August 31, 2000

Attracting more women to construction

I have often been asked why more women are not interested in construction. Is it because it is perceived as dirty, too demanding physically or perhaps hostile? Certainly in some instances all of the above are reasons.

In Washington state only 4 percent -- 4,412 of 109,041 total workers in the skilled trades -- are women. According to the state Employment Security Department statistics, 2.7 percent of the total, are carpenters. Nationwide, the statistics are lower, with only 2 percent of the skilled trade jobs filled by women. The Washington state Apprenticeship and Training Council's 1998 annual apprenticeship report listed 13,322 apprentices as being indentured in 1998 and of them 1,834 (or 14 percent) were women.

According to Cynthia Costin, a 2000 graduate of the Construction Industry Training Council's carpentry apprenticeship program, information about the opportunities for women is hidden.

Not once did she hear about it in high school or in her succeeding years of trying to find a niche for herself as a single mom on welfare. While continually being directed into low-paying service jobs she remembered her father was an electrician. After finding out that his salary adequately provided for the family, her attention was captured.

From that point on her motivation to find an apprenticeship program that would fit her needs was strictly driven by the dollars.

"Where else can you provide for your child while getting a free education at the same time?" she said. And, at an hourly rate far and above anything else she might have an opportunity to do.

Costin enrolled in the Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Employment for Women program, active now for 18 years, which has been helping disadvantaged women make the physical and mental transition critical to success in the trades.

Upon completion she found another barrier -- she couldn't get into an apprenticeship program because she failed the entrance examination. She couldn't believe after all of her hard work that the trades were not meant for her.

Desperate to get into construction, she continued to look and found the Construction Industry Training Council. Her first question was, "How do you accept me?" Surprised that in the carpentry apprenticeship there is not a test, she made application. From that point on she made a commitment to herself that she would prove that as a woman she could be as good or better than anyone else.

Challenging career choice?

Women do face difficult challenges. Over half of the 213 women surveyed in a recent study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Seattle and Portland felt they had been harassed or discriminated against because of gender.

"Of course," says Costin, "but, isn't everything in life challenging?"

She claims it is all a matter of attitude. Even though at times it was physically demanding, she wasn't about to quit. Not when she was making enough money to allow her to raise her child comfortably and to get off welfare.

With an income of only $550 a month, rent to pay and a child to feed, it was an easy decision when she found out her first job was at $13 an hour and that her education would be paid for. She thought she was in heaven. "I knew nothing, and they were paying me that to learn on top of it!"

That was indeed her motivator when challenged on the job site.

For two and a half years she was just pushing a broom, while being taunted "Sugar honey, you be careful now." One of her instructors encouraged her to speak out and let her employer know she needed to practice what she was learning in the classroom, so she went to her superintendent and ultimately the vice president.

"Give me an opportunity -- let me show the men that I can do just as good of a job -- maybe even better because of my education. Look at me as an educated person going to work for you," she said. "I am far more valuable as an educated person than a man with no education."

Finally, she found a mentor -- someone in her corner to push her, show her easier ways to do her job and tell the others to give her a chance. "He had faith in me. That is all I needed."

Does the image discourage women?

Women have entered the labor force in vast numbers over the last 25 years -- from 47 percent in 1975 to 62 percent in 1990. That percentage is expected to rise to 65 percent in 2010 and level off to 62 percent by the year 2020.

Although more women are working and there are fewer barriers to entering male-dominated fields, women's progress has been uneven. Labor supply constraints for skilled occupations could sharpen the need to recruit and promote women. Employers who discourage sex stereotyping and provide family-friendly work environments will be more successful in recruiting and retaining the best candidates -- male and female.

In 1998, the Associated General Contractors of Washington Northern District office conducted a survey of local high school students regarding the construction image. When asked the question "How would you describe a construction worker?" the largest perception was "negative physical characteristics, and sexist." Statements such as "whoop and holler at women, look at chicks, harass women..." were common.

From a focus group at Bellingham High School, one of the recommendations made to the industry from the students was to "advertise to students, show the nice things about construction, it might change people's minds. Change the stereotypes of it being male, not usually women."

Costin believes it is just a matter of time before the door is open to more women to come into the trade. "They are going to get wise if you get the message out. Why would you want to continue to work two and three jobs if you know you can make more money with one?"

Other Stories:

• More women choose construction
  
• Even after I-200, diversity is here to stay
  
• Discrimination in the construction industry: where are we now?
  
• With a little help from his friends
  
• A look at I-200's impact