“From the site to the materials, from the surveys all the way to the financials. “In this industry, we have to measure everything,” says Horowitz. When more women gain the skills and demonstrate an interest in construction, it helps to resolve labor pressures.īut Horowitz and Jones point out additional reasons why women are a great match for the industry. Women are a largely untapped resource for an industry that struggles to meet labor needs. Plaza Construction is one of the leaders in the industry for raising awareness, as well as for attracting and training women. Plus, many women enjoy the benefits of working outdoors and making something tangible happen, and the pride of driving around town, pointing out structures and saying, “I helped to build that.” You can go to work for a municipality as an inspector, or go be an owner’s rep and enjoy the regular hours and holidays that come with that.” “If you’re a good employee and you need a change because of life changes, you can go to the main office and do accounting or cost estimating, contract review, or risk management. “Construction is good for women because there are other options beyond field work,” she says. Jones says that another advantage of the industry compared to others, is that it can change as your life changes. Plus, the gap between men’s and women’s pay is narrower than in most industries, with women making 91.3% of men, versus 80% across industries. I have my to do list every day and I’m lucky if I get two things crossed off because there’s new problems to solve constantly.”Īdditionally, for women, the pay and benefits of a construction career often compare favorably with those in other industries. “If you want a cookie cutter career, this is not it.
Every day you work with different people and solving new challenges.” “I’ve been doing this for thirty years, and there is not one day that I’m bored,” says Horowitz. Why Construction Is a Great Career for Women
Robin Jones, Project Manager, Plaza Construction “It’s much better now, but it’s still hard to find a good vest that fits.” When I left 7 years later, I had 40-50 women. When I started teaching at NYU in the 90s, I had four students in construction management. In the early 90s, women started coming into the industry, and then more and more. “The first ten years I was in the business,” recalls Horowitz, “we had maybe two women on a job site, and maybe two in the office. As the industry changes, so will other iconic construction items, such as the safety vest, hard hat, and gloves. Still, both are hopeful for the future of women in construction, and both believe the environment will only continue to improve, especially if more women enter into the industry. “Some things are just going to be big for you,” says Horowitz. “It’s much better now,” Jones says, “but it’s still hard to find a good vest that fits.”
Even thirteen years ago, when she started, it was much harder to find boots and clothes that fit and were suitable for the job site. Robin Jones, a project manager with Plaza Construction in Miami, says the same thing. She also recalls how difficult it was in those early days to find protective equipment that fit. Those questions are illegal in job interviews today, but at the time, she says, she knew she had to say “no” if she wanted the job. Horowitz recalls a time when prospective employers would inevitably ask her if she was planning to get married or have children. Plaza Construction, was recently recognized by the New York Post for its inclusive “Men and Women at Work” construction signs The signs, says Horowitz, are popular with all workers, men and women alike, and they make people chuckle.īut they’re only one of many signs (pun intended) that the construction industry is changing - and in a good way. Her company, Plaza Construction, was recently recognized by the New York Post for its inclusive “Men and Women at Work” construction signs. Like many women in construction, she says she’s faced challenges in a traditionally male-dominated industry, but she “puts on her pink sunglasses and looks the other way,” focusing on the benefits of the career and the value she knows she brings to it. That’s Jacqueline Horowitz, a 33-year construction industry veteran, currently a project executive with Plaza Construction, working on a new high rise at 99 Hudson Street in Jersey City. It’s been a wonderful, wonderful career for me.” “Construction is a great industry for women.
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