Is It True That Women Don’t Want To Work In Construction?

Is It True That Women Don’t Want To Work In Construction?

Women currently make up between 11 and 14% of construction industry professionals, which, while far below what it should ideally be, is still a huge improvement on what it was just five or six years ago. It’s now not uncommon to find women at all levels of the construction sector, from site agents and plant operators, to quantity surveyors, senior directors and consultants.

So, is it fair to say that it is still true that women don’t want to work in construction?

Partially yes, partially no.

Part of the issue of construction is that because the industry has been male dominated for so long, the sector is an intimidating place for many young women to come to work straight out of college or university. Many women are concerned by the discriminatory behaviour traditionally associated with construction sites – which is still a problem in some areas despite becoming much rarer.

Furthermore, other women are deterred from entering the industry by the perception that they’ll be viewed as less competent than their male colleagues and have difficulty earning the respect of highly placed men.

High-level Advocacy

Several big names in the industry are now actively promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in the construction business, with specific campaigns to attract women into the industry, and these efforts are steadily bearing fruit. A growing number of companies and professional associations are increasing their efforts to train and promote women internally within their organisations and educate young women about the benefits of entering the construction sector as a rewarding career choice.

The average construction site we walked onto earlier in the article may not give an accurate reflection of the involvement of women in the construction business as a whole.

In fact, around 87% of the women who work in construction hold office positions, while only 1% of women are site workers, so you are far more likely to find a female project manager, health and safety consultant, or accountant, then you are a crane operator, carpenter, or plasterer.

Construction Opportunities For Women And Men

There are a wide range of roles in the construction sector that extend beyond site operatives and tradespeople. Whilst, carpenters, plumbers, decorators, bricklayers, ground workers, plant operators, electricians remain the backbone of the industry, numerous essential supporting and management roles exist including:

• Site Management

• Quantity Surveying

• Health and Safety Management

• Construction and Project Management

• Estimating

• Architecture

• Structural and Civil Engineering

• Design and Interior Design

• Procurement, Buying and Specifying

• Sales and Marketing

• Legal and Regulatory Roles

• Back-office administration, finance, HR, etc

Of course, the situation we are aiming for isn’t one in which women in construction are tucked away in the office. We want to create an environment in which women are free to develop and thrive in these professional career roles, but also where site-based and engineering roles are equally accessible as realistic career options – if women wish to take them on.

Looking Ahead For The Construction Sector

Ultimately, equal career and training opportunities in construction should extend to all talented and self-motivated applicants, regardless of their gender. We are not there yet in 2023, but the signs are looking positive that we might be in the years to come, and as a sector we are definitely moving in the right direction.

SC4 Carpenters Is An Advocate For Equality, Diversity And Inclusiveness In Construction

Hear what SC4’s Director, Katy Hall, has to say about women in construction in a 2023 interview.

FAQs

Find out more in our FAQs on Women in Construction.