Women in Construction and the Skilled Trades (2026) in New Jersey
How women in construction and the skilled trades (2026) fare in New Jersey — state-adjusted pay gap, state ranking, and the national context that frames the local picture.
The state-adjusted picture
Women in construction and the skilled trades (2026) nationally face the same structural conditions as women in every other field — but the overall wage environment in New Jersey modifies the baseline by -3.1% relative to the US average. A state where the overall pay gap is narrower tends to reflect narrower gaps within fields too, though field-specific dynamics dominate for specialized professions.
New Jersey has never elected a woman US Senator.
National context
The skilled trades — electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, operators — are 89% male. They're also some of the best-paid non-degree jobs in the US, with strong union protection and clear advancement paths. This page tracks where women are in the trades and where the structural barriers sit.
National headline stats (construction and the skilled trades (2026))
Other fields in New Jersey
Construction and the Skilled Trades (2026) in other states
Related pages
Frequently asked
What is the pay gap for women in construction and the skilled trades (2026) in New Jersey?
New Jersey’s overall pay ratio is 81.2% — a 18.8% gap. The gap within construction and the skilled trades (2026) follows the national pattern modified by New Jersey’s overall wage environment. See the full national field data for in-field specifics.
How does New Jersey rank on pay equity?
New Jersey ranks #28 of 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity, per Census ACS state ratios.
How are women represented in New Jersey politics?
32.5% of New Jersey state legislators are women (CAWP 2024). 4 women from New Jersey serve in the 119th US Congress.
Where does the national construction and the skilled trades (2026) data come from?
Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR); BLS Current Population Survey; US DOL Apprenticeship.gov