NAHB: Number of Women in Construction Edges Higher

The number of women working in the construction industry edged only slightly higher last year, rising to 11% of the overall construction workforce from 10.9% in 2020, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But most women in the industry remain involved in office and administrative positions, with less than 4% involved in the skilled trades, where workers are sorely needed.

NAHB’s Professional Women in Building (PWB) Week is an annual event celebrating women as an integral part of the overall residential construction workforce, and the work done to highlight the many, good paying careers available – particularly on Tradeswoman Tuesday.

Join the free, online webinar Inspiring Women in the Trades on Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. ET, to hear from leading tradeswomen as they discuss the status of women in the industry and ideas on how to increase the presence of, and be an ally to, women in the trades. The conversation will be moderated by Kristi Allen, Utah PWB member, owner and general contractor at Woodcastle Homes in Lehi, Utah.

Allen will be joined by Meredith Balmforth, a Master Electrician, Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) instructor and electrical contractor from West Jordan, Utah, and Katy Higgins, an experienced HVAC professional and co-owner of Blue Best Heating & Air in Bountiful, Utah.

“Now is the perfect time for women to explore the construction industry. There is a need for the unique talents and dedication that women bring to any field — including strategies for working smarter, not harder, and for giving their all to whatever they set their minds to,” said Balmforth. “The demand for women in residential construction and service has also never been greater, and the opportunities are there to enter a career that promises great quality of life, earning a good living, having value in the work you do and pride in being a builder and contributor,” she adds.

All registrants will have access to the recording and be able to view it after the live event.

The PWB Week Toolkit has other suggested activities for the day, including reading The House that She Built book to children. The book was inspired by the real-life tradeswomen featured in the webinar who worked with other PWB members and tradeswomen from across the country to build the home in Utah on which book is based. There are also social media suggestions for the day.

Source: National Association of Home Builders