Just 9.1% of Construction Workers are Women and They are Paid Almost as Much as Male Counterparts
According to the National Association of Women in Construction, women make up just over 9 percent of the construction workforce and earn 95.7 percent of the pay that their male counterparts make. This is in contrast to the average across other industries, where women earn just 82 percent of what their male counterparts make.
As the industry continues to suffer through a worker shortage, many state officials and professional organizations are hoping to recruit more women into construction; especially considering the number of job opportunities and the potential to earn high wages.
A program offered by one such organization, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) caught the eye of Sinade Caroll and prompted her to reach out.
“I didn’t know that women were construction workers, or that women were actually in these fields where there are mostly men,” Caroll remembers. “I didn’t experience that growing up and something told me to call the program.”
She matriculated at NEW's 8-week apprenticeship program and found full-time employment within two weeks of graduating. She is currently a member of the New York City District Council Carpenters Union.
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