The number of women in the U.S. construction industry is on the rise. From apprentices to craft professionals, estimators and executives, women are represented in all facets of the construction workforce. And the opportunities to both join and grow within the booming construction industry are numerous, especially with a workforce shortage impacting the sector across the United States.
The construction industry offers an earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship model and values lifelong education, which allows for career advancement without incurring hefty student loan debt. Yet whether individuals have a high school diploma or completed secondary education, the barriers to entry are minimal. Melody Padgett has been in the construction industry for 20 years and recently joined Harkins’ Builders as a Project Manager. Melody enjoys the industry because it is tangible. She can turn an architectural design on paper into something built with color, texture, and light that will be used for years!
Construction is also not just a job, but a well-paying career with competitive salaries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for an electrician in Maryland is $55,000, and a plumber averages $57,070. In addition, the construction industry has a significantly lower gender pay gap compared to other professions. While the BLS reports that on average women make 80 cents for every dollar earned by a man, women make 93.5 cents to the dollar in the construction trades.
Associated Builders and Contractors Baltimore Chapter is committed to recruiting and upskilling women in the construction industry to continue to grow a diverse and inclusive construction workforce and industry. To learn more about career opportunities, visit abcbaltimore.org.