Women and individuals with strength and mobility impairments face persistent barriers to employment and equitable pay in the construction industry. This study explores how wearable exoskeleton technologies can advance workplace equity and inclusion by addressing these disparities. Using worker-level data from the U.S. Survey of Income and Program Participation, we examine employment and wage gaps by gender and physical ability, comparing outcomes in construction to other industries. We then integrate occupational-level data from O*NET with public-use microdata from the American Community Survey to analyze variations in workforce composition, physical skill demands, and earnings across specific construction occupations. Based on these empirical results, which highlight the physical demands of construction jobs and their disproportionate impact on women and underrepresented groups, we discuss how recent innovations in wearable exoskeleton technologies can mitigate these barriers by enhancing physical capabilities and reducing strain. This research contributes to management and organizational scholarship by examining how human-robot collaboration can address structural inequities in labor markets. It provides actionable insights into leveraging technology to reduce gender and ability-based disparities, advancing our understanding of inclusive workplace practices and the intersection of technology, diversity, and sustainable economic growth.
