Sefla Fuhrman is an educator who is focused on helping people from all walks of life achieve the educational and career goals that they have set for themselves. During the course of her career, she has worked in many industries, including the construction and concrete industries. When completing higher education, she completed a dissertation titled “Women in Nontraditional Occupations: A mixed methods qualitative case analysis of women in the U.S. concrete-construction industry.” This has given her unique insight into the construction industry and the benefits of women working in that field. Listen in as Ms. Fuhrman explains why she feels more women should consider construction as a career path.
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Sefla Explains There Are Lots of Job Opportunities In the Construction Industry
One of the reasons why more women should consider entering the construction industry is that there are so many opportunities available in this industry. You can work as a carpenter, an electrician, a roofer, a painter, a plumber, or a tile setter, just to name a few things. There will always be a need for construction workers, so this is a fairly stable field for anyone, including women, to enter. If sitting at a desk all day does not appeal to you, the construction industry may be something to consider.
Sefla Fuhrman Describes the Opportunities Women Have For Entering the Construction Industry
Another reason more women should consider entering the construction industry is that so many opportunities are available without needing to go to college. If you struggle with school or do not want to incur student debt, you can find an on-the-job training program, apprenticeship, or attend trade school. Many programs are designed specifically to help attract women and teach them how to work in the construction industry, so now is a great time to learn.
Fuhrman States Construction Has Virtually No Pay Gap Between Men and Women
The final reason Ms. Furhman encourages women to enter the construction industry is that there is virtually no pay gap between what men and women in this industry make. Unfortunately, on average, women make up only about 81 percent of what men do for similar jobs. However, according to the NAWIC, on average, women earn 99.1 percent of what men make in a similar position within the construction industry. This means that there is virtually no pay gap, which makes the construction industry an excellent industry for women to earn a fair wage.
Sefla Fuhrman explains that many women feel intimidated by the thought of entering the construction industry because they feel like this is such a male-dominated field. However, according to OSHA, between 1985 and 2007, there was an 80 percent leap in the number of women joining the construction industry. It is becoming increasingly common to see women working in this field, providing an excellent opportunity for women to earn a fair income in a stable field. If you are a woman thinking about working in the construction field, Ms. Fuhrman encourages you to follow your dreams and start researching how you can begin working in this field.