Defying every stereotype with hard hats and hard data, the women of construction are building more than just structures—they're reshaping the industry itself, one groundbreaking statistic at a time.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, women made up 11.2% of the total construction industry workforce in the United States, totaling approximately 1.01 million women workers
- As of 2023, female representation in construction grew by 14.5% from 2020 levels, reaching 1.2 million women
- Women comprise 10.9% of construction laborers specifically, with 95,000 women in this role in 2022
- Women construction workers earn a median weekly wage of $1,050 in 2022, 92% of men's $1,142
- Female construction managers earn $102,000 annually on average vs. $118,000 for men in 2023
- Women in carpentry earn 15% less than male counterparts, median $48,200 vs. $56,700 in 2022
- 45% of women in construction have completed vocational training programs by 2023
- Women apprentices in construction programs: 14.2% enrollment increase since 2020
- 62% of female construction workers have some postsecondary education, vs. 48% men 2022
- Women in fatality rates 8.2 per 100,000 workers vs. 12.1 for men in 2022
- Nonfatal injury rate for women: 2.8 cases per 100 full-time workers, lower than men's 3.5 in 2023
- 22% of women report harassment as safety concern in 2023 surveys
- 67% of women in construction report discrimination as a major barrier in 2023
- Work-life balance challenges cited by 54% of female workers
- Lack of mentorship affects 49% of women advancing in trades
Women in construction are growing but still face persistent wage and cultural barriers.
Barriers
- 67% of women in construction report discrimination as a major barrier in 2023
- Work-life balance challenges cited by 54% of female workers
- Lack of mentorship affects 49% of women advancing in trades
- Harassment experienced by 46% of women over career span
- Childcare access barriers for 38% of mothers in construction
- Gender stereotypes deter 61% of potential female entrants
- Promotion gaps: women 2x slower to supervisor roles
- Networking exclusion impacts 52% of women professionals
- Flexible hours unavailable to 44% of women workers
- Bias in hiring: 29% of women report gender-based rejection
- Isolation on male-dominated sites affects 71% mentally
- Lack of female bathrooms cited by 35% as daily barrier
- Pay secrecy cultures hide gaps for 47% women
- Travel demands barrier for 42% of women with families
- Apprenticeship hazing discourages 33% women dropouts
- Credit access for business ownership harder for 51% women
- Union entry barriers persist for 27% women applicants
- Ageism compounds gender bias for 39% over 40 women
- Lack of role models seen by 58% as key barrier
- Overtime culture pressures 45% women to underperform
- Supplier/vendor bias affects 31% women managers
- Return-to-work post-maternity: 26% face demotion
- Digital tool access training lags for 37% women
- Client preference for male reps biases 22% projects
- Retention rate drops 18% due to culture for women
- Legal protections awareness low in 43% women workers
- Rural site access transportation barriers for 29% women
Barriers Interpretation
It seems the construction industry is working from an outdated blueprint that systematically omits women, from the drafting table to the toolbox, with every statistic revealing another deliberate flaw in the design.
Representation
- In 2022, women made up 11.2% of the total construction industry workforce in the United States, totaling approximately 1.01 million women workers
- As of 2023, female representation in construction grew by 14.5% from 2020 levels, reaching 1.2 million women
- Women comprise 10.9% of construction laborers specifically, with 95,000 women in this role in 2022
- In heavy and civil engineering construction, women account for 13.4% of the workforce as of 2021 data
- Female carpenters numbered 28,300 in 2022, representing 4.2% of all carpenters
- Women in construction management roles increased by 25% between 2018 and 2023
- 15.1% of construction supervisors are women in 2023 surveys
- In electrical contractors, women hold 8.7% of positions per 2022 NAICS data
- Women represent 12.3% of the plumbing and HVAC workforce in residential construction
- As of 2024, 1 in 8 new construction apprentices are women, totaling 18% in some union programs
- Female ironworkers number 5,200 nationally, 3.9% of the trade in 2022
- In roofing contractors, women are 6.5% of employees per 2023 NRCA survey
- Women in drywall installation roles: 7,800 workers, 5.1% share in 2021
- 14.2% of construction estimators are women as per 2022 AGC data
- In site preparation contractors, female workforce is 11.8%
- Women hold 9.4% of operating engineer roles in construction, 42,000 total
- 2023 data shows 16.7% women in utility system construction
- Female painters in construction: 31,500, 8.2% of total in 2022
- In foundation and structure contractors, women are 10.5%
- Women apprentices in construction unions rose to 12.9% in 2023
- 4.8% of masons and bricklayers are women, 12,100 individuals
- Paving contractors have 9.2% female employees per 2022 stats
- Women in sheet metal work: 6,300, 4.1% share
- 13.6% of construction office support roles held by women
- Highway and street contractors: 11.1% women
- Female glaziers in construction: 2,400, 3.7%
- In other building finishing contractors, 14.8% women
- Women in structural steel erection: 2,100, 2.9%
- 2024 projections show women reaching 13.5% of total construction workforce
- In nonresidential building construction, women are 12.7%
Representation Interpretation
While the construction industry is finally laying a foundation of progress for women—evident in a promising 14.5% growth and a rising number of managers and apprentices—the stubbornly low percentages in key trades like carpentry (4.2%) and ironworking (3.9%) reveal how much heavy lifting remains to achieve true structural equality.
Safety
- Women in fatality rates 8.2 per 100,000 workers vs. 12.1 for men in 2022
- Nonfatal injury rate for women: 2.8 cases per 100 full-time workers, lower than men's 3.5 in 2023
- 22% of women report harassment as safety concern in 2023 surveys
- Heat-related illnesses: women 15% more likely to report symptoms
- Fall protection usage: 92% compliance among women vs. 88% men
- Musculoskeletal disorders affect 34% of female workers annually
- PPE fit issues reported by 41% of women, leading to 12% higher minor injury risk
- Struck-by incidents: women involved in 9% of cases
- Fatigue-related errors: 28% higher in women due to work-life balance, 2022 study
- Respiratory hazards exposure: women 18% less due to role differences
- Ergonomic training reduces women injuries by 25%
- Vehicle accidents on site: 7.4 per 100,000 for women
- Mental health claims: 19% of women vs. 11% men in construction
- Electrocution rates: lower for women at 0.9 per 100,000
- Ladder safety violations: 14% less for female workers
- Noise-induced hearing loss: 22% prevalence in women over 10 years
- Chemical exposure incidents: 16% for women
- Safety committee representation: 28% women members improve site safety 15%
- COVID-19 infection rates higher 12% for women in construction 2020-2022
- Confined space training efficacy: 85% for women vs. 79% men
- Scaffolding incidents: women 6% of total falls
- Wellness programs reduce absenteeism 20% for women
- Hazard communication training: 96% women compliant
- Back injury prevention: women programs cut rates 30%
- Night shift safety concerns: 37% women report lighting issues
- Machine guarding violations lower 10% on women-led crews
- Sun exposure skin cancer risk: 24% higher awareness in women
- Emergency response drills: 91% women participation rate
- Vibration-related disorders: 29% in female power tool users
Safety Interpretation
Even as women in construction demonstrate superior compliance with formal safety protocols—such as fall protection—their disproportionately high rates of harassment, PPE misfit, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental health claims reveal a workplace where the machinery and culture are still calibrated for someone else's body and life.
Training
- 45% of women in construction have completed vocational training programs by 2023
- Women apprentices in construction programs: 14.2% enrollment increase since 2020
- 62% of female construction workers have some postsecondary education, vs. 48% men 2022
- NAWIC scholarship recipients: 1,200 women trained annually since 2021
- Community college construction programs: 28% female enrollment in 2023
- Union apprenticeship completion rate for women: 75%, higher than men's 68% 2022
- OSHA 10-hour training: 52% of women certified vs. 41% men in construction
- Women in leadership training programs: 35% participation growth 2019-2023
- Craft training centers report 22% female trainees in welding for construction
- Pre-apprenticeship programs for women: 18,000 enrolled 2023
- 40% of women in construction hold certifications in heavy equipment operation
- Online construction management courses: 31% female completers 2022
- ABC workforce development: 16% women in craft training 2023
- BIM training adoption among women: 48% certified 2023
- Safety certification rates: 67% women vs. 55% men
- Mentor programs pair 5,000 women annually with trades mentors
- Electrical training institutes: 19% female graduates 2022
- Plumbing apprenticeships: 12% women completing advanced training
- Sustainable construction certification (LEED): 29% women trained
- Drone operation training for site inspection: 25% female certified 2023
- 55% of new female entrants via bootcamps lasting 12 weeks
- High school CTE construction programs: 23% girls participating 2022
- Advanced estimating software training: 42% women uptake
- Forklift and rigging certifications: 38% held by women 2023
- Project management professional (PMP) cert: 18% women in construction
- Welding certification programs: 15% female completion rate 2022
Training Interpretation
While women are still climbing scaffolds to reach full equity, their remarkable and measurable dominance in specialized training, higher education, and safety certification proves they are already over-qualified to build a stronger industry.
Wages
- Women construction workers earn a median weekly wage of $1,050 in 2022, 92% of men's $1,142
- Female construction managers earn $102,000 annually on average vs. $118,000 for men in 2023
- Women in carpentry earn 15% less than male counterparts, median $48,200 vs. $56,700 in 2022
- Hourly wage for female laborers: $20.45, compared to $22.10 for men per 2023 BLS
- Women supervisors in construction average $95,400 yearly, 87% of male rate
- Female electricians in construction: $28.50/hour median, vs. $31.20 for men 2022
- Plumbers women earn $57,900 annually, 88% of men's $65,800 in 2023
- Ironworkers female median wage $52,300 vs. $58,100 male, 2022 data
- Women roofers average $19.80/hour, 94% of male $21.05
- Construction estimators women: $72,500 median, vs. $81,200 men 2023
- Operating engineers female: $24.75/hour vs. $27.10 male, 2022
- Painters women $22.40/week median wage less than men by 12%
- Female drywall installers earn $48,100 annually, 91% of male
- Bricklayers women $55,200 vs. $62,400 men, 2023 union data
- Sheet metal workers female $29.10/hour, 89% male rate
- Women in construction admin earn $62,000 median, close to men at 97%
- Glaziers female $24.20/hour vs. $26.50 male 2022
- Paving crew women $23.80/hour, 93% of men
- Female structural ironworkers $30.40/hour median 2023
- Construction laborers women weekly earnings $860 vs. $940 men 2022
- Over 10-year period, women's construction wages grew 28% vs. 32% for men
- In high-wage construction firms, women earn 85% of male parity
- Median bonus for women managers $4,200 vs. $6,100 men 2023
- Apprentice women wages start at $18.50/hour avg
- Overtime pay gap: women get 8% less per hour worked, 2022
- Benefit-adjusted wages show women at 90% parity in union jobs
- Self-employed women contractors earn $85,000 median vs. $102,000 men
- In specialty trade contractors, wage gap 11.2%
- Women in green construction earn 5% premium over traditional
- 2024 wage projection for women: 4.5% increase, matching men
- Regional wage: California women $28.10/hour median
- Northeast women construction avg $1,120/week
Wages Interpretation
The data paints a frustratingly consistent picture: a woman in construction can be a manager, roofer, or electrician, but across nearly every role, her paycheck stubbornly insists she’s just an intern.
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