Number of Women in the Construction Industry Grew 22%
The number of women in construction jobs nationwide increased 22% between 1995 and 2001 to 934,000, according to the National Association of Women in Construction. The same group reported that 8,647,000 men worked in the trades in 2001.
The number of women holding jobs in construction included those who owned their own building companies, worked as project managers or worked in the trades as roofers, framers, painters or other skilled positions.
Experts say more women are getting into the business, in part, because demand for well-paying construction jobs is high following a years-long building boom of single-family houses, active adult communities and home renovations.
Opportunities are also available because many construction firms went out of business following the real estate crash in the early 1990s.
Educational efforts in high schools and trade schools that encourage women to enter non-traditional fields such as construction are also paying off, the experts said.