Every March, Women in Construction (WIC) Week shines a light on the women working in the construction industry, while also raising awareness about the opportunities available for women who are construction workers.
For International Women’s Day, the women at EIDA Solutions discussed 7 great reasons to consider a career in construction:
1. Earning potential
2. Career opportunities
3. Shrinking pay gap
4. Kick-start creativity
5. Problem-solving expertise
6. Job variety
Women are still something of a rarity in the construction industry. Despite making up around 50% of the population, women account for only 11% of all people working in the US building trade for instance, and just 1% of workers on site. Which means that this growing sector is missing out on a vast well of untapped potential.
Clearly, the construction industry is missing a trick, but so it seems, are women. With the industry entering a period of rapid growth, perhaps it’s time for women to re-evaluate their career options?
1. Earning potential
Skilled roles in construction are well paid, with opportunities in all areas from specialist trades right through to site managers and quantity surveyors. Although the highest salaries go to project managers and project supervisors, skilled roles such as electricians and joiners also offer great remuneration. Many jobs require specialist training, however managerial positions that command the highest salaries often require a wide skill set.
These conditions make the building industry a prime choice for women looking to secure a high paying job and although the hours can be long, or potentially unsociable, the rewards are substantial.
2. Career opportunities
With the construction industry booming, demand for qualified workers is high, yet labour is scarce. Studies predict continued growth and with and fewer young people entering the profession, demand for tradespeople is fast becoming critical.
These conditions ensure construction provides plenty of opportunities for women looking to pivot in their career. And it’s not just skilled trade roles where vacancies are growing. There’s also plenty of demand for high-paid managerial roles. So, as the industry ramps up to meet demand, women can lay down strong foundations for a rewarding career in the building industry.
3. Shrinking pay gap
In an ideal world, women would earn the same as their male counterparts in equivalent roles. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. As a result, the gender pay gap has been a hot topic for many years, with construction firms in the UK required to reveal the pay rates of men and women across the workforce.
Thanks to this kind of pressure, the National Association of Women in Construction report near gender pay parity in the US construction industry. Although this figure differs in other countries, continued pressure is constantly improving the situation. This makes construction a great sector to start a career with serious earning potential.
4. Kick-start creativity
Diversity in the workplace is a plus for any business, and not least in the construction sector, where fresh talent and new skills can increase productivity. With women and men bringing different approaches and alternative strategies, a gender-balanced environment can also boost creativity.
With the construction industry keen to increase diversity, there’s an important role for women to play here, potentially enhancing productivity in the industry for years to come.
5. Problem-solving expertise
Forget about the stereotypes of muscle-bound builders, the construction industry also relies on the mental agility of its workers. Whether on site or in the office, a construction project requires sharp problem-solving skills and keen attention to detail.
Women have much to offer in this respect, often bringing fresh perspectives, or an ability to visualise projects differently from their male peers. By bouncing ideas off each other, a gender diverse team can often come up with more innovative ideas, ultimately improving problem-solving and increasing output.
6. Job variety
Bringing a construction project successfully to completion requires a multitude of skills and capabilities, with people from several different disciplines working seamlessly together. On-site, there are trade-specific jobs such as plumber, HVAC engineer or roofer, while behind the scenes, managerial roles such as safety manager, or site inspector also play a vital role.
With such a variety of jobs in the sector, each with diverse responsibilities, there’s wealth of choice for women at all levels, from school leavers to experienced professionals.
7. Working abroad
Travel opportunities abound in the building industry, with large construction firms regularly posting staff to work on projects around the globe. Alternatively, with construction-related skills in demand worldwide, foreign contracts can provide a ticket to travel the world. For many, this is a draw, adding experience and insight to any CV.
Whatever your skill set, with the construction industry expanding rapidly, opportunities for women in this sector are expanding. Which is why there’s never been a better time for women to smash the stereotypes and build a rewarding career in construction, from the ground up.