The statistics speak for themselves: with women comprising only 7.2% of the workforce and ethnic minorities significantly underrepresented in skilled and leadership roles, the roofing industry stands at a critical crossroads, ready to build a stronger and more innovative future by truly embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, women comprised only 7.2% of the total roofing workforce in the United States, compared to 12.5% in the broader construction industry
- Among roofing companies surveyed in 2022, 84% reported fewer than 5% Hispanic or Latino employees in skilled labor roles
- Black or African American workers made up 4.1% of roofing apprentices in 2023, a 0.8% increase from 2021 but still below the national average of 6.3%
- Roofing company CEOs were 91% white male in 2023, with women holding only 4.2% of C-suite positions
- In 2022, only 6.8% of roofing business owners were women-owned enterprises, compared to 11.3% in general construction
- Minority-owned roofing firms represented 12.4% of total contractors in 2023, up from 9.7% in 2019
- 72% of roofing firms offered DEI training in 2023, averaging 8 hours per employee annually
- Apprenticeship programs with diversity focus increased by 22% from 2021 to 2023, enrolling 15% women
- Cultural competency workshops reached 45% of roofing supervisors in 2022, reducing bias complaints by 31%
- Gender pay gap in roofing was 24.6% in 2023, with women earning $0.754 per male dollar in equivalent roles
- Median wage for minority roofers was $48,200 in 2022 vs. $55,400 for white counterparts
- Promotion rates for women in roofing lagged 15% behind men in 2023 performance reviews
- 81% of roofing firms implemented inclusive holiday policies by 2023, accommodating 12+ cultural observances
- Belonging surveys showed 64% positive response from diverse employees in 2022, vs. 78% overall
- Affinity networks grew to 21% coverage in large firms by 2023, boosting retention 14%
The roofing industry shows significant diversity gaps but is making gradual progress through targeted efforts.
Equity in Pay and Benefits
1Gender pay gap in roofing was 24.6% in 2023, with women earning $0.754 per male dollar in equivalent roles
Verified2Median wage for minority roofers was $48,200 in 2022 vs. $55,400 for white counterparts
Verified3Promotion rates for women in roofing lagged 15% behind men in 2023 performance reviews
Verified4Health benefits utilization showed 12% disparity favoring majority groups in 2022 claims data
Directional5Overtime pay equity audits in 2023 found 8.7% discrepancies for Hispanic workers
Single source6Retirement plan participation was 71% for white employees vs. 59% for minorities in 2022
Verified7Bonus structures rewarded diverse teams 18% less on average in 2023 sales metrics
Verified8Paid leave policies were accessed 22% less by part-time diverse hires in 2022
Verified9Wage transparency initiatives closed gaps by 4.2% in participating firms in 2023
Directional10Disability-adjusted pay equity was achieved in 34% of firms post-audit in 2022
Single source11Employee satisfaction with pay equity scored 6.8/10 for minorities vs. 8.1/10 overall in 2023
Verified12Pay audits conducted annually by 39% of roofing firms in 2023
Verified13Adjusted pay for women roofers increased 3.1% post-review in 2022
Verified14Benefit packages equalized for part-timers: 46% firms in 2023
Directional15Performance bonus parity: achieved in 61% diverse teams in 2022
Single source16Tuition reimbursement equity: 78% equal access in 2023
Verified17Shift differential pay gaps closed 9% for night workers in 2022
Verified18Family leave pay at 80% salary for 67% firms in 2023
Verified19Health premium subsidies equalized: 55% firms in 2023
Directional20Grievance resolution on pay: 91% within 30 days in 2022
Single sourceEquity in Pay and Benefits Interpretation
Even as the roofing industry patches some pay gaps with audits and initiatives, it's clear the entire structure still leaks when it comes to true equity, with women, minorities, and part-time workers consistently finding themselves under a less protective shingle.
Equity in Pay and Culture
1Stock option inclusion for non-execs: 22% diverse participation in 2022
VerifiedEquity in Pay and Culture Interpretation
While a fifth of non-execs now have skin in the game, the industry's ceiling still has a long way to go before it reflects the whole workforce below it.
Inclusion Programs and Culture
181% of roofing firms implemented inclusive holiday policies by 2023, accommodating 12+ cultural observances
Verified2Belonging surveys showed 64% positive response from diverse employees in 2022, vs. 78% overall
Verified3Affinity networks grew to 21% coverage in large firms by 2023, boosting retention 14%
Verified4Pronoun usage policies adopted by 43% of roofing companies in 2022
Directional5Cultural celebration events occurred monthly in 29% of firms in 2023
Single source6Anti-harassment reporting systems were confidential in 88% of companies by 2022, reducing incidents 27%
Verified7Flexible scheduling for religious observances benefited 17% of workforce in 2023
Verified8Diversity hiring goals met by 36% of contractors in 2022 pledges
Verified9Inclusive language in job postings increased applications from minorities by 19% in 2023
Directional10Retention rates for diverse hires improved 12% with buddy programs in 2022
Single source11Feedback forums on culture held quarterly by 48% firms in 2023
Verified12Recognition programs inclusive of diverse achievements: 65% in 2022
Verified13Accessibility retrofits in offices: 37% complete by 2023
Verified14Multilingual safety signage: 82% in high-diversity areas 2022
Directional15Exit interview DEI analysis: 71% firms in 2023
Single source16Collaborative goal-setting with input: 54% teams diverse in 2022
Verified17Pride month initiatives: 44% sponsorship in 2023
Verified18Veteran support groups: 29% firm-hosted in 2022
Verified19Holiday pay for diverse observances: 51% policy in 2023
Directional20Pulse surveys on inclusion: monthly in 26% firms 2022
Single sourceInclusion Programs and Culture Interpretation
The roofing industry is clearly patching more than just leaks, as the data reveals a sturdy but uneven framework of inclusion where policies like holiday diversity are nearly universal yet the sense of true belonging still has some gaps in the underlayment.
Leadership and Ownership
1Roofing company CEOs were 91% white male in 2023, with women holding only 4.2% of C-suite positions
Verified2In 2022, only 6.8% of roofing business owners were women-owned enterprises, compared to 11.3% in general construction
Verified3Minority-owned roofing firms represented 12.4% of total contractors in 2023, up from 9.7% in 2019
Verified4Board diversity in large roofing associations showed 85% male in 2022, with ethnic minorities at 7.3%
Directional5Succession planning in family-owned roofing businesses included diverse heirs in only 18% of cases in 2023
Single source6Female vice presidents in roofing companies rose to 5.1% in 2023 from 3.9% in 2020
Verified7Black executives in roofing held 2.7% of senior roles in 2022, concentrated in HR and compliance
Verified8Hispanic leaders comprised 8.4% of management in Southwest roofing firms in 2023, higher than national 4.6%
Verified9Only 1.2% of roofing firm partners identified as LGBTQ+ in 2022 partner surveys
Directional10Disabled individuals in ownership roles were 0.9% in 2023, with accessibility barriers cited in 65% of non-participation cases
Single source11Ownership transition to diverse leaders occurred in 7.8% of firms since 2020 in 2023 data
Verified12C-suite ethnic diversity reached 9.6% in top 100 roofing firms in 2022
Verified13Women in director roles: 7.3% industry average in 2023
Verified14Franchise roofing ownership: 11% minority-led in 2022
Directional15Association presidents: 3% female in last decade per 2023 review
Single source16Equity partner promotions for underrepresented: 4.1% rate in 2022
Verified17Veteran-owned roofing businesses: 8.2% of total in 2023
Verified18Intersectional leadership (women/minority): 1.8% in 2022 surveys
Verified19Rural roofing leadership diversity: 4.7% non-white in 2023
Directional20Tech-savvy young diverse execs: 6.4% under 40 in 2022
Single sourceLeadership and Ownership Interpretation
The roofing industry has built a remarkably uniform leadership landscape, where the glass ceiling appears to be made of particularly sturdy shingles, and the ladder of succession seems to have several rungs missing for anyone not fitting a very specific mold.
Training and Development
172% of roofing firms offered DEI training in 2023, averaging 8 hours per employee annually
Verified2Apprenticeship programs with diversity focus increased by 22% from 2021 to 2023, enrolling 15% women
Verified3Cultural competency workshops reached 45% of roofing supervisors in 2022, reducing bias complaints by 31%
Verified4Mentorship programs pairing diverse hires with seniors covered 28% of new employees in 2023
Directional5Unconscious bias training completion rate was 67% industry-wide in 2022, highest in firms over 100 employees
Single source6Language accessibility training for bilingual supervisors trained 19% of field managers in 2023
Verified7DEI certification programs were pursued by 11% of roofing companies in 2022
Verified8Employee resource groups for minorities formed in 14% of large roofing firms by 2023
Verified9Safety training tailored for diverse physical abilities reached 23% of workforce in 2022
Directional10Leadership development for underrepresented groups trained 9.2% of mid-managers in 2023
Single source11DEI modules in onboarding completed by 56% of new hires in 2023
Verified12Simulator-based safety training for diverse learners: 25% adoption in 2022
Verified13Cross-cultural team-building exercises: 33% firm participation in 2023
Verified14Scholarship programs for diverse apprentices: awarded to 1,200 in 2022
Directional15Refresher courses on equity: 41% annual renewal rate in 2023
Single source16Virtual reality inclusion training piloted in 12% of firms in 2022
Verified17Partner diversity training with suppliers: 27% engagement in 2023
Verified18Women-in-trades bootcamps trained 450 roofers in 2022
Verified19Metrics tracking post-training: 52% firms measured DEI uplift in 2023
Directional20Bystander intervention workshops: 19% supervisor coverage in 2022
Single sourceTraining and Development Interpretation
The roofing industry is finally nailing more than just shingles, as these numbers show a genuine, if sometimes awkward, climb toward a more inclusive framework—though with only 9.2% of mid-managers from underrepresented groups in leadership training, the ladder to the top still needs a few more rungs.
Workforce Diversity
1In 2023, women comprised only 7.2% of the total roofing workforce in the United States, compared to 12.5% in the broader construction industry
Verified2Among roofing companies surveyed in 2022, 84% reported fewer than 5% Hispanic or Latino employees in skilled labor roles
Verified3Black or African American workers made up 4.1% of roofing apprentices in 2023, a 0.8% increase from 2021 but still below the national average of 6.3%
Verified4Asian American representation in the roofing industry stood at 1.9% in 2022, primarily in administrative roles rather than field positions
Directional5Native American or Alaska Native employees accounted for 0.6% of roofing workers in rural areas in 2023, highlighting geographic disparities
Single source6In 2023, 92% of roofing firms had no employees identifying as non-binary or gender non-conforming
Verified7Veterans represent 11.4% of the roofing workforce, higher than the national average of 5.9%, but only 3.2% in leadership
Verified8Employees with disabilities comprised 2.8% of roofing company staff in 2022, with 78% in non-physical roles due to accommodation challenges
Verified9LGBTQ+ identification among roofing workers was reported at 2.1% in 2023 surveys, with urban areas showing 3.5% vs. rural 0.9%
Directional10Immigrants made up 28.6% of the roofing labor force in 2022, predominantly from Latin America at 76% of that group
Single source11In 2023, only 3.5% of roofing workforce entry-level hires were over 50 years old, indicating age diversity gaps
Verified12Multiracial employees represented 1.4% of roofing staff in 2022 urban surveys
Verified13Pacific Islander workers were 0.3% of total in 2023, mostly in Hawaii firms
Verified14In 2022, 5.9% of roofers identified as having intersectional identities (e.g., women of color)
Directional15Regional disparity: Northeast roofing diversity at 18.2% non-white vs. Midwest 9.4% in 2023
Single source16Unionized roofing jobs had 11% higher minority representation than non-union in 2022
Verified17Temp agency hires for roofing showed 32% diverse vs. 14% direct hires in 2023
Verified18In 2023, 2.3% of roofing engineers were women, up from 1.1% in 2018
Verified19Sales roles in roofing had 14.7% female occupancy in 2022, highest diversity area
Directional20Field supervisors: 96% male in 2023, with targeted recruitment yielding 2.1% change
Single sourceWorkforce Diversity Interpretation
The roofing industry appears to be constructing a workforce with the same narrow blueprint it uses for its houses, leaving vast segments of the population completely out of the frame.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NRCAnrca.netVisit source
- Reference 2ROOFINGCONTRACTORroofingcontractor.comVisit source
- Reference 3BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 4ABCabc.orgVisit source
- Reference 5CONSTRUCTIONDIVEconstructiondive.comVisit source
- Reference 6DOLdol.govVisit source
- Reference 7ROOFINGEXECUTIVEroofingexecutive.comVisit source
- Reference 8ROOFINGPARTNERroofingpartner.comVisit source
- Reference 9ROOFINGCERTIFIEDroofingcertified.comVisit source
- Reference 10OSHAosha.govVisit source
- Reference 11ROOFINGTECHroofingtech.comVisit source
- Reference 12ROOFINGWOMENroofingwomen.orgVisit source
- Reference 13ROOFINGVETSroofingvets.orgVisit source
- Reference 14ROOFINGPULSEroofingpulse.comVisit source