Here are some questions that current women in the roofing industry thought might be helpful as you consider this new career.
In a time when certain industries are unstable, the need for new and repaired roofs is growing. With a strong demand in place, more opportunities exist for women to enter the workforce in the roofing industry than ever before. In an industry where the ceiling for advancement is unlimited, multiple skills, experiences, and education levels provide long-term careers for women, up to and including business ownership.
Roofing is a service-based industry, so, as women, we have the opportunity to build a network and provide a service that actually impacts people’s safety and the security of their homes and businesses. If you enjoy connecting with others and providing solutions that have real value, roofing could be the place for you!
Absolutely. Roofing companies often seek the right skills, capabilities, and positive attitude and can teach you the ins and outs of the roofing industry. Most companies have a combination of online and on-the-job training to get new team members up to speed. With such a broad option of positions and career paths in the industry, women have succeeded in field and leadership roles.
If you need more education about women in roofing (and construction), check out the resources provided by the National Women in Roofing (NWiR) and the National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC). In addition, you can connect with other women in the industry to pursue a mentorship or personal advice on how to enter the industry.
For more information about current job opportunities and to network with roofing professionals, check out the RoofersCoffeeShop (RCS). Also, check with your local chapter (NWiR Council) of the National Women in Roofing (NWiR) for additional networking opportunities with other women in the roofing industry.
The roofing industry provides ample opportunities for anyone willing to learn. Because this sector needs roles filled in a diversity of professions, your skill set likely matches one or more jobs in roofing. Roofing includes positions like Installers, Inspectors, Estimators, Superintendents, Customer Service Representatives, Accountants, Project Managers, Sales and Marketing Representatives, and Human Resources Managers.
Even if you do not have previous work experience or educational training in a particular profession or line of work, the roofing industry needs women of all backgrounds to fill open positions. For instance, you might be a great salesperson if you possess strong people skills, enjoy organizational tasks, or demonstrate a high degree of attention to detail! If you bring the energy and willingness to learn, your skills can translate to many different opportunities.
Most positions are salary-based. Some jobs (generally sales and marketing) provide a commission-based incentive. In the U.S., the roofing industry generates more than $50 billion annually. Estimates indicate that this sector continues to grow by 10-15% yearly. Average incomes in most roofing companies meet or exceed salaries or earnings in other comparable lines of work.
Few jobs in the roofing industry are commission-only. Some roles do include a base + commission. Generally, commission-only positions are in sales. Before agreeing to accept a commission-only job, verify in writing the employment terms, including the payout structure. Reputable roofing companies provide commission-only workers with a clear understanding of compensation.
Attitudes regarding women in the roofing industry have shifted significantly in recent years. Although traditionally a male-dominated field, women are making meaningful strides in various roofing-related occupations, with many women now owning successful roofing businesses.
While gender-related biases in the roofing industry still exist, those barriers are far less prevalent than in previous generations. Women bring a unique skill set to the industry, and the power of those skills is increasingly becoming recognized, rewarded, and sought-after for open roles.
Opportunities continue to expand for women to learn, grow, and thrive in the roofing industry. Consider the following resources available to women:
- National Women in Roofing (NWiR)
- Roofing Is Women (with resources, stories, and job listings)
- NWiR Councils (with local chapters located nationwide)
- NWiR Hispanic and Latina Council
- Real Roofing (DEI Education)
- National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC)
- Canadian Association for Women in Construction (CAWIC)
- Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
- National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
Contact National Women in Roofing (NWiR) for additional program information.
As with anything in life, the willingness to learn determines the ease or difficulty of the journey. The roofing industry represents an opportunity for women new to the profession to embrace and begin a career path. Today, more resources exist than at any other time to help women learn whatever they need to know to understand the roofing business and thrive in a successful career.
There are a large number of different roles within the Roofing industry. While many women choose field roles that include important positions like Installers, Inspectors, Estimators, and Project Managers, there are also positions like Accounting, Marketing, Sales, and Human Resources available.
The good news is that there are so many ways to contribute to the overall success of a roofing business. Each role allows you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Because roofing work has inherent risks, the well-being of roofing professionals remains the top priority. Today, OSHA requires employers to train workers to use all equipment safely. They also must prepare their roofers in hazard recognition to identify potential issues proactively. Nationally, the rate of severe injury or death continues declining as employers increasingly prioritize worker safety.
Think of roofing as a career. With so many different roles within the roofing industry, the ability to grow in a position and progress to the next level is limited only by your willingness to take a chance on yourself. Many roofing companies provide career pathing for motivated employees looking to immerse themselves fully into this industry. Boundless opportunities exist for anyone with the desire.
Women discover that a roofing career ensures a rewarding life experience, long-term financial security, and a way for career advancement that provides greater responsibility and a higher pay scale.
Read this article for more information about opportunities for women in roofing.
With any new work experience, building relationships is essential. A willingness to learn also goes a long way toward fostering a supportive work environment. When interviewing for any position, get a feel for the roofing company by asking questions regarding their company values, how they treat their employees, and what mentorship and training opportunities they provide for new hires.
For women looking to work in the roofing profession, when meeting with a prospective employer, inquire about whether they provide female mentorship opportunities. Also, ask questions regarding current and former female employees to learn what roles in the company they fulfill or have fulfilled. Your objective is to understand better what working for this employer would feel like.
Roofing is a need, not a want. All people need a roof over their heads. A roof protects everything and everyone under it. For these reasons and more, the growth-oriented roofing industry provides a never-ending means of job stability and a continuous demand for willing professionals to fill a variety of roles. Few other job sectors can claim that they are essentially recession-proof.
As a volunteer-based organization, National Women in Roofing (NWiR) promotes opportunities for women of color to break barriers to entry and advancement in the roofing industry. The NWiR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee emphasizes helping women of color make permanent inroads in the roofing industry that forever change predisposed judgments and dispositions.
With Hispanic and Latina women continuing to enter and establish themselves in the workforce within the roofing industry, a support network has been established through NWiR. The NWiR Hispanic and Latina Council promotes unique perspectives celebrating cultural, racial, and linguistic diversity. Future plans exist for establishing additional NWiR councils for other women of color.
Read this article to learn more about how women (including women of color) are advancing the roofing profession in a historically male-dominated industry.
In today’s world, many prominent organizations in the roofing industry provide training and education programs in Spanish (and (to a lesser extent) in other languages, including French.) As more women of diverse linguistic backgrounds enter the workforce, the opportunities to access training resources in languages other than English (and Spanish) will continue expanding.
Here is a partial list of training resources available in Spanish:
- GAF Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence (CARE Contractor Training Center)
- GAF Roofing Academy
- International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) Educational Programs
- National Roofing Contractors Association Educational and Training Opportunities
- Owens Corning Learning Center
Contact National Women in Roofing (NWiR) for additional program information.
Many online trade assessment resources exist to assist job seekers in identifying whether entering the roofing industry makes sense. However, some of the best avenues to access free online or in-person trade assessment resources are through your local workforce center, economic development office, employment or staffing agency, community college, or vocational-technical (vo-tech) school.
Major metropolitan areas and countless other locations offer these valuable career identification opportunities. The objective is to help people choose or change a career by aligning previous education and work experience with current skills and preferred interests. Often, women pursue an exciting career in roofing by discovering talents and abilities that align well with this industry.
If you decide to explore online trade assessment resources, start with Build Your Future (BYF), a site managed by the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER). Learn more about careers in the construction industry and what opportunities exist to forge a career path based on your skill set. This site also provides an extensive list of training opportunities and current job openings.
If you need help locating the nearest workforce center or economic development office, perform an online search requesting “workforce center near me” or “economic development office near me.” Likewise, staffing agencies, community colleges, and vo-tech schools offer online resources through a simple online query. That said, most of them also have a physical location open to the public.