Elevate Her

The long-term success of the VT industry may ride on the number of women entering (and staying) in our workforce.

Studies show that a workforce representing a wide range of ages, races, backgrounds, gender identities and nationalities leads to increased productivity, better problem-solving and reduced turnover. More specifically, the National Center for Construction Education and Research states the benefits of hiring women include more attention to detail and following established processes, maintaining organized jobsites, better care of equipment and improved overall safety.

Unfortunately, the construction industry lacks gender diversity with only 10% of all workers identifying as female. And it significantly underperforms in the industry generally. The proportion of female workers in other U.S. industries stands at 47%, far closer to a representative sample of the population overall. Of greater concern is that these numbers far exceed the gender demographics within the elevator industry, which has less than 2% of the workforce representing female technicians.  

National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) is seeking to bolster these numbers by driving initiatives to encourage females to pursue and remain in careers in the elevator trade. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is one of four priority objectives for NEII and its member companies. For several years, NEII has been working to identify ways the association can amplify industry recruitments, promote the opportunities available to work in the elevator industry and increase the retention of diverse talent. NEII has also focused efforts to learn more about the unique challenges facing women in the field and identify what steps NEII might take to ensure that all women in the field and all of their coworkers feel welcome, included and supported on the job.

At the end of 2023, the NEII diversity team attended the Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference for the second year to celebrate and support the Sisters of the International Union of Elevator Constructors who are making positive contributions to the industry today. When speaking with the Sisters, inclusion and equity on the jobsite were the main topics of discussion. The Sisters made it clear. Female technicians are not seeking special treatment. They simply want to do their jobs, have proper equipment and feel like they belong — just like everybody else.

Recruitment

In 2019, NEII began a campaign to broaden local recruitment outreach for elevator constructor apprentices and promote this trade to populations that are under-represented in our workforce. In the last five years, NEII has reached out to more than 450 organizations that work with women, as well as under-represented populations. We have provided information about upcoming recruitments in their areas and other information about the benefits of working in the elevator industry.

In addition, NEII has become increasingly involved with national organizations like SkillsUSA and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to drive young, skilled candidates interested in the trades toward jobs in the elevator industry. These organizations have established national networks working with historically underserved populations and are already promoting jobs within the skilled trades. NEII partnered with the National Elevator Industry Education Program (NEIEP) to participate in the SkillsUSA 2023 National Leadership Conference and Techspo where we were able to connect with more than 5,000 student attendees who are already developing trade skills and discuss careers within our industry. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America provides several opportunities with their established programming for younger kids that will help spark an interest in our industry at an earlier age.

Recruitment efforts are becoming more critical as many elevator technicians are reaching retirement without enough new applicants joining the ranks. In 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that more than half of construction industry workers are more than 40 years old, and the number of younger workers entering the industry has declined by 30%. Across all construction industries, developing and maintaining a skilled workforce will become more challenging each year if the trades continue to follow traditional recruitment tactics. Investing in the creation of a talent pipeline specifically for the building-transportation industry will not only help address impending workforce challenges, but will open opportunities for a more diverse and representative workforce.

Retention

While the industry continues to look for ways to effectively amplify industry recruitment efforts, increasing workforce retention is equally important. It is essential that once women and other diverse talent join our workforce, these individuals are properly supported in the field so they remain in the elevator trade.

The building-transportation industry provides life-changing job opportunities and benefits to interested individuals. Through various informal polls conducted by NEII and other interested parties, it was evident that the largest initial draw for career-seeking women was the higher wages and benefits for vertical-transportation (VT) technicians. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2022, elevator installers and repairers in the U.S. were making nearly double the annual salary of general construction laborers.

The elevator industry is full of opportunities, but it is also an industry that presents numerous on-site and offsite challenges for women. Through various efforts, NEII has been able to address a few key issues unique to women in the field, which will ultimately benefit all elevator technicians.

Proper Safety Gear: In order to safely perform their jobs, female technicians require appropriate safety gear. Having smaller-sized gloves and hardhats, as well as uniforms and safety harnesses that fit a wide variety of body types available to all workers is critical for all elevator personnel. In 2021, all the major OEMs committed to providing inclusive personal protective equipment (PPE) and extended uniform options. In 2022 and 2023, NEII issued a PPE challenge to all elevator companies and then challenged the broader construction trades to secure properly fitting uniforms and PPE for all employees.

Childcare Availability: As a VT technician, early mornings and long hours are a part of the job. If a technician is a parent in need of daycare support, it can be difficult to find an option that suits their unique schedule, has availability and provides quality care any parent would want for their child. NEII has worked to promote programs such as the National Association of Building Trade Unions (NABTU) pilot childcare programs in NYC and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that work with area childcare centers to offer alternative hours for parents with varying schedules. NEII is also actively working to identify additional ways to help field employees with childcare issues.

Information Exchange: NEII was asked to host quarterly calls for women in the field to connect and learn more about key issues of interest. In 2023, NEII provided the platform and secured speakers to brief the IUEC Sisters on their health care, 401(k), pension and annuity benefits. One call was also dedicated to introducing NEIEP’s new DEI Director Sarah Caughey and preparing for the 2023 Tradeswomen Build Nations conference and industry events. The topics were identified by the Sisters, and NEII facilitated the calls.

Though these efforts have helped move the industry forward, there is still more to do. While March may be Women’s History Month, the time for the VT industry to embrace and support women in the field should extend beyond this month into the future. In order to foster a safer work environment and sustain a steady workforce we need women to join, stay and thrive in our industry. Through our efforts, women in the field must know that they are as important as their male counterparts. The numbers, sadly, speak for themselves. The future of this industry relies on expanded thinking, innovation and embracing allyship to “elevate her.”

To learn more about NEII’s efforts to promote women in the VT industry, go to neii.org.