flexiblefullpage - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
Currently Reading

Best Buy: Women in Remodeling

Advertisement
billboard -
News

Best Buy: Women in Remodeling

The number of tradeswomen has remained stagnant over the past decade, yet something else has changed


August 2, 2016
This article first appeared in the July 2016 issue of Pro Remodeler.

My husband and I enjoy playing a game where we assign values of “buy,” “sell,” or “hold” to businesses, people, and concepts. The marijuana industry? Buy. Katie Holmes? Hold. Scientology? Sell.

Thinking about that idea from the perspective of remodeling, I would say, “Women in the industry? Buy!”

The share of women working in the trades has remained depressingly stagnant over the past decade, yet something else has changed, something that can’t be as easily measured. 

It’s a consciousness. 

“In the last three years, the number of phone calls I receive, particularly from the residential sector, has exponentially increased,” says Amy James Neel. 

Neel is with Oregon Tradeswomen, an organization that helps women get into the trades. “[And] ... contractors are [now] specifically seeking women,” she adds. “[They] love the detailed, thorough work tradeswomen offer.” (Neel’s comments appear in our cover story, on the what's being done about the labor shortage.) 

And this positive mindset isn’t limited to women out in the field. There has always been a solid number of female design and marketing professionals, but we’re now seeing more and more cohesion and knowledge-sharing between them. This includes Women in NARI gatherings, coverage in the trade press, and events targeting women in residential construction. 

To that end, Professional Remodeler and Professional Builder will be hosting the second annual Women in Residential Construction conference, in Scottsdale, Ariz., from Sept. 28-30. Last year’s event was amazing, and I’m confident that this one will be, too. 

Today, women may make up a small percentage of the construction industry, but I challenge anyone to find a more enthusiastic, committed, and engaged group. Maybe it’s because every one of them has succeeded in a male-dominated industry, or maybe it’s because our event is the only one specifically designed for the residential sector. Whatever the reason, the conference generates palpable energy and excitement.

Personally, I’d like to see more women launching remodeling companies of their own, and events like this help make that happen. To register, go to proremodeler.com and look for the Events tab. 

It’s going to be a great time! 

Tags


written by

Erika Mosse

Director of Content

Erika Mosse is the director of content for Professional Remodeler. Contact her at emosse@sgcmail.com or 972.803.4014.

Related Stories

Large Stock of Aging Homes Signals Remodeling Growth

The majority of US housing stock was built before 1969

Two Leading Women in Construction Events Unite

Join us for the Women in Residential + Commercial Construction Conference in Nashville, October 25-27, 2023. 
 

Study Finds Remodelers’ Net Profits Declined

How far did net profits decline and what's influencing the drop?

Software Company to Award $150,000 to Home Service Company Owners

The grant program is intended to help strengthen small businesses

Builders Focus on Remodeling as New Construction Declines

Some builders hope to benefit from remodeling's strength, giving a slight boost to new construction confidence

A Lesson in Mentorship: Emma Wilson's Carpentry Journey

Combining passion with mentorship created a career in carpentry that this 19-year-old foreman never expected

Women in Trades: What Their Experiences Tell Us

The construction industry is in dire need of labor. Reflecting on women’s experiences shines a light on what needs to be done to welcome a stronger female workforce

HomeAdvisor May Pay $7.2 Mil to Contractors Per FTC Order

Contractors could receive a refund if affected by HomeAdvisor's "deceptive" tactics, according to the Federal Trade Commission

Home Flipping Market Reports 13-Year Low

Despite dropping profits, the flipping market remains at its third-highest level in a decade

Small Businesses at Risk for Cyber Crime, Says FBI

As larger companies improve their cyber security, online criminals are moving to softer targets

Advertisement
boombox1 -
Advertisement
native1 -

More in Category




Advertisement
native2 -
Advertisement
halfpage1 -