Women now make up 12.1% of Virginia’s construction workforce, ranking the Commonwealth 14th nationwide for female participation in the industry, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by Construction Coverage.
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Nationally, women account for 11.7% of payroll employees in construction — a field long dominated by men. While that share remains relatively small, it reflects steady growth over the past several years.
Before 2016, women consistently made up about 9% of the construction workforce, fluctuating between 8.9% and 9.5% from 2003 through 2015. Since then, participation has climbed almost every year, reaching 11.1% in 2022 and 11.7% by 2024.
Industry leaders have increasingly focused on recruiting women as the sector faces a significant labor shortage — estimated at 349,000 workers nationwide. Federal initiatives such as the Department of Labor’s Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant program have directed millions of dollars toward expanding women’s access to training in construction and other nontraditional fields.
Across the country, more than 1.36 million women work in construction, compared to more than 10.2 million men.
However, women are far more likely to hold office-based roles than field positions. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up 81.4% of office and administrative jobs within the industry.
Female representation drops sharply in field-related occupations:
Women working full-time in construction tend to earn slightly more than women across all industries. The median annual wage for female construction workers is $57,725, compared to $55,817 for women overall.
For men, the trend reverses. Male construction workers earn a median of $60,561 annually, compared to $67,260 for men across all sectors.
The gender pay gap in construction is also narrower than the national average. Across all industries, women earn about 17% less than men. In construction, that gap shrinks to 4.7%.
In Virginia:
By comparison, nationwide:
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Delaware leads the nation, with women making up 14.2% of its construction workforce. Florida follows at 13.5%.
Other states above the national average include Alaska (13.3%), Hawaii (13.2%), Washington (13.0%), and Oregon (12.7%).
At the metro level, Jacksonville (17.4%) and Orlando (15.7%) rank among the top major metropolitan areas for female construction employment. Meanwhile, McAllen reports the lowest share among major metros at 7.5%.
The findings are based on an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by Construction Coverage, which focuses on construction labor and market trends.
Originally reported by Construction Coverage in CBS 19 News.
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