Worker Shortage? Women Can Fill the Gap

By Doreen DiPolito

According to the results of an industry-wide survey recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America, an overwhelming majority of construction firms report trouble finding qualified craft workers.  

iCIMS, a firm specializing in talent acquisition solutions, asserts that the industry is facing the second largest talent shortage of all industries nationwide (second only to the pharmaceutical industry) with just 94 applicants per 100 jobs, while the Institute for Supply Management recently added construction labor to its list of “commodities in short supply.”

Demand for skilled workers continues to grow; the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that permits to build new homes were up 30 percent and housing starts up nearly 27 percent in mid-2015 compared to the previous year. Nationwide construction spending was at $1.065 trillion in June 2015 — a 12 percent increase over 2014 and the fastest rate of growth in seven years.

With overall employment of construction laborers expected to grow 25 percent from 2012 to 2022 — much faster than the average for all occupations — construction and contracting firms should act quickly to address the coming worker shortfall before it hampers the ability to complete new projects.

Although there is no simple answer to filling in the employment gap, one way to attract more skilled workers is to draw women to the field.

Despite a strong female presence in today's workforce, women — who comprise 47 percent of the U.S. labor force — fill just 2.2 percent of federal construction apprenticeship programs. Drawing more women into construction is not only an advantageous way of addressing the dearth of skilled labor, but it also helps temper the skewed view of construction being a “male-only” profession.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, females hold only 2.6 percent of all construction and extraction occupations. With construction and contracting companies finding it increasingly difficult to fill their job openings, it makes sense to look toward a new source of skilled labor.

My personal career progression largely demonstrates the potential for women in construction.  An interest in the “STEM” fields — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — led to an early career in mechanical engineering and later, when the family business sought help in rescuing the floundering construction company, led me to take a hands-on approach to learning the construction trade and subsequently earned certification as a Florida general contractor, before going on to become president and owner of D-Mar General Contracting and Development, Inc.

The industry can benefit tremendously through support of women working in the trades.

The key to addressing the impending workforce shortage in construction is to start early and broaden the reach — introducing trade education to young girls beginning in middle schools, as well as expanding access to vocational and technical programs. To learn more about recruiting women into skilled labor positions, including training, scholarship and apprenticeship information, visit National Association of Women in Construction, National Center for Construction Education and Research, Build Your Future and Associated Builders and Contractors.

In addition, AGC has updated its Preparing the Next Generation of Skilled Construction Workers: A Workforce Development Plan, which outlines steps to make it easier to fill in the labor gap.

Doreen DiPolito is owner and president of D-Mar General Contracting and Development. She serves on her local city council, as well as the boards of local cultural, civic and charitable organizations.