the industry’s labor challenges, including its aging workforce, make it imperative that construction companies reach out to women “and diversify our workforce to ensure we have the resources to build our cities and grow our economy.”
Likewise, Peter Davoren, president and CEO of Turner, said signing the pledge reflects the company’s commitment to represent the communities where it operates.
“We create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can be at their best, be authentic and be treated with respect and dignity,” he said.
Though more women are entering the construction industry, they’ve made limited headway in traditionally male-dominated roles, according to Construction Coverage, which analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey. Women account for almost 80% of office and administrative roles within the construction industry, but they represent only 3.5% of workers in production roles and 2% of those in maintenance and repair jobs.
SMALLER PAY GAP
On a positive note, the pay gap between men and women in construction is much smaller than in other industries, according to Construction Coverage. Women working full time in construction make an average of $54,044 a year, approximately 4.9% less than their male peers. Across all industries, however, women working full time make an average of $52,458, about 18.9% less than men in the same roles.
Nationally, women made up 11.5% of U.S. construction workers in 2023, according to Construction Coverage’s analysis. Alaska led all states in female participation, with women representing 13.8% of the construction workforce. Next up were Hawaii (13.4%), Delaware (13.4%), Florida (13.3%) and Washington (12.7%). Lagging behind were Vermont and Arkansas, each at 8.6%.
Drilling down a bit farther, Jacksonville, Fla., topped all U.S. cities, with women accounting for 17.4% of the construction workforce, followed by Orlando (16.1%), New Orleans (14.4%) and Sarasota, Fla. (14.4%). At the bottom of the list was McAllen, Texas (6.7%), and Augusta, Ga. (7.9%).
Visit CONEXPO-CON/AGG Women in Construction for more powerful stories about how women are shaping the industry.
Photo credit: Mike Dardano and Stacey Tompkins
