Tips for Women in Construction

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Despite many advancements, there is still a lack of gender diversity in the workforce, especially in construction. Only 9.9% of women make up the building industry in the U.S. However, things are looking up as construction work becomes more diverse and recruiting steps up to meet modern needs.

As the industry seeks more diverse representation, more women can benefit from lifting and supporting one another. If you’re a woman business owner looking to make your mark in the industry, here are some tips for driving change and encouraging inclusive practices.

1. Be Confident

As construction remains very male-dominated, women feel hesitant to offer guidance or supervision. When men on the job surround you, this can often feel intimidating — however, your self-confidence matters.

Although it’s a process to build up your confidence, your hard work and experience can bring value to the table. If you think you have a great idea, speak up. Good ideas can bring excellent results to your company.

2. Ask Questions

Many women feel apprehensive about asking questions, especially when they are unsure of something. This is mainly because they are afraid to appear like they aren’t cut out for their role. However, no one expects you to know everything about your industry.

Everyone has something to learn in their career, and so should you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Asking questions is what helps you learn more and achieve faster growth in your career. There are plenty of ways you can further educate yourself. There are mass amounts of online forums, books, and more for you to better understand the construction industry.

3. Seek Opportunities

Construction has many opportunities for women in the workforce. Studies show that more females entering the sector enable companies to boost their profits, and as diversity increases, so does work production.

Although the industry itself can be difficult, you can look to this as an opportunity. With more men holding managerial positions than women, breaking into construction and building a career out of it is challenging. However, the field can be gratifying for women.

There is a higher demand for workers in construction, especially women. This opportunity can be your chance to fill in the gap with your experience and expertise.

4. Build Your Skills

There are many benefits you can gain from working in construction. When you pursue this career, you can come back with valuable lessons that you can apply later in life and your career.

Here are just a few of the skills women can learn when working in the construction industry:

Time management
Collaboration
Teamwork
Technology
Mathematics
Communication
Dexterity

Construction requires skills coming from mental and physical abilities. This enables you to build a diverse portfolio meeting various qualifications.

To keep building your skills:

Put yourself out there.
See if you can get involved by shadowing meetings and taking on projects and responsibilities.
Keep an eye on what sparks your interest and go forth with it.

5. Inspire Other Women to Work in Construction

The construction industry itself is meeting new changes as it welcomes more diversity. According to McKinsey, 25% of gender-diverse workplaces are more likely to experience an increase in profitability. As you can see, women can be an immense asset to the construction industry.

You can take the initiative to be a leader and a powerful force in the industry by empowering other women to join you. Mentoring others helps them get started.

More women should be able to lift each other so they can make construction jobs possible. In addition, it makes work that much more enjoyable when accompanied by more females.

Making Advances for Women in Construction

Many women benefit from fostering growth and opportunity. It might not be easy to work in a male-dominated field, but construction has many rewards and challenges to offer.

When you’re ready to open your construction or contracting business, Capital for Business is here with a variety of funding solutions — including SBA loans, working capital loans, and equipment financing for those first big investments.

Author

Evelyn Long is a writer and editor focused on home building and construction. She is the co-founder of Renovated, a web magazine for the home industry.