We have all heard the horror stories of being the only woman employed by a company or the only female at a job site. In these situations, women sometimes are mistreated, and there are reports of some companies not even offering these women a restroom they can use while on the job.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women comprised only 10 percent of the construction workforce across the U.S. in 2018. The Office of the New York State Comptroller reported that 43,500 construction jobs were added in the state’s construction sector from 2010 to 2018, which was a 40 percent growth. But, despite the growth in the field and the increase in jobs, the percentage of women in the construction workforce has leveled off – seeing only 3 percent growth from 2007 to 2017, they reported.

However, many of the women who have chosen to enter the construction field have excelled in their profession and recommend the field to other women. With determination, hard work, and proper training, the construction industry offers excellent opportunities for a successful career for women as well as men.

Tips for Women Entering the Construction Industry

If you are a woman interested in a career in the construction industry, you should learn from the best. Here are some tips:

• The first step in a successful career is to make sure you learn from experienced professionals. You want to start your job knowing how to safely and accurately handle the tasks.
• You should be confident, and don’t let anyone put you down or talk you down. After training, you are heading to the jobsite just as qualified as anyone else out there.
• Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Take the time to expand your knowledge and get a holistic view of the construction industry.
• Don’t be afraid to seek the skills that you want so you can take on other roles.

If you are ready to switch to the construction industry, call ATS (800) 383-7364.

Women succeeding in construction continue to face an uphill battle while trying to advance their careers in the construction industry, but they are making strides. Women are working together to overcome the gender barrier and are supporting one another. A recent article in Biz Women, one of the Business Journals, explained that the demand for construction workers, as well as executives and professionals to lead the construction industry, is growing at a much faster pace. Culture in the construction workplace had been keeping many women from stepping up into those roles in the past. Between 2016 and 2026, the need for construction workers is expected to increase by 12%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of those positions could be filled by women.

Looking at the Numbers

According to the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), as of 2016 more than 10 million people were employed in the construction industry. Of that number, slightly less than 10% were women. Of the 939,000 women working in the construction industry, about 45% were employed in sales and office support positions. When the numbers are broken down more, about 31% worked in management and professional roles with 21% of them in construction, natural resources, and maintenance positions. Another 1.5% worked in service occupations while another 1.4% worked in production, material moving, and transportation.

Looking at the Salary

On a positive note, women’s wages in the construction industry are almost equal to those wages earned by men. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that women earn about 97 cents on the dollar compared to men’s wages. With the growing demand for construction workers, women are now finding it much easier to get employed in the construction industry. Classrooms are seeing more women training for different roles in construction. Many of these women are undertaking specialized training to learn how to operate various equipment used for construction projects. The NAWIC reports that some classrooms for construction training now have as many women as men enrolled to complete the programs.

Qualified Applicants Needed

The Associated General Contractors of America released a survey that revealed 75% of construction firms had planned to increase their payrolls in 2018 because they felt comfortable about the strong economic outlook, regulatory burdens, and decreasing tax rates. But many of those construction firms who participated in the surveys reported that felt it is going to be more challenging to recruit and hire qualified construction workers this year while 78% already have been suffering challenges trying to find qualified and well-trained workers. To prepare yourself for a role in the construction industry, sign up for training. Call Associated Training Services today at (800) 383-7364 to learn more about our construction programs.

In a difficult job market, many people are realizing that changing careers may give them a better chance at finding a job. People are trading in their white collar office jobs for new careers, which they never thought they would have in the great outdoors. The construction and building industries continue to grow and offer good pay and steady employment. For these reasons, many women are beginning to move into the heavy equipment industry. This opens a whole new industry that in the past women were really not accepted, but they now can thrive in.

The heavy equipment industry at one time was a male only industry with little or no opportunity for women. Fortunately, this has changed, and women can find a lot more positions in the heavy equipment field. Heavy equipment training schools are teaching women at a much higher rate than in the past. In a growing industry, this is a great opportunity for women to join the ranks of the construction industry. Good pay and steady work are great reasons for women to begin a career in heavy equipment.

This is a great time for heavy equipment operators as buildings are being built, homes are being built and roads continue to be built. This means jobs are out there for men and women willing to put in the time at a good heavy equipment training school. In a matter of about three weeks of training, men and women can be out there earning a good salary on a work crew.

One of the benefits of selecting heavy equipment operations as a career is that age is not a factor. It seems that gender isn’t either.

As children start college, or indeed head off to start a career of their own, their moms find themselves stuck at home with little to do. One of the options that many select is to get back into the workforce and with age and gender no longer barriers, heavy equipment is becoming one of those career options. And why not?

If you think about it, modern heavy equipment has become so much easier to operate. Equipment in use twenty or thirty years ago were heavy and cumbersome. The steering on some units required superior strength to control. These days, power steering is the norm with electronics and hydraulics working together. Controls are almost too light.

Some of our older operators complain that controls now are too light, they can no longer ‘feel’ the earth through the controls. New operators that haven’t experienced the older heavy equipment don’t seem to have that problem.

The biggest hurdle for women entering the heavy equipment operations work force are the employers. However, they are now coming to the party and employing people of either gender, based on their merits. Women have been behind the wheels of trucks and tractors for decades so the progression to the heavy equipment is only natural. In fact, there have been women bulldozer and loader operators around for many years.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools has an open policy. We don’t discriminate and treat all individuals on an equal basis. If you’re a mom looking at career options and you love the great outdoors – consider a career as heavy equipment operator.

Once a bastion of male domination, the construction site is becoming an equal opportunity employer as more and more women join the workplace.

Women have been driving trucks for a long time now so it is only natural they would set their sites on other areas within the heavy equipment scene. Today’s machinery is nothing like those of yesteryear. You no longer need brute stength to operate many of these machines. They have incorporated features such as power steering, power assisted hydraulics and a much friendlier cab environment.

Heavy equipment can be operated by anyone, young, old, male or female. Provided you receive the right training, there are no longer any boundaries as to who can operate any of the heavy equipment found on construction site. In fact, it’s not just heavy equipment. You will find women working in a variety of places, from the trades such as carpentry through to metal work and scaffolding, there are no longer any limitations.

Training is the key and training institutions throw their doors open to all who want a career in heavy equipment. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools places no limitations on the individuals wanting a career in heavy equipment. If the desire is there, the opportunity is as well.