Breaking Barriers: Overcoming Common Challenges Female Construction Workers Face
On job sites and in offices, female construction workers in all aspects of the industry face common challenges. Gender bias, poor work-life balance, and practical concerns like clean bathrooms and proper PPE plague all women in the construction industry – whether they are in the trades or the executive suite.
How to confront these challenges and break down barriers to equal treatment and opportunities in the industry? Here are some concrete examples, and options for chipping away at them.
Female construction workers and gender bias
One of the most persistent challenges is gender bias. Many women report having to work harder to prove their capabilities, even when they hold the same qualifications as their male counterparts.
The article, “Women and Ideal Women”: The Representation of Women in the Construction Industry” cites multiple research studies that demonstrate how women who enter the industry are “met with gender-biased attitudes, discrimination and unrealistic demands.”
It also makes the point that as a male-dominated industry, there is a “particular gender hierarchy where notions of toughness and roughness play a crucial role in determining workers’ position in the hierarchy.”
But as any female construction worker knows, women in the industry are just as tough, if not tougher, than men.
How to dismantle the bias, and the associated limited opportunities?
An MIT Sloan School of management article lists three ways:
- Raise consciousness:
When possible, address co-workers directly when they say or do something that’s biased. This is both empowering and challenging, and requires being prepared to have a potentially uncomfortable conversation.
- Manage perceptions – your own and others:
Know what you bring to the table or job site. Make sure others know your skill set and capabilities by speaking up or stepping up and demonstrating. Don’t fall into gendered stereotypes like cleaning up after meetings.
- Seek out allies, and be one yourself
If men in the group tend to speak only among themselves, look for someone who makes a point to include you in the conversation. If there are other women in the room, or trailer, or on the site, deliberately reach out to them for their thoughts and opinions.
Appropriate PPE and bathrooms for female construction workers
Another major obstacle is the lack of proper facilities and safety gear on construction sites. A study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) found that many job sites lack appropriate restrooms for women, and PPE is often ill-fitting, creating safety hazards. Equipment designed for male bodies can restrict movement or increase the risk of injury, making the job more difficult and less safe for female workers.
It’s not uncommon for management to leave the office (or trailer) and walk a job site. The same problems affect them, though not necessarily on a daily basis.
There are two ways to address these problems. First, ask why there is no gender neutral or women-specific facility available. Is it a budget issue or simply a need no one has addressed yet? Once female construction workers know “why” it’s easier to flip the script to “why not?”
The same applies to PPE: Start by asking. In this case, though, employers might need to be reminded that improperly fitting PPE is a known safety issue. Also, a recent clarification made by OSHA to their requirements for PPE in construction specifies the need for proper fit.
Female construction workers need better work-life balance
Work-life balance is also a significant issue. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that construction jobs often involve long, irregular hours, which can disproportionately affect women with caregiving responsibilities. Without flexible scheduling, paid leave, or supportive workplace policies, many women struggle to stay in the industry long term.
The problem stretches across borders. A Canadian research team published an article in 2022 which also revealed that female construction workers face significant challenges balancing work and family responsibilities due to the industry’s harsh working conditions, seasonal work, and long hours. The study emphasized the need for gender-sensitive interventions to address these issues and promote sustainable employment practices in the construction sector.
While the conditions cited are more common on job sites, or in the trades, long hours are just as common for office-based women in the industry.
Progress and taking on the challenge
There has been progress. In the McKinsey “Women in the Workplace 2024” report, almost all surveyed companies provided support for employees who are parents, caregivers, or managing health challenges, and offered significantly more flexibility than ten years ago when the first report was published.
Implementing these changes in the construction industry may be a challenge. But this type of support and flexibility benefits all employees, not just women, and has been shown to improve employee satisfaction and reduce turnover. Clearly, it’s a conversation that needs to happen because female construction workers are entitled to the same considerations as women in other industries.
Today, women in construction are not just surviving — they’re thriving, leading teams, managing multimillion-dollar projects, and taking on the trades. Acknowledging shared challenges – from c-suite to job site – and breaking down the barriers to equal treatment, together, will build a better, stronger, and more inclusive industry for all.
Becoming part of the sisterhood of women leading in construction
NAWIC provides support, networking, mentorship, and education in construction leadership and the trades for female construction workers and more than 6,000 members in 120 chapters across the U.S. Want to know more? Contact a chapter near you.
