Employment Expertise: March 3-9 is Women in Construction Week

FACT: In 2016 women made up only 9.1% of the construction workforce in the U.S.

FACT: Construction jobs are expected to grow between 11% and 32% over the next five years in West Michigan.

FACT: The gender pay gap is much narrower in construction. In the U.S. women in all industries earn on average 81.1% of what men do. In construction the average is 95.7.

The construction industry is a virtually untapped source of high-demand, well-paying jobs for women. Women in Construction Week focuses on raising awareness of the opportunities available in construction and emphasizing the growing role of women in the industry.

Is a career in construction right for you?

Do you enjoy making repairs (painting, fixing appliances, etc.)?
Does it give you satisfaction to see the result of your work?
Do you enjoy math and solving technical problems/puzzles?
Do you like to work or play outside, even in cold and hot weather?
Can you work at heights or in confined spaces? Can you work in places that may be extremely noisy, dirty, hot, cold, wet or smelly?
Are you safety conscious?
Can you cope with being the only, or one of just a few, women on a job site?
Do you have the ability to meet rigid attendance requirements (reliable childcare, transportation, etc.)?

If you can answer yes to some of these questions, a career in construction could be a good fit for you. Consider learning more about construction jobs and training programs in your area.

Where do I begin?

Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) offers a variety of construction trades training opportunities. They have job training programs in Introduction to Construction, Residential Construction and Construction Electrical. GRCC also offers a variety of continuing education programs in construction and a U.S. Department of Labor registered Construction Electrical Apprenticeship Program.

Michigan Works! has connections to local training opportunities and you may even qualify for financial assistance. Visit a West Michigan W o rks! service center near you to find out more and if you qualify.

To see a list of high-demand construction jobs in West Michigan, check out the 2019 Hot Jobs List at westmiworks.org/hot-jobs.

Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.