When discussing the construction industry, there
are two realities on which we can agree: It’s a
male-dominated field, and we’re facing
a labor shortage.
In recent years, women have made substantial headway in
construction, and the numbers have risen slightly. However,
our industry can and must do so much more to attract and
retain women. We will profit in a number of ways from
having women working in construction;
however, with a looming labor shortage,
we would benefit from having more talent
from which to choose to fill necessary
jobs, regardless of gender.
Suffolk Construction, a Boston-based
nationwide construction company, is trying
to bridge the gender gap. Of their 109
employees on their job site for the Seminole
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood,
FL, 30 percent are women. Project Executive
Jessica Chen reports that this “is something
very, very special as the norm is three
percent. So to have 30 is very exciting.”
There are other groups springing up
across the country whose focus is on training women and
the underemployed, and preparing them for entry into the
construction workforce. In Massachusetts, Building Pathways
Boston and Taunton-based Building Pathways South offer
six-week programs with a goal of 50 percent women. It is a
full-time building trades pre-apprenticeship program that will
prepare someone to pursue a certified union apprenticeship.
While this program is open to residents of Barnstable County,
the program being located off-Cape could be problematic for
some, but there is a hope that the program can be offered at a
closer location in the future.
Many experts recommend exposure to future career
opportunities when women are young. This is already happening
with the growth and popularity of STEM curricula throughout
our society’s schools. HBRACC is doing its part to alleviate the
dilemma of both women in construction and the labor shortage.
This summer in collaboration with Cape Cod Community
College, HBRACC offered a Construction Exploration Camp
to students entering grades 7, 8, and 9 and provided a fun,
interactive experience in the fundamentals of architecture,
construction, and engineering, while raising awareness of careers
in the construction trades (see page 15).
In October, HBRACC will host its 4th annual Residential
Construction Career Day for local area high school students
with the intent of showing that there are many different aspects
to construction — some are professional and
others are skilled tradespeople, some requiring
a college degree and some not. But all are
viable careers and there are viable, successful
businesses here in our local community. This
year, for the first time, HBRACC is planning a
Women in Construction Meet & Greet, where
the female students will interact with women
working in a wide variety of construction
careers on Cape Cod.
AT HOME ON CAPE C 62 OD • FALL/WINTER 2018
There are many different avenues leading
to a career in construction, whether from a
trade school, an apprenticeship program, after
college, after children, etc. Obviously, physical
toil is not for everyone, regardless of your
gender. I worked in a traditional finance position during the
first 30 years of my career. Then in my mid-50s, I found myself
changing careers and landed at a construction company. I have
been working in construction ever since. The same situation can
happen for those in sales, marketing, or human resources—all of
which play critical roles in the construction industry.
Like me, people can transition into the construction industry
at any point in their career. You could explore some options after
the kids are out of the house, or need to find a good-paying job
after a divorce. Whatever your circumstances, there is a point of
entry, and these opportunities likely pay more than the typical
service, retail or hospitality jobs.
We need to continue the dialogue about this issue. Progress
will slow if we don’t act on our ideas and implement the
programs that will ease the labor shortage.
Susan Hackett is the Subcontractor Relations Manager at Delphi
Construction in Mashpee.
MANAGEMENT CORNER
How to Eliminate
the Gender Gap
The facts are clear: Women are underrepresented in construction. Now what?
BY SUSAN HACKETT