The NC Department of Administration’s Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) joins Governor Roy Cooper in celebrating Women in Construction Week, March 3 – 9, 2019. Governor Cooper signed a proclamation designating this special week to support and honor women in the construction industry across our state and nation. The week recognizes women as visible components in construction while raising awareness of the career opportunities available for women in the construction field and emphasizing the growing role of women in the industry.
According to the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), while there are more than one million women employed in the construction industry, women only make up approximately 9 percent of the construction workforce. In North Carolina, women comprise about 51 percent of the overall workforce. However, only 3.3 percent of businesses owned by women are in construction, compared with 19 percent of men.
“Although statistics show there is opportunity for growth for women in the construction industry there is also room for improvement,” said HUB Director, Tammie Hall. “To improve the current disparity among women in such fields like construction, we must continue to be advocates for the employment and advancement of women and minority groups in such careers.”
Occupational segregation in NC limits opportunities for women to thrive and contributes to the gender wage gap, since at every skill level – low, medium, and high – earnings are highest in male-dominated occupations and lowest in female-dominated occupations. While estimates suggest women in the United States earn on average 81.1 percent of men’s earnings for full-time wage and salary work, women in the construction industry earn an average of 95.7 percent when compared to men.
Per the Status of Women in NC: Employment and Earnings Report, published in 2018 by the Department of Administration’s Council for Women and Youth Involvement, women consist of only 7 percent of those in NC who work in production, transportation and material moving – areas with higher wage earnings than service and administrative careers. Employed women in NC are much more likely than employed men to work in office and administrative support occupations, and much less likely to work in natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations.
Therefore, more awareness, internships, externships and learning opportunities are needed to help students and women recognize that a career in construction is possible and rewarding. More women in such fields will help improve the status of women in our state, allow more women and families to achieve economic security, reduce the number of people in poverty and grow the state economy.
For more information on women-owned businesses and services, please visit the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses and the NC Council for Women and Youth Involvement websites.
Click here to read Governor Cooper’s proclamation in honor of Women in Construction Week.
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About NC Department of Administration
Established in 1957, the Department of Administration acts as the business manager for North Carolina state government. Under the leadership of Secretary Machelle Sanders since appointed by Governor Roy Cooper in 2017, the department oversees Government Operations such as building construction, purchasing and contracting for goods and services, managing state vehicles, acquiring and disposing of real property, and operating auxiliary services such as courier mail delivery and the sale of state and federal surplus property. In addition, the department provides facility services and advocacy programs. Facility services include the maintenance of state-owned buildings and grounds, and the department's advocacy programs provide advocacy, assistance and services to diverse segments of the state's population that have been traditionally underserved.
About Historically Underutilized Businesses
Housed within NC Department of Administration, the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses was established on April 20, 1999 through the signing of Executive Order 150. The mission of the office is to promote economic opportunities for historically underutilized businesses in State Government contracting and procurement that will foster their growth and profitability.
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