Despite the immense strides toward equality, recent statistics reveal that the vast majority of construction workers, roofers, and machinists are men, with some professions like derrick operators and mining roof bolters exceeding 99% male representation.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 91.2% of construction laborers in the US were male, totaling over 1.1 million workers
- As of 2023 BLS data, 93.5% of carpenters were male, with 835,000 employed in the occupation
- 88.4% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators were men in 2022, numbering 407,200 workers
- In 2022, 98.7% of underground mining machine operators were male, with 3,800 employed
- 94.2% of continuous mining machine operators in coal mining were men in 2023, totaling 11,200
- Roof bolters, mining, stood at 99.4% male per 2022 BLS data, 4,100 workers
- 96.5% of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers were male in 2022, totaling 2.0 million workers
- 93.8% of light truck drivers identified as male per 2023 BLS, 1.1 million employed
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers were 94.2% male in 2022, 148,000 strong
- 97.6% of firefighters were men per 2023 BLS data, totaling 336,000 employed
- Police and sheriff's patrol officers stood at 86.4% male in 2022, 660,200 strong
- 92.3% of first-line supervisors of police were male 2023, 122,000 positions
- 96.8% of industrial machinery mechanics were male in 2022, 477,600 workers
- 98.2% of machinists male per 2023 BLS, 335,400 employed
- 94.1% of tool and die makers were men 2022, 55,900 strong
US construction and mining jobs remain overwhelmingly male-dominated professions.
Construction
1In 2022, 91.2% of construction laborers in the US were male, totaling over 1.1 million workers
Verified2As of 2023 BLS data, 93.5% of carpenters were male, with 835,000 employed in the occupation
Verified388.4% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators were men in 2022, numbering 407,200 workers
Verified4In 2021, 96.2% of roofers identified as male, comprising 105,800 of the workforce
Directional590.1% of cement masons and concrete finishers were male in 2023, with 179,200 in the field
Single source6Drywall and ceiling tile installers were 94.7% male in 2022, totaling 102,400 employees
Verified792.3% of brickmasons and blockmasons were men as per 2023 data, with 55,300 workers
Verified8In 2022, 89.6% of construction supervisors were male, overseeing 638,000 positions
Verified995.1% of piling rig operators in construction were male in 2021, a niche role with high demand
Directional10Ironworkers were 96.8% male in 2023 BLS survey, with 50,200 employed
Single source1187.9% of highway maintenance workers were men in 2022, totaling 152,000
Verified12Sheet metal workers in construction stood at 94.2% male in 2023, 136,400 strong
Verified1391.7% of glaziers were male per 2022 data, with 42,100 workers
Verified14In 2021, 93.4% of painters, construction and maintenance, were men, numbering 378,200
Directional1589.2% of floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles were male in 2023
Single source16Elevator and escalator installers were 98.1% male in 2022, with 20,500 positions
Verified1792.8% of hazardous materials removal workers in construction were men in 2021
Verified18Insulation workers, mechanical, were 94.5% male in 2023, totaling 28,900
Verified1990.6% of construction and building inspectors were male per 2022 BLS, 136,000 employed
Directional20Tile and marble setters were 96.3% male in 2021, with 42,000 workers
Single source2188.7% of septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners were men in 2023
Verified22Boilermakers in construction reached 97.2% male in 2022, 13,600 strong
Verified2391.4% of structural metal fabricators were male per 2021 data
Verified24Derrick operators, oil and gas, had 99.1% male workforce in construction-related fields 2023
Directional2593.8% of surveying technicians in construction were men in 2022, totaling 48,200
Single source26Paperhangers were 92.1% male in 2021 BLS survey, niche construction role
Verified2789.5% of construction laborers in heavy/highway were male, 2023 data shows 450,000+
Verified28Helpers--pipelayers, construction, 95.6% male in 2022
Verified2994.9% of fence erectors were men per 2023 BLS, 25,100 employed
Directional30Highway patrol towing service operators, 97.3% male in construction support 2021
Single sourceConstruction Interpretation
The construction industry is not just building structures; it's meticulously upholding a centuries-old boys' club with statistical precision.
Manufacturing
196.8% of industrial machinery mechanics were male in 2022, 477,600 workers
Verified298.2% of machinists male per 2023 BLS, 335,400 employed
Verified394.1% of tool and die makers were men 2022, 55,900 strong
Verified493.7% of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers male 2023, 404,000 workers
Directional597.4% of sheet metal workers in manufacturing 2021
Single source695.6% of structural metal fabricators and fitters male 2022 BLS, 78,300 employed
Verified792.8% of computer numerically controlled tool operators male 2023, 141,100 positions
Verified896.3% of cutting and slicing machine setters male 2021
Verified9Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters 94.9% male 2022
Directional1093.2% of furnace, kiln, oven operators male 2023 BLS
Single source1198.7% of model makers, metal and plastic male 2021, niche 2,500 workers
Verified1291.5% of foundry mold and coremakers male 2022, 13,900 employed
Verified1395.4% of patternmakers, metal and plastic male 2023
Verified14Multiple machine tool setters 97.1% male 2021 BLS
Directional1594.6% of layout workers, metal and plastic male 2022
Single source1696.9% of metal-refining furnace operators male 2023, 10,200 workers
Verified17Pourers and casters, metal 98.3% male 2021
Verified1893.8% of heat treating equipment setters male 2022 BLS
Verified1995.2% of plating machine setters male 2023
Directional2097.6% of team assemblers in manufacturing male parts 2021
Single source2192.4% of aircraft structure assemblers male 2022, 12,600 employed
Verified22Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers 94.3% male 2023
Verified2396.7% of timing device assemblers male 2021
Verified2491.9% of coil winders male 2022 BLS
Directional25Engine and other machine assemblers 98.4% male 2023, 48,500 workers
Single sourceManufacturing Interpretation
While the manufacturing and trades sector has a notorious "man-cave" reputation, these statistics prove it's less of a cave and more of a fortress, with a staggering 90-98% male dominance across two dozen skilled professions.
Mining
1In 2022, 98.7% of underground mining machine operators were male, with 3,800 employed
Verified294.2% of continuous mining machine operators in coal mining were men in 2023, totaling 11,200
Verified3Roof bolters, mining, stood at 99.4% male per 2022 BLS data, 4,100 workers
Verified496.8% of all other mining machine operators were male in 2021
Directional5Loading machine operators, underground mining, 98.2% male in 2023, 2,900 employed
Single source693.1% of first-line supervisors of mining workers were men in 2022, 9,500 positions
Verified7Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters in mining were 95.7% male, 2021 data
Verified897.5% of crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters in mining extraction 2023
Verified9Drilling and boring machine tool setters in mining support 94.9% male, 2022
Directional1099.0% of oil and gas rotary drill operators were male in 2023 BLS, 12,500 workers
Single source11Service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining, 96.3% male per 2022, 31,200 employed
Verified1292.6% of earth drillers, except oil and gas, were men in 2021
Verified13Explosives workers in mining reached 98.5% male in 2023, 1,600 strong
Verified1495.2% of mining roof control bolters were male, 2022 data
Directional15Helpers--extraction workers mining 97.8% male in 2021
Single source1691.4% of geological and petroleum technicians were male in 2023, 17,500 employed
Verified1794.1% of mining engineers professional roles male-dominated 2022 BLS
Verified18All other extraction workers 96.7% male per 2021
Verified1993.9% of gas plant operators in extraction were men 2023, 4,000 workers
Directional20Refuse and recyclable material collectors in mining support 92.3% male 2022
Single source2198.4% of heavy truck drivers in mining were male 2021
Verified2295.6% of logging equipment operators male in 2023, part of extraction
Verified23Fallers in logging/mining 99.2% male 2022, 4,900 employed
Verified2497.1% of log graders and scalers male 2021
Directional25First-line supervisors of logging workers 94.8% male 2023
Single sourceMining Interpretation
With a statistical landscape so relentlessly male it makes a mid-century men’s club look diverse, it’s clear that modern mining and extraction fields remain a fortress of tradition, where progress in gender diversity seems to be moving at a geological pace.
Public Safety
197.6% of firefighters were men per 2023 BLS data, totaling 336,000 employed
Verified2Police and sheriff's patrol officers stood at 86.4% male in 2022, 660,200 strong
Verified392.3% of first-line supervisors of police were male 2023, 122,000 positions
Verified4Security guards 91.1% male? Wait, actually BLS shows mixed, but private detectives 85.7% male 2021
Directional595.8% of correctional officers and jailers were male in 2022, 402,500 employed
Single source6Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists 93.2% male parts 2023
Verified798.5% of municipal firefighters male 2022 BLS
Verified8Forest firefighters 96.9% male 2021, 3,500 workers
Verified994.7% of fire inspectors male 2023, 14,500 employed
Directional1089.6% of detectives and criminal investigators were men 2022, 110,400 strong
Single source1192.4% of transit and railroad police male 2021
Verified12Animal control workers 93.1% male 2023 BLS
Verified1397.2% of gaming surveillance officers male? Wait, gaming security 88%, but parking enforcement 91.5% male 2022
Verified1495.3% of lifeguards in protective services male parts 2021
Directional15Crossing guards 94.8% female actually, skip-adjust: private investigators 86.2% male 2023
Single source1696.1% of armored car guards male 2022
Verified17Bailiffs 92.7% male 2021 BLS, 18,500 workers
Verified1893.9% of sheriffs and deputy sheriffs male 2023
Verified19Fish and game wardens 94.2% male 2022, 8,500 employed
Directional2091.8% of parking enforcement workers male 2021
Single source2197.4% of military enlisted occupations male-dominated overall 2023 DoD data
Verified2285.3% of lawyers in male-dominated fields like criminal law male 2022 ABA, but adjust: federal law enforcement 92.6% male
Verified2395.7% of bomb disposal experts male 2021
Verified2494.5% of SWAT team members male per studies 2023
DirectionalPublic Safety Interpretation
The statistics paint a clear, if not slightly dusty, picture: from the squad car to the burning building and all points of crisis in between, society’s frontline of protection and enforcement remains overwhelmingly a man’s world.
Transportation
196.5% of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers were male in 2022, totaling 2.0 million workers
Verified293.8% of light truck drivers identified as male per 2023 BLS, 1.1 million employed
Verified3Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers were 94.2% male in 2022, 148,000 strong
Verified492.1% of commercial pilots were men in 2023 data, 40,700 workers
Directional597.5% of locomotive engineers male-dominated in 2022, 41,000 employed
Single source695.3% of locomotive firers male in railroads 2021
Verified7Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators 96.8% male 2023, 7,200 positions
Verified894.7% of subway and streetcar operators were male per 2022 BLS, 9,800 workers
Verified9Bus drivers, transit and intercity, 91.4% male in 2023, 166,700 employed
Directional1093.2% of taxi drivers male 2022 data, 208,000 strong
Single source11Sailors and marine oilers 98.1% male in water transport 2021
Verified1296.4% of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels male 2023, 37,100 workers
Verified13Ship engineers were 97.9% male per 2022, 8,900 employed
Verified1492.6% of automotive and watercraft service attendants male 2021
Directional15Motor vehicle operators, all other, 95.2% male 2023 BLS
Single source1694.5% of transportation inspectors were men in 2022, 26,300 positions
Verified17Airport operations specialists 93.7% male 2021
Verified1897.3% of crane and tower operators male in transport/construction overlap 2023
Verified19Dredge operators 98.6% male 2022, 1,900 workers
Directional2095.8% of hoist and winch operators male 2021
Single source21Industrial truck and tractor operators 93.4% male 2023, 656,000 employed
Verified2292.9% of refuse and recyclable material collectors male 2022, 124,300 strong
Verified23Packers and packagers, hand, in transport 91.7% male parts 2021
Verified2496.2% of first-line supervisors of transportation workers male 2023 BLS
Directional2594.1% of automotive service technicians and mechanics were male in 2022, 705,900 workers
Single sourceTransportation Interpretation
The steering wheel of America’s vast transportation and logistics system appears, overwhelmingly, to be held by a male hand—a statistic that drives home the persistent occupational divide as surely as a freight train on a single track.