According to the latest available statistics, only 9% of U.S. construction workers are women. Part of the reason for this low number is that in the years between 2007 and 2010, over 2.7 million construction jobs were lost. Due to the lack of work, it’s estimated that over 300,000 women left the construction industry. They are slowly returning, as the economy and construction slowly make a comeback.
Are there jobs for women in construction? The answer is a resounding yes. The kind of job that is suited for you depends on your physical strength and stamina, your skill set and other factors. Here are just a few construction job roles that a typical woman could fill.
Construction Supervisor
As a supervisor, it would be your job to make sure the project goes along as it should. Here are some duties that you would have as a construction site supervisor:
- You would be required to make sure all your men get breaks according to the rules.
- You would need to ensure that all site workers and visitors wear hardhats.
- You would be responsible to make sure the equipment is serviced properly.
- You would be responsible for site security during off hours.
- You would need to make sure supplies are available when the workers need them.
There are lots of other duties associated with the construction supervisor job, and many of them would be specific to the type of project that is being built.
To become a construction supervisor, you would need to be educated in the construction industry, as well as having a certain number of years of experience in the construction trade. To find a job doing this, you should apply directly to construction and development companies.
Crane Operator
As a crane operator, you would be moving materials around on the construction site. You would also be placing heavy items that need to be lifted and placed atop completed structures. It would be your responsibility as the crane operator to help ensure that no one on the ground gets hurt. You would be working closely with the crane manager, who would help direct your crane activities from the ground.
To become a crane operator, you would need to get a special crane operator’s license in your state. You would need to be comfortable with heights and with moving heavy loads (even though the crane would be doing the lifting). The type of crane license you get would determine what size crane you are authorized to operate.
One big benefit of being a crane operator as a woman is that you wouldn’t have to be exposed to the other workers on the construction site who may try to take advantage of your nature. In other words, rude remarks would fall on deaf ears while you’re sitting high in the sky in your crane compartment.
It will be challenging to work in the construction industry as a woman, no matter how determined you are. The benefits definitely outweigh the cons, however, since women are underrepresented in this growing industry.