Two-thirds of women in construction report discrimination as a major barrier. Their representation is growing, yet a persistent wage gap and widespread harassment reveal a workplace still designed for men.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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 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
- 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 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
In 2023, most women in construction face discrimination, harassment, and advancement gaps alongside significant wage inequality.
Related reading
01 · Category
Barriers27 stats
01
67% of women in construction report discrimination as a major barrier in 2023
02
Work-life balance challenges cited by 54% of female workers
03
Lack of mentorship affects 49% of women advancing in trades
04
Harassment experienced by 46% of women over career span
05
Childcare access barriers for 38% of mothers in construction
06
Gender stereotypes deter 61% of potential female entrants
07
Promotion gaps: women 2x slower to supervisor roles
08
Networking exclusion impacts 52% of women professionals
09
Flexible hours unavailable to 44% of women workers
10
Bias in hiring: 29% of women report gender-based rejection
11
Isolation on male-dominated sites affects 71% mentally
12
Lack of female bathrooms cited by 35% as daily barrier
13
Pay secrecy cultures hide gaps for 47% women
14
Travel demands barrier for 42% of women with families
15
Apprenticeship hazing discourages 33% women dropouts
16
Credit access for business ownership harder for 51% women
17
Union entry barriers persist for 27% women applicants
18
Ageism compounds gender bias for 39% over 40 women
19
Lack of role models seen by 58% as key barrier
20
Overtime culture pressures 45% women to underperform
21
Supplier/vendor bias affects 31% women managers
22
Return-to-work post-maternity: 26% face demotion
23
Digital tool access training lags for 37% women
24
Client preference for male reps biases 22% projects
25
Retention rate drops 18% due to culture for women
26
Legal protections awareness low in 43% women workers
27
Rural site access transportation barriers for 29% women
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Representation30 stats
01
In 2022, women made up 11.2% of the total construction industry workforce in the United States, totaling approximately 1.01 million women workers
02
As of 2023, female representation in construction grew by 14.5% from 2020 levels, reaching 1.2 million women
03
Women comprise 10.9% of construction laborers specifically, with 95,000 women in this role in 2022
04
In heavy and civil engineering construction, women account for 13.4% of the workforce as of 2021 data
05
Female carpenters numbered 28,300 in 2022, representing 4.2% of all carpenters
06
Women in construction management roles increased by 25% between 2018 and 2023
07
15.1% of construction supervisors are women in 2023 surveys
08
In electrical contractors, women hold 8.7% of positions per 2022 NAICS data
09
Women represent 12.3% of the plumbing and HVAC workforce in residential construction
10
As of 2024, 1 in 8 new construction apprentices are women, totaling 18% in some union programs
11
Female ironworkers number 5,200 nationally, 3.9% of the trade in 2022
12
In roofing contractors, women are 6.5% of employees per 2023 NRCA survey
13
Women in drywall installation roles: 7,800 workers, 5.1% share in 2021
14
14.2% of construction estimators are women as per 2022 AGC data
15
In site preparation contractors, female workforce is 11.8%
16
Women hold 9.4% of operating engineer roles in construction, 42,000 total
17
2023 data shows 16.7% women in utility system construction
18
Female painters in construction: 31,500, 8.2% of total in 2022
19
In foundation and structure contractors, women are 10.5%
20
Women apprentices in construction unions rose to 12.9% in 2023
21
4.8% of masons and bricklayers are women, 12,100 individuals
22
Paving contractors have 9.2% female employees per 2022 stats
23
Women in sheet metal work: 6,300, 4.1% share
24
13.6% of construction office support roles held by women
25
Highway and street contractors: 11.1% women
26
Female glaziers in construction: 2,400, 3.7%
27
In other building finishing contractors, 14.8% women
28
Women in structural steel erection: 2,100, 2.9%
29
2024 projections show women reaching 13.5% of total construction workforce
30
In nonresidential building construction, women are 12.7%
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Safety29 stats
01
Women in fatality rates 8.2 per 100,000 workers vs. 12.1 for men in 2022
02
Nonfatal injury rate for women: 2.8 cases per 100 full-time workers, lower than men's 3.5 in 2023
03
22% of women report harassment as safety concern in 2023 surveys
04
Heat-related illnesses: women 15% more likely to report symptoms
05
Fall protection usage: 92% compliance among women vs. 88% men
06
Musculoskeletal disorders affect 34% of female workers annually
07
PPE fit issues reported by 41% of women, leading to 12% higher minor injury risk
08
Struck-by incidents: women involved in 9% of cases
09
Fatigue-related errors: 28% higher in women due to work-life balance, 2022 study
10
Respiratory hazards exposure: women 18% less due to role differences
11
Ergonomic training reduces women injuries by 25%
12
Vehicle accidents on site: 7.4 per 100,000 for women
13
Mental health claims: 19% of women vs. 11% men in construction
14
Electrocution rates: lower for women at 0.9 per 100,000
15
Ladder safety violations: 14% less for female workers
16
Noise-induced hearing loss: 22% prevalence in women over 10 years
17
Chemical exposure incidents: 16% for women
18
Safety committee representation: 28% women members improve site safety 15%
19
COVID-19 infection rates higher 12% for women in construction 2020-2022
20
Confined space training efficacy: 85% for women vs. 79% men
21
Scaffolding incidents: women 6% of total falls
22
Wellness programs reduce absenteeism 20% for women
23
Hazard communication training: 96% women compliant
24
Back injury prevention: women programs cut rates 30%
25
Night shift safety concerns: 37% women report lighting issues
26
Machine guarding violations lower 10% on women-led crews
27
Sun exposure skin cancer risk: 24% higher awareness in women
28
Emergency response drills: 91% women participation rate
29
Vibration-related disorders: 29% in female power tool users
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Training26 stats
01
45% of women in construction have completed vocational training programs by 2023
02
Women apprentices in construction programs: 14.2% enrollment increase since 2020
03
62% of female construction workers have some postsecondary education, vs. 48% men 2022
04
NAWIC scholarship recipients: 1,200 women trained annually since 2021
05
Community college construction programs: 28% female enrollment in 2023
06
Union apprenticeship completion rate for women: 75%, higher than men's 68% 2022
07
OSHA 10-hour training: 52% of women certified vs. 41% men in construction
08
Women in leadership training programs: 35% participation growth 2019-2023
09
Craft training centers report 22% female trainees in welding for construction
10
Pre-apprenticeship programs for women: 18,000 enrolled 2023
11
40% of women in construction hold certifications in heavy equipment operation
12
Online construction management courses: 31% female completers 2022
13
ABC workforce development: 16% women in craft training 2023
14
BIM training adoption among women: 48% certified 2023
15
Safety certification rates: 67% women vs. 55% men
16
Mentor programs pair 5,000 women annually with trades mentors
17
Electrical training institutes: 19% female graduates 2022
18
Plumbing apprenticeships: 12% women completing advanced training
19
Sustainable construction certification (LEED): 29% women trained
20
Drone operation training for site inspection: 25% female certified 2023
21
55% of new female entrants via bootcamps lasting 12 weeks
22
High school CTE construction programs: 23% girls participating 2022
23
Advanced estimating software training: 42% women uptake
24
Forklift and rigging certifications: 38% held by women 2023
25
Project management professional (PMP) cert: 18% women in construction
26
Welding certification programs: 15% female completion rate 2022
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Wages30 stats
01
Women construction workers earn a median weekly wage of $1,050in 2022, 92% of men's $1,142
02
Female construction managers earn $102,000annually on average vs. $118,000 for men in 2023
03
Women in carpentry earn 15% less than male counterparts, median $48,200 vs. $56,700 in 2022
04
Hourly wage for female laborers: $20.45, compared to $22.10 for men per 2023 BLS
05
Women supervisors in construction average $95,400yearly, 87% of male rate
06
Female electricians in construction: $28.50/hour median, vs. $31.20 for men 2022
07
Plumbers women earn $57,900annually, 88% of men's $65,800 in 2023
08
Ironworkers female median wage $52,300vs. $58,100 male, 2022 data
09
Women roofers average $19.80/hour, 94% of male $21.05
10
Construction estimators women: $72,500median, vs. $81,200 men 2023
11
Operating engineers female: $24.75/hour vs. $27.10 male, 2022
12
Painters women $22.40/week median wage less than men by 12%
13
Female drywall installers earn $48,100annually, 91% of male
14
Bricklayers women $55,200vs. $62,400 men, 2023 union data
15
Sheet metal workers female $29.10/hour, 89% male rate
16
Women in construction admin earn $62,000median, close to men at 97%
17
Glaziers female $24.20/hour vs. $26.50 male 2022
18
Paving crew women $23.80/hour, 93% of men
19
Female structural ironworkers $30.40/hour median 2023
20
Construction laborers women weekly earnings $860vs. $940 men 2022
21
Over 10-year period, women's construction wages grew 28% vs. 32% for men
22
In high-wage construction firms, women earn 85% of male parity
23
Median bonus for women managers $4,200vs. $6,100 men 2023
24
Apprentice women wages start at $18.50/hour avg
25
Overtime pay gap: women get 8% less per hour worked, 2022
26
Benefit-adjusted wages show women at 90% parity in union jobs
27
Self-employed women contractors earn $85,000median vs. $102,000 men
28
In specialty trade contractors, wage gap 11.2%
29
Women in green construction earn 5% premium over traditional
30
2024 wage projection for women: 4.5% increase, matching men
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Women In Construction Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/women-in-construction-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Women In Construction Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/women-in-construction-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Women In Construction Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/women-in-construction-statistics.
Sources & references
61 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level