Are women the answer to the construction labor shortage?

“Moye White partner Carrie Rodgers was quoted in an article in national construction news site, ConstructionDive.com: “Are women the answer to the construction labor shortage?”

The U.S. construction industry is in the midst of an ongoing skilled labor shortage, with 86% of contractors, according to the Associated General Contractors of America, reporting difficulty in finding qualified trade workers and other skilled employees.

However, the industry is also facing another shortage — women in the construction trades. Women represent half of the population in the U.S. but, according to a 2014 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, women make up less than 10% of the construction industry workforce. Some groups, like the National Women’s Law Center, peg that figure at 3%, although organizations like the AGC contend their numbers include only women in the field, and not those in administrative or professional positions.

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