The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports women make up about 11% of U.S. construction workers despite representing about half of the overall labor pool, and there are even fewer women on the job site, according to Construction Dive. As companies seek to recruit more workers and combat the labor shortage, it is important to know why women are leaving the construction industry.
A recent survey conducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research and Ambition Theory, a group providing professional coaching and leadership training for women in construction, shows 68% of women surveyed say poor leadership is driving them out of the industry.
Of the 775 women in construction surveyed, 87% said they want career growth opportunities, but fewer than half said their companies offered them leadership programs tailored to their needs. For those who participate in leadership training, 42% said it adequately prepares them for leadership roles.
Women cited other reasons causing them to leave the industry, including lack of career advancement opportunities; unequal pay or benefits compared with male co-workers; lack of mentorship or sponsorship; inflexible work policies; and lack of recognition or support for contributions.
About seven in 10 women surveyed said they felt they had been interrupted or spoken over more often than others or had been mistaken for someone in a more junior position. Three in four women said their judgment had been questioned in their area of expertise.
The study suggests sponsorship may be an effective way to keep women in the industry; about one-third of women reported participating in sponsorships, which are a step above mentorship programs and provide advocacy for career development and advancement. A study published in the National Library of Medicine shows men and women with sponsors typically reported higher satisfaction with their career progress and were more likely to see a long-term future with their current company.
