Drywall Installers and Finishers

Drywall installation and finishing can be strenuous work. The large, heavy panels are difficult to handle and frequently require more than one person to maneuver them into position. Workers must spend long hours on their feet, often bending and kneeling. To work high up on walls or on ceilings, workers must stand on stilts, ladders, or scaffolding, risking falls. Another possible hazard is injury from power tools such as saws and nailers. Because sanding creates a lot of dust, finishers wear protective masks and safety glasses.

Drywall installation and finishing is indoor work that can be done in any season of the year. Unlike workers in some construction occupations, drywall workers seldom lose time because of adverse weather conditions.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that only 4 percent of drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers were women. Women are traditionally underrepresented in all construction professions, but industry organizations—such as National Association of Women in Construction and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (which has a Sisters in the Brotherhood initiative)—are working to encourage more women to enter the field.