The construction industry has long been a male-dominated field. Traditional perceptions are that the majority of skilled trades workers are men and that women continue to occupy more administrative roles. However, women have a rich history in the industry as skilled tradespeople, and yes even as construction labourers. Women have made considerable progress despite having encountered significant obstacles and barriers pre-dating the suffrage movement until the present day. All those efforts have lent themselves to newfound successes, including through union jobs in the trades.
Let’s look at a quick overview of the historical progression of women in the construction industry and the incredible opportunity that awaits them as they advocate for even greater job equality and struggle to reverse the perception that they lack the strength and resolve to compete with their male counterparts.
Early Beginnings
As early as the 1800s, women were working as manual laborers on construction sites. However, it was not until the Industrial Revolution that their numbers increased significantly in the construction industry. They were employed in textile factories and other industrial plants, including construction sites, where they performed physically demanding work without any protective equipment or support from their male colleagues.
Turning The Tide for Women in the Trades
The suffrage movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a game changer for women eventually empowering them to secure voting rights. The movement advocated for gender equality, and gradually broke barriers which prevented women from accessing employment in construction and other traditionally male trades. These women construction labourers became trail blazers and paved the way for subsequent generations of women in the industry.
World War II was another pivotal point that accelerated women’s participation in construction. The “Rosie the Riveter” campaign encouraged women to take on manufacturing and industrial jobs, including in the construction industry. The iconic poster of Rosie, with her sleeves rolled up, flexing her biceps, and proclaiming “We Can Do It!” inspired women to work on construction sites and find employment in the trades.
Union jobs have played a significant role in the construction industry by helping secure fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for all its union members, irrespective of gender. They have also been advocates for gender equality and continue to promote the participation of women in union jobs.
Positive Winds for Gender Equality
Women have made significant contributions to the construction industry throughout history. Whether digging trenches or designing skyscrapers, women have left their professional mark on the industry. However, their representation is still relatively low as they make up just over 10 percent of the construction workforce. The trend is changing with the share of women working in construction reaching a 20-year high in 2019. Job growth in the industry for women is nearly five times faster than job growth in the field overall, a sign of the disparity but also a march toward greater gender equality and a positive response to ongoing shortages brought about by unprecedented retirements.
Exciting Opportunities Await Female Union Job Workers
Much has changed since the early beginnings, where women were excluded and relegated to ‘appropriate’ roles within male dominated trades. Women have persevered and have successfully contributed to the construction industry. While they have not yet gained equitable representation in the industry, their numbers are trending more positively. Unions continue to support the hiring of women in order to establish a more inclusive and diverse construction industry.
With an evolving construction industry requiring skilled workers, women are poised to become part of this transformation and support economic growth. By joining a union, you’ll get the opportunity to train, hone your skills, earn competitive wages, and gain job security. Best of all, you will be helping to transform somebody’s vision of a more environmentally friendly world into a reality. Find out more by contacting us today.
