It’s no secret that construction is one of the most male-dominated professions in the world. And while women are underrepresented in the trades, statistics show that more and more women are joining the construction industry. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that the share of women working in construction trades is the highest it’s been in two decades. And more than ever, women are being promoted to leadership roles and owning their own construction businesses.
These women hold titles like architects, administrators and project managers. Whether they’re donning a hard hat or keeping things organized behind the scenes, they bring value to the job site and the office. They’re breaking down gender barriers and bringing a fresh perspective to the construction industry.
Women can take on any role in the construction industry. However, they are currently severely underrepresented in trade and executive positions. Just under 87% of women working in construction hold office positions, and only about 2.5% of tradespeople are women. Women also only make up about 14% of staff executive and 7% of line executive positions.
Despite these troubling statistics, many organizations are making efforts to promote more women into leadership positions, and women working in the industry are inspiring younger generations to follow in their footsteps.
Recently, it has become more common to see a female behind the wheel of a big rig. However, there is still a lot of room to grow in this area of the industry. Associations like Women in Trucking are continuing their push to introduce more women to trucking and break some of the norms in an industry that has long been dominated by males.
Being a woman driver in the male-dominated trucking industry comes with a unique set of challenges. Driving provides women truckers with many of the same advantages as it does to men—independence, flexibility, and the opportunity to travel across the country.
But the obstacles don’t affect men and women truckers equally. Women truck drivers have to think about the job, safety, and hygiene differently. While the industry is starting to change to become more friendly toward women, there’s still much work to be done.
HOW TO GET YOU CDL'S
1.) Pass the age requirements. Most states allow you to obtain a CDL at the age of 18. 2.) Get a CLP 3.) Attend a CDL program 4.) Pass a knowledge exam and skills test. 5.) Have the necessary documentation. 6.) Pass a background screen and undergo a physical. 7.) Be aware of any additional requirements.
On average, it takes about seven weeks to get your CDL (commercial driver's license) when attending a full-time driver training program. The length of time it takes to get your CDL relies on a handful of factors. It can take as little as three weeks or upwards of six months.
Manufacturing has traditionally been a male-dominated industry—fewer than one third of manufacturing employees are women. However, the industry is at a tipping point, and its future depends on a diverse workforce.
Though there have been improvements in recent years, women are still underrepresented in the manufacturing industry. To inspire future women in the industry and to start a conversation about what can be improved, Milwaukee is featuring some of its female leaders in manufacturing.
Be on the lookout for additional powerful stories coming soon, where we feature key female leaders in Milwaukee who have focused their career on manufacturing industries. Through these stories of female leaders, our goal is to propel greater conversation around closing the opportunity gap, showcase the opportunities that abound in the manufacturing sector, and shine light on the impact women are making in manufacturing.
Manufacturing is not the dirty, dangerous and dull profession it used to be. It’s increasingly safe, clean — high-tech — and it supports more than operators on the shop floor. In fact, American manufacturers are facing a looming shortage of 2.4 million workers by 2028 (and potentially nearly half a trillion dollars in lost GDP), so now is the perfect time for women to think about pursuing a career in manufacturing and all the jobs associated with it. That includes women with skills ranging from design and marketing to administration, finance and sales, and cybersecurity. All these skills are needed to make any manufacturing enterprise a success.
“I think what's keeping women away from the [manufacturing] jobs is the women themselves. We've had a role that we've been playing in our heads that the fields of science, technology, engineering and production just don’t fit us. But we're seeing a nice trend now in the industry. Organizations, like the Manufacturing Institute, are promoting programs to encourage women to encourage other women to get involved in science technology, engineering and production.”
“Women need to get out there and let people know what they know and share it. Really start to embrace each other, defend each other and encourage each other. If we can do that, we really start to operate more with the nurturing skills that women have, and we'll start to draw more women in naturally to this field.”
Vanguard Career Solutions, LLC
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