Women in construction?
A Myth Buster from the U.S. Department of Labor
Myth: Jobs in the construction trades are only for men.
Not true: Women work construction, too. While the overall representation of women in the trades is small at 2.5 percent, more than 40,220 women work as construction laborers, more than 19,500 women work as carpenters, and nearly 26,700 women work as painters. In apprenticeship programs, those numbers are slightly higher, with overall representation of women in construction-related apprenticeships at about 3 percent. By law, there is a goal for women to work at least 6.9 percent of federal construction contractors' work hours. And when women work in the trades, they make good money. The mean hourly wage for these workers is $21.61, with workers such as brick masons and electricians making $25 an hour.
Source: DOL Newsletter
• See the Statistics
• Read About Construction Jobs
• Learn About Apprenticeships
About NAWIC
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) originally began as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, Texas. Sixteen women working in the construction industry founded it in 1953. Knowing that women represented only a small fraction of the construction industry, the founders organized NAWIC to create a support network. Women in Construction of Fort Worth was so successful that it gained its national charter in 1955 and became the National Association of Women in Construction. Today, NAWIC provides its members with opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service and more.
Click here to visit the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) website.
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