Women in the Construction Industry

As it stands, women make up only about 11% of the construction industry workforce and only 2.5% of all tradespeople in the U.S. While these numbers have been slowly climbing over the past few decades — from just over 600,000 in 1985 to well over 1 million in the early 2000s — there are still plenty of challenges to face. Because of this, groups like The National Association of Women in Construction and Professional Women in Construction have dedicated themselves to empowering, educating, and employing women in this historically male-dominated industry.

woman in hi-vis vest and blue hard hat standing with her arms crossed, smiling, with three men talking in background

why women in construction matter

The construction industry is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the U.S. Nearly 5% of the American workforce is in construction. But why should we care how much of that 5% is comprised of women?

Multiple studies show that companies with greater gender diversity repeatedly outperform their less diverse competitors. When women make up at least 30% of executive level positions, companies are 48% more likely to succeed; that’s kind of incredible.

Mature Businesswoman Standing And Leading Office Meeting Around Table

what to do about it

So, how do we pave the way for more women to make construction their career?

The first step, and possibly the most difficult, is to eradicate the centuries-old gender bias that women are less capable than men.

Furthermore, we must celebrate and support the women currently in the industry. We must make it clear to young women that not only is there a place for them in the industry, there’s a need. Women in Construction Week, started by the National Association of Women in Construction back in 1998, does just that. And, thanks in part to such efforts, the numbers are, however slowly, rising. Today, 13% of all construction companies in the US are owned by women. That’s a 64% increase since 2014.

the women of nuway

group of women who work at Nuway Construction posing cheerfully in lobby

At Nuway, we’re proud that women make up 33% of our executive team and 26% of our staff. And we hope to see those numbers continue to grow. 

We are always looking to add talent to our team. If you are interested in applying for a position, submit your resume online.

Success Stories

"We chose Nuway over other companies because they established a relationship with us, responded to our needs and comfortability. Throughout the project, Nuway worked closely with us to answer questions and offered suggestions when needed. With Nuway’s lifetime workmanship warranty we know that if there is ever a problem, we can expect Nuway to correct it."

Bob