Although the construction industry continues to face a shortage of skilled labor, the portion of women in construction is growing. In 2024, women represented 11.2% of the construction workforce, the highest share in two decades.

Share of Women in Construction Bounces Back

The share of female construction employees has increased every year since 2012, showing a sharp rebuild since the losses following the 2008 Great Recession.

While 1.13 million women worked in the construction industry in 2006, that total fell to just 802,000 in 2012. In 2024, 1.34 million women worked in construction fields, surpassing pre-recession numbers.

Top Roles for Women in Construction

Most women in the construction industry work in roles such as office and administrative support, management, and business and financial operations, and 521,000 women held roles in management, professional, and related occupations.

Women held a disproportionately low number of construction and maintenance occupations, though, at just 4% of the pool.

For more in-depth analysis, see this Eye on Housing post from NAHB Principal Economist Na Zhao to learn more about the latest women in construction labor force data from the Current Population Survey.