A dog in a pickup truck, low-slung pants, a swagger, a loud mouth, and a can-do attitude have long defined the construction worker.
Of course, hammers (now pneumatic nailers), saws (power miter saws), drills (cordless drills), and levels (laser rangefinders) have always been a part of building, but equally if not more important today are iPhones, iPads, computers, and electronic prints. These demand additional skill sets. The benefits are numerous, among which are more organized projects, better communication, and less waste.
An even bigger change, in my opinion, is the opening of construction to women, or, more accurately, women demanding access to good jobs in the industry. It has not been easy. The pioneering women have endured pervasive denigration, belittlement, intimidation, and sexual harassment. These behaviors still exist in the field but with less frequency. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2010 report, women currently make up 9 percent of the construction work force, or more than 800,000.