Women in Construction: Building Careers and Breaking Barriers

More women are entering careers that used to be almost entirely male. It’s happening everywhere, from construction sites to tech companies, and it’s changing how we think about who can do what kind of work. These women aren’t just filling quotas; they’re bringing real skills and fresh ideas to industries that desperately need both.

Women Are Making Their Mark in Construction

Construction is a perfect example of this change. The numbers tell an interesting story: from 2023 to 2024, the construction workforce added 56,000 women. That brought the total to 1,343,000 women, making up 11.2 percent of the industry. Over the past decade, women in construction have grown by 45 percent, and now 39 percent of them hold leadership roles.

These aren’t just temporary gains either. Women are sticking around and moving up in construction because they’re finding real opportunities there. The industry has realized it needs all the talent it can get, especially as demand for skilled managers continues to grow.

The Money Makes Sense

Salary matters when choosing a career. Construction management pays well, with a median annual salary of $106,980 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure has been climbing steadily, too, rising from about $90,000 in 2012 to well into six figures today.

But what’s really encouraging is how fair the pay is compared to other fields. In most industries, women earn about 83.7 percent of what men make for the same work. In construction, that gap shrinks to just 4.5 percent – women earn about 95.5 percent of what their male colleagues make. That’s a huge difference and a big reason why more women are considering construction careers.

People’s Attitudes Are Different Now

Things on job sites aren’t like they used to be. Back in 1953, the National Association of Women in Construction started with just 16 women in Fort Worth, Texas. Now there are thousands of members across more than 115 chapters.

Women in construction today say they feel like part of the team. They’re not treated like they’re out of place or just there to tick a box. Their skills are taken seriously, and their input actually matters.

That shift has made it easier to build careers, take on leadership roles, and feel confident showing up to work every day.

Schools Are Stepping Up

Colleges have noticed this trend and are responding with targeted support programs. Many institutions are now hosting Women in Construction events, giving students and professionals chances to network and learn from each other. These events help build confidence and connections that can make all the difference in launching a successful career.

The construction industry is looking at solid growth ahead. Between the housing shortage, crumbling infrastructure that desperately needs fixing, and new commercial developments popping up everywhere, there’s going to be work for people who show up ready to learn and put in the effort. What’s really encouraging is watching those old barriers finally start to crumble. The industry is slowly figuring out that talent doesn’t come with gender requirements, and that’s creating opportunities that simply didn’t exist before. It’s one of those rare situations where doing the right thing also happens to make perfect business sense.