AnUntappedMarket:WomeninConstructionPresentanOpportunitytoSolvethe

LaborShortage
ByMeloniK.Boatswain

Businessesintheconstructionindustryaremissingtheadvantageofprovidingcooperativeworkplacesthat
reflectthedemographicsofthesocietytheyserve.Theconstructionindustryisthesecondlargestgrossing
industrywithintheUnitedStates,yetwomenconstructioncompanyemployeesaresubstantially
underrepresented.
AccordingtotheBureauofLaborandStatisticsDecember2013report,womenhavecomprisednearlyhalfof
theU.S.workforcesincetheearly1990s,yetonly12percentofpeopleemployedintheconstructionindustry
arewomen.Ofthesewomen,only2.6percentareemployedbytradecontractorsintheconstructionand
extractionindustries.
Thedisparityisnotonlyseenonthejobsite,butinupperlevelmanagementaswell.Womenconstruction
managersmakeuponly7.4percentofthepeopleemployedinmanagementpositions.
BRIDGETHESKILLEDLABORGAP
Associetyevolves,sodoestheconstructionindustry.Formergenderrolesinnontraditionalemploymentfor
womenhavebeenreplacedbylegislaturethatdemandsequalityinopportunityandcompensation.Thenew
constructorhasnogender.Itisnowaprofessionaldesignationwiththeresponsibilitiesofreportingtoexecutive
stakeholdersonprojectperformance.Constructorsareadmiredfortheirabilitytoprovethemselvesthrough
intrinsicknowledgeandeducationalmerit,notjuststrengthandpower.Thesenewrequirementsincludethe
understandingofprojectmanagementprocessesandorganizationmanagement.

Astheconstructionindustrycontinuestogrow,thereisashortageofskilledworkersandconstruction
managementprofessionals.Theindustryismissingthewomensdemographicinthesearchtofillthesegaps.
Womenconstructionprofessionalsoftenentertheindustrywithakeensenseofselfactualization,whichfuels
elevatedperformance.
Womensperseverancetosucceedinanindustrytheyonceweretoldtheycouldnotgiveswomenconstructors
asenseofprideandlegacy.Theirpresenceintheindustryisnotonlyabouttheirsuccess,butalsothesuccessof
otherpotentialwomenemployeeswithintheindustry.
CREATEACULTURETOATTRACTDIVERSEEMPLOYEES
Constructioncompaniescanbecomebetterequippedtomarketskilledfemaleemployeesbyappealingtothe
followingkeyinitiativesappreciatedbywomen.
Workplacediversity:Womenlookfordiversityintoplevelmanagement,aswellasotherwomenwhoare
currentlyemployed.Itisimportantthatthecompanyandculturearereflectiveofitsinclusionefforts.
Supportoftradeorganizationsforwomen:Companiescanextendtheireffortsinsupportingwomeninthe
constructionindustrybyreachingouttoavarietyofwomeninconstructionorganizations,networkinggroups
andseminars.Manywomenjobseekersnetworkintheorganizationsthatsupportwomenintheindustry.
Thosecompaniesareseenasmakingaconcertedeffortinrecruitingwomen.
Worklifebalance:Seventypercentoffemaleworkershavechildrenyoungerthan18yearsold.Womenare
lookingforcompaniesthatembracefamilyvaluesanddonotpenalizewomenforspendingtimewiththeir
families.TheFamilyMedicalLeaveActwasadoptedduringtheClintonadministrationtoprotectfemaleworkers
whotooktimeofffromworktocareforfamilymembers.Theroleofwomeninthefamilyshouldnothavea
negativecorrelationwiththevalueoftheemployeesworkperformance.
Trainingprogramsforadvancement:Mostwomenworkingintheconstructionindustryfeelapersonalchargeto
excelintheirfield.Theyhavechosentheircareerpathsandarelookingtoworkwithcompaniesthatprovide
trainingandroomforadvancement.
Createaninclusivecompanyculturethatcelebratesthedichotomyofgenderthroughselfauthenticity.Gender
equalityisnotgendersameness.Companiesshouldstrivetocreateanenvironmentinwhichdifferencescanbe
usedtostrengthenemployeeengagement,inturnincreasingclientsatisfactionandthecompanysbottomline.
Societyhasbecomeintolerantofgenderdivides.ThereisapushinOSHAtosetlegislationinplacetoencourage
theawarenessofgenderdifferencesandunderstandtheaccommodationsthatneedtobemadetocreatean
inclusiveenvironmentintheconstructionindustry.Thereisnodoubtthatbusinessesthatchoosenotto
embracediversitywillinevitablybeleftbehind.