And Minorities In Construction (NAPSA)—An increasing num- ber of women and minorities have built solid careers in the construction field—and their future oppor- | tunities continueto grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of women in construction increased 123,000 in the past five years to 953,000, or 12 percent of the total workforce. At the end of 2006, African-American workers made up approximately 7 percent of the entire construction workforce, while 15 percent were Hispanic. Still, today’s commercial and industrial construction industry is facing a tremendous workershortage. Employment in the construction industry is forecast to increase by 1.5 percent each year over the next 10 years, creating more than 1 million new construc- tion jobs. New Look, Bright Future In the past decade, the construction industry has taken on a new look as women and minorities are entering jobs in the field. Opportunities range from skilled craft professional and job foreman to project manager and company owner. “In order for the U.S. construction industry to remain competitive in a global economy, it must continue to diversify its workforce by attracting significantly more women and more members of the minority community into the industry,” says Kirk Pickerel, The number of women in the construction field increased by 123,000 in the pastfive years. president and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), a national trade association. Starting A Career If you are interested in starting a career in construction, you can go to the Associated Builders and Contractors Web site at www.abc.org and click on “Education & Training.” Then click on “Craft Training and Apprenticeship.” Look for one of ABC’s 78 chapters in your area offering construction skills training. “Imagine working on the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital, a mega shopping center, sports arena or a new museum,” says Pickerel. “There is no better time than today to begin a career in construction.”
