Women are taking on more roles in construction

Effectively managing risk is vital to a sustainable contracting business. This week’s newsletter includes information to reduce financial and site safety risks. We also showcase new data on the growing number of women in the industry and explain why representation is essential.

But first, for Women’s History Month, meet Cheryl McKissack Daniel, the fifth-generation builder who continues to make history.

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Women assume more roles 

Women are getting more jobs outside the construction office, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2025. The industry's workforce is now 11.3% female.

“I’m incredibly proud of how far women have come in the 25 years I’ve been in this industry,” notes Melissa Drew, founder and CEO of InSite BUILD. “I remember being one of very few women in my construction engineering classes in college, and now I see women not only thriving in management but also making meaningful strides in the trades and field supervision, which is amazing to witness.”

Service jobs charted the highest percentage increase, climbing 47% during the period and adding 8,000 women to the industry. Production, transportation and material moving positions rose 27%, bringing on 6,000 women. Sales and office positions saw the highest per capita growth, with 22,000 new hires constituting a 5% rise; and 37% of women in construction now hold leadership roles.

Why it matters: Demand remains high for talent in all aspects of the business, including estimating, operations and field work. Contractors who create opportunities for women in these roles have an advantage. “Employers are increasingly recognizing the value women bring: hard work, dedication, intelligence and strong leadership, especially as the industry faces ongoing workforce shortages,” Drew says. (Fixr)

Tariffs impacted contractors’ budgets

The latest ABC analysis of federal data shows a 2.3% rise in overall construction input prices for January, led by a 2.9% hike for nonresidential versus one year ago. Bearing the brunt were cable, copper wire, industrial controls equipment, iron and steel. To ease the sticker shock, Senators Jacky Rosen. D‑Nev., and Chris Coons, D‑Del., introduced the Housing Tariff Exclusion Act last week, which exempts key homebuilding materials from the president’s tariff policy. Unfortunately, the bill won’t impact rising fuel costs, propelled by the closing of the Strait of Hormuz because of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.

Why it matters: Getting legislation through Congress and into law takes time, and the President has indicated the war in Iran could be waged for months—or more. It makes sense to revisit cost estimates and budgets now for Q2 and beyond to develop strategies for absorbing or passing on rising prices. (Construction Dive)

2 ways to improve site safety

Keeping your crew on the job is crucial to keeping projects on track. But too often contractors assume safety’s sufficiently covered when it’s not. There are many ways to reduce risk. Start by making PPE training ongoing with demos, toolbox talks and explanations of the risks of not using or misusing the gear. Then get an assist from connected safety technology, which uses sensors to track workers so you can respond when something happens and identify trends to inform prevention strategies. 

Why it matters: Poor safety is expensive. “Even a relatively minor injury can trigger a cascade of expenses: medical treatment, workers’ compensation claims, increased insurance premiums and lost productivity,” notes Evan Hardin, senior director of sales for Wesco. “More serious incidents may result in significant regulatory fines, project delays, costly legal action and reputational damage that affects future bids.” (OHSOnline)

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Getting more women into construction

"The idea of, ‘If you see it, you can be it,’ is very much alive. And the more you see women in these roles, the more younger women are like, ‘Hey, yes, that is possible. I should step up, and I should push myself to take on that assignment outside of what I normally would think is my set of qualifications.’" 
—Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO 

For Women in Construction Week, “America’s Work Force Union” podcast host Ed “Flash” Ferenc talked with AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler about the importance of representation and how labor unions can help increase the number of women in construction and trades.

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The Level is curated and written by Margot Lester and edited by Bianca Prieto.