Women Make Up 10.9% of the Construction Workforce BYNA ZHAOonSEPTEMBER 13, 2021 The number of women employed in the construction industry grew slightly in 2020, rising to around 1.17 million, while the construction industry lost 587,000 jobs in 2020 when the pandemic hit the economy. Currently, women make up a growing share of the construction employment, up to 10.9% in 2020 from 10.3% in 2019. As the construction skilled labor shortage remains a key challenge, adding new workers is an important goal of the industry. Bringing additional women into the construction labor force represents a potential opportunity for the future. Here we explore the state of women in the construction industry using labor force statistics from the Current Population Survey (CPS). During the Great Recession, the number of female construction workers declined sharply by almost 30 percent to 807,000 by 2010. From 2010 to 2017, the total slowly expanded to around 970,000 but remained below the peak of pre-recession levels. The number of women working in construction increased to 1.17 million in 2020, edged up by 0.4% in 2020 during the pandemic. Overall, the share of women in construction increased to 10.9% in 2020. While construction and maintenance occupations account for the largest number of employees in construction, and is where additional workers are needed, women comprised only 6 percent of the such occupations. More improvement is needed here. Other groups such as production, transportation, and material moving occupations, and service occupations employed only around 14,000 female workers.
1955:NAHB Women’s Auxiliary is chartered. The Building Hope Scholarship awards $1,000. 1956 to 1959:The auxiliary is nurtured. The first dues increase – to $2 – is challenged. 1960:With the theme, “Together We Build,” the Legislative Committee is formed. 1961:Educational programs promoting the public image of builders developed & housing conferences held. 1963:First meeting of the Spikette Club & Past Presidents Council. President Robbie Shoemaker travels more than 30,000 miles during 21 trips. 1964:President Polly Shafer leads a national “Get out to Vote” campaign that contributes to Congress passing a $1 billion housing & urban renewal bill. 1965:With 59 local chapters, NAHB involves the auxiliary in its legislative efforts & local legislative committees are formed. 1966:First Spikette Party. President is requested by NAHB to report at the national board of directors mtg. 1973 & 1974: First executive director hired; First woman builder elected president of the auxiliary. 1975:Auxiliary president is invited to attend NAHB executive meeting as an observer. 1979:Highest membership, with more than 10,000 members. 1980:First appointee named to NAHB BUILD-PAC, first full-time executive officer & creation of the first legislative manual. Grassroots lobbying effort sends thousands of 2x4’s to Congress. 1982:Auxiliary’s meetings published for the first time in the official NAHB program. 1985:First Woman of the Year Award. 1986:Legislative & political action role is strengthened with a 25 percent increase in BUILD-PAC participation. 1989:Name change to NAHB Women’s Council with revised bylaws. First general membership meeting, leadership seminars and Women’s Symposium at the convention; new strategic plan implemented. 1990:Women’s Council secured as a separate affiliate of NAHB. Women’s Council invited to England to participate in the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition. 1991:Standing-room-only attendance at the first sponsored seminars held at the convention. 1992: “Build a Better America” is published, a program with manuals of local grassroots political & legislative efforts to guide other chapters. 1993:President Barbara (Barbie) Wickman serves as a BUILD-PAC executive committee member, trustee & Capitol Club chairman. “Build a Better America” publishes, “Mobilizing at the Grassroots Level.” 1994:New membership drive record. National education program developed, promoting environmental issues in the housing industry. Barbie Wickman named NAHB Outstanding Congressional Contact of the Year. 1996:“Four Decades of Positive Involvement in the National Association of Home Builders: A History of the NAHB Women’s Council” is published. 2000:Member Scholarship and Educational and Travel Grant Program is created. Members rally for NAHB’s Home Builders Care campaign. 2001:National Housing Endowment NAHB PWB “Strategies for Success” scholarship program is initiated. 2003:First issues of Building Women magazine & We-Connect e-newsletter are published. 2009:Name is changed to NAHB Professional Women in Building. 2012:PWB contributes $38,100 to BUILD-PAC, adds 800+ PWB members into BuilderLink & 37 PWB BUILD-PAC Stakeholders. National PWB awards more than $35,000 in scholarships to councils & individual members. 2013:Nearly half of the women who serve on the NAHB executive committee have come through the ranks of PWB leadership. Seven PWB members are presidents of their local HBA/BIA’s. 2014:Dissolution of NAHB PWB as an independent corporation structure. NAHB Board of Directors approves NAHB PWB as a fully integrated council of NAHB. 2015:NAHB PWB becomes NAHB’s fastest growing council, experiencing a 40% growth in membership. 2016:NAHB Professional Women in Building Week launches – an annual federation-wide event celebrating women as a visible component of the residential construction industry. 2018:PWB brings together an elite group of executives to the IBS to address the labor shortage & share resources that encourage construction training opportunities and leadership paths for women in the industry. 2020:19 HBAs charter a PWB Council, the most PWB councils formed in one year.
NAHB PWB Milestones: Historical View of Accomplishments