Attitudes and perceptions of women in skilled labor regarding the lack of women in the construction and building industry

Women in the construction industry face many challenges including discrimination, lack of parental benefits, negative stereotyping, and interpersonal conflicts. The problem addressed in this study was the underrepresentation of women in skilled labor positions. Guided by social cognitive theory, the purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the attitudes and perceptions of women in the construction and building industry to gain insight into the reasons for the lack of women. Two research questions addressed the attitudes and perceptions of women in skilled labor industries and why women enter and remain in skilled labor positions. Data were collected from semi structured interviews with 22 women in the skilled labor industry that had over 1 year of experience located in 12 different cities throughout the United States. Braun and Clarke's six-phase data analysis procedure was used to identify the themes from the interviews. The themes emerged from the data are the following: 1) Women in Skilled Labor Experience Discrimination and Sexual Harassment, 2) Women in Skilled Labor Are Respected by Coworkers, 3) Women in Skilled Labor Possess Unique Skills, 4) Women Enter Skilled Labor Professions for Various Reasons and 5) Earning Respect and Rewarding Work Keep Women in Skilled Labor. Implications for positive social change include increasing workplace diversity and women’s representation in skilled labor positions. In male-dominated industries, having a more diverse staff may improve a company’s culture and overall job performance.