Experiences of women in the nontraditional skilled construction trades

Federal legislation in the 1960s and '70s, designed to open the construction trades to women, has not been successful. Women are not entering the workforce in the skilled trades as expected. Especially in a state such as Florida, which has experienced rapid growth for the last 15 years, the number of women in construction jobs has not experienced a similar increase. In response, this study addressed the barriers to women entering and remaining in the construction trades and how women, who have successfully navigated the system, overcame these barriers. The study was designed to answer the central research question: What are the experiences of journey-level skilled trades women working in the nontraditional skilled construction trades in the state of Florida? Five journey-level skilled tradeswomen; and 5 supervisors representative of the carpentry, electrical, painting, plumbing trades were interviewed. On the positive side, the primary findings indicate that the recruitment process for women has improved in Florida and women who succeeded in the trades have moved into administrative and management positions, improving the economic situation of these women. On the negative side, the findings indicate that the working conditions adverse to women, such as excessive heavy lifting, subtle harassment, and unreasonable task assignments still exist. Factors that contribute to women successfully overcoming the barriers include background, educational level, previous experience, and group support. By improving these working conditions and reducing the barriers that exists at the entry portal, women can succeed at these economically rewarding jobs and decrease the number of women living in poverty.