Construction Trade Skills for Women Leaving the Military
Construction trade skills for women leaving the military can help with the transition from military to civilian life and put veterans on a solid career path
Leaving the military and entering the civilian workforce is a huge transition, one that can be tough for many reasons — from wanting a career that has purpose to missing the camaraderie that is part of military life. It’s also a challenge to find jobs that are as well-defined defined as military roles, especially when you have the skills and knowledge, but not a degree or certification.
Enter: the construction industry and all the opportunities available when female veterans learn construction trade skills.
Why is the construction industry a natural match for women who are veterans?
The United States military and the construction trades are both male dominated. According to Military One Source, an official website of the Department of Defense, in 2022 women constituted an average of 17.5% of all active-duty military personnel, totaling nearly 229,000 members. There were an additional 165,000+ women in the reserves.
Construction Coverage recently released the results of a study that found that 14.3% of all workers, and 10.2% of full-time workers, in the construction industry are women.
That means both arenas are more than 80-percent male. So the women who are retiring from the military have the experience to deal with the challenges of being in a male-focused culture.
Why should female veterans master construction trade skills for women?
Construction workers tend to be realistic, enterprising, extroverted and measure high in the area of social responsibility. Those personality traits often exist in women who join the military and are certainly reinforced by their time spent in the service, especially if they worked in tactical operations.
In addition, women in the military emerge adaptable, are task focused and team players. This sets them up to be great candidates in the construction industry where projects are constantly evolving, yet always need specific tasks done for the team to finish the job.
The work itself, which is literally hands-on and has purpose, mirrors much of the work done by the U.S. Military. Plus, one of the most commonly cited reasons for joining the military is pay and benefits. Again, this aligns with the construction trades which pay well. The national average for full-time female workers is $52,478, although this definitely varies state-to-state.
How to learn construction trade skills for women and transition to a civilian construction career
Many military jobs teach the skills needed in the construction industry. Construction Electricians in the Seabees handle the wiring, pole-climbing, electrical equipment fixing and restore downed-power. Civilian electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power systems in homes, businesses and industrial buildings. So, it’s a natural move to go from one to the other.
Most branches of the military train people in similar construction trades.
But what if you were in acquisitions?
There are several ways veterans can acquire construction trade skills. Organizations like Helmets to Hardhats are specifically set up to help people transition from the military to civilian life, by offering skills training and access to excellent career opportunities. In the case of H2H, construction trade skills for women are learned through “earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship training programs” with one of the 15 international construction trade unions that partner with the organization.
Construction trade skills for women leaving the military offer career opportunities that range from masonry to roofing and plumbing, pipefitting and iron working. The field is growing, with The Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting 295,000 construction job openings as of June 2024. Plus, joining a union can re-create that sense of camaraderie that many veterans miss once they’ve left the military.
Jobs that offer good pay, work-with-purpose, and the potential to be part of a great team are just a few of the reasons that construction trade skills for women are a great bridge from military life to a fulfilling life as a civilian.
NAWIC provides support, networking and mentorship, leadership training and educational opportunities for more than 6000 members in construction in 120 chapters across the U.S. Want to know more? Contact a chapter near you.
