The days when the stereotypical profile of a construction worker actually held true are long gone and the industry currently has no one single face. While the diversity of the industry is still lagging behind many other sectors, the construction industry is continuing to evolve. Numerous factors, including regulations and limited skilled workers, have contributed to the change of face for the industry, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Alongside the ebbs and flows of the economic booms and recessions, in the past several decades, we have witnessed a constant: the demographic evolution of the construction workforce. Take, for example, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), which dates back to 1953, when it was founded by 16 women working in the construction industry in Fort Worth, Texas. Today, it provides support and opportunities for thousands of women working in construction across the country.
On a national level, the industry is experiencing a substantial increase of women in its workforce. According to OSHA, in recent decades, the number of women employed in construction has grown more than 81% from 1985 to 2007. Even still, over a decade later, women only make up 9.1% of the construction workforce across the board, finds the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To continue on the path that women have begun to pave, the industry is working to ensure women, as well as minorities, have an integral presence within the construction workforce both today and in the future. Groups such as the Greater Building Contractors of America’s Construction Leadership Council, the association’s young professionals group, which is comprised of over 50% women, is helping build the foundation for the future leadership of the organization.
As the face of construction continues to evolve with time, so does the necessary skill set and expertise. While diversity is desired and encouraged, what matters most is educating and hiring workers with the best qualifications to get the job done.
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