Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the percentage of construction workers who are women has steadily increased since 2016 and is at an all-time high, according to constructiondive.com.
An analysis from The Washington Post found as of August, 14% of all construction workers were women; the previous high point for women working in construction was in October 2009 at 13.5%.
Hispanic and Latina women have largely contributed to the growth; the number of Hispanic and Latina women in the industry grew 117% during the past six years, and in 2020, the share of Hispanic and Latina women overtook the share of white women in the industry. The rates include women in office roles.
As of August, Washington, D.C., had the highest percentage of women in construction at 17.6%. Arizona and Florida had 15.6% and 14.5%, respectively, and Delaware had the lowest at 6.8%.
Construction’s labor shortage has led to more women entering the industry as companies struggle to meet demand. Additionally, labor groups and employers have tried to remove hurdles to help broaden the pool of trade workers.
Experts recommend employers set goals for diversity hiring and focus on inclusion and safety, including using inclusive language on job postings and employee materials to communicate opportunities for women.
