![Women In Construction 5de6913959a76 60426f369456c](https://img.forconstructionpros.com/files/base/acbm/fcp/image/2022/03/Women_in_construction.5de6913959a76.60426f369456c.62264efde20d6.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=288&q=70&rect=0%2C225%2C1426%2C803&w=512)
A recent survey shows nearly three-quarters of construction companies see digital transformation as a top priority, with new technologies opening doors for women in the workforce. A joint survey by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Safe Site Check In, and released in celebration of Women in Construction Week, “Digital Technology in Construction: 2022” found digital transformation offers opportunities to enhance productivity, make construction jobs easier and ultimately help to address labor shortages.
“Digital transformation is gaining significant momentum in the construction industry. Along with making work easier without compromising the quality of the finished product, it also opens up more opportunities for women,” said Crissy Ingram, executive director, NAWIC. “The survey shows the importance of digital technology and, ideally, its potential to address some of the issues driven by the construction labor shortage.”
The NAWIC offers its members education, support and networking to help advance their careers in construction, build their technical skills and become leaders. Members include women builders in the trades, project management, marketing, administration and executive leadership. Safe Site Check In supports construction’s digital transformation by providing a customizable and private QR-coded digital check in and screening app and jobsite management platform.
NAWIC / Safe Site Check In
Among the key findings:
- Digital transformation is a priority at 71% of construction companies
- 77% of respondents believe digital transformation will make their jobs easier; 17% believe it will have no impact; 5% believe their jobs will be harder and 1% believe it will eliminate their jobs
- 95% report new technologies designed for the construction industry have enabled them to be more productive
- 70% of survey respondents were excited about learning new technology at work, while 24% are indifferent and 6% expressed frustration
NAWIC / Safe Site Check In
Impact of Labor Shortages
The majority of survey participants work in the office (52%) or split their time between the office and the jobsite (44%). Just 4% work solely on jobsites.
Those working in the office were less likely to note feeling the impact of jobsite workforce deficits when asked: “In what ways does the construction labor shortage impact your job?” Even so, more than half (53%) stated that projects take longer and 19% stated that days are longer. Just a quarter (26%) said the deficits did not impact their job, and only 2% reported more accidents as a result.
Technology’s promise of improved productivity could help to reduce such impacts.
“For a long time, the construction industry has been ripe for disruption – a disruption driven by the need for streamlined, digital approaches to replace outdated processes and protocols that cut into productivity and project profitability,” said David Ward, CEO, Safe Site Check In. “Our partnership with NAWIC on this year’s survey underscores what we’ve been hearing for years – digital transformation is a business imperative for the construction industry on the jobsite and in the office.”
Information provided by the National Association of Women in Construction and Safe Site Check In and edited by Becky Schultz.