Women In Construction – Your Questions Answered: Part One

Women In Construction – Your Questions Answered: Part One

Do Many Women Work In Construction In The UK?

Yes, women actually make up a significant portion of the UK’s construction workforce. According to the Office for National Statistics, in Q1 2023 there were approximately 1.8 million men employed in construction in the UK compared with 311,000 women, making up 14% of the total workforce. The percentage of women in construction has remained fairly steady over the past decade and is only expected to increase as more and more women join this growing field.

What Jobs Do Women Do In The Construction Industry?

Most women who work in construction are engaged in off-site support, managerial, and consultancy roles, with only a small percentage of on-site construction workers being women. A growing number of women now hold senior positions in construction businesses, from directorships to specialist positions as quantity surveyors and architects – the result of positive changes in technical education and promoting STEM careers to young women.

Many of these women have become strong advocates for the construction sector and are acting as positive role models for young women considering construction as a viable career option.

What Are The Main Barriers To Women Taking On More Construction Roles On Site?

The gender gap onsite can be explained by a variety of factors, ranging from lack of awareness about the opportunities available to women to limited access to training and development. Progress is slow in this area, and there are still not many women applying for trade-based apprenticeships and on-site positions.

There are also still issues with workplace culture and facilities in some parts of the industry, and although this is changing year-on-year, the construction sector still has a reputation for having a macho and male-centric workplace culture, which can be unwelcoming or intimidating for women. Stereotypes and traditional gender roles make many women reluctant to take on site-based roles involving manual labour and operating heavy machinery.

Despite this, there are still many women who have chosen to pursue a career in site-based construction and are making their mark on the industry through advocacy at conferences and on social media.

Will Women Ever Achieve Full Acceptance Working With Tools And Machinery In On-site Roles?

Each generation entering the construction industry is progressively less and less tolerant of prejudice and discrimination, so we are slowly moving towards a situation of full acceptance for all construction industry roles for both women and men. Traditionally, construction tools required raw physical size and strength to operate – a situation that typically favoured males – although developments in construction plant and technology now mean that technical ability, spatial awareness, attention to detail, and hand eye coordination are more important than strength alone, levelling the playing field for female workers.

Ultimately, not everyone wants to work in an office in front of a computer, and there will always be an appeal for outdoors work for both men and women. The role of industry professionals is to provide an inclusive environment and training opportunities so that anyone can develop the skills for a site-based role, regardless of their gender.

What Can SME Construction Businesses And Contractors Do To Help Promote Diversity Within The Workforce?

Small businesses don’t usually have the same clout within the mainstream media or social media as the industry giants. However, construction SMEs do have various opportunities to keep the dialogue open about women in the workplace, promoting diversity through blog articles, social media, and industry events, as well as via in-house training.

At SC4, for instance, this includes celebrating Pride, promoting Black Lives Matter and International Women’s Day, supporting mental health charities such as the Lighthouse Club and ManGang, and ensuring our management are all mental health first aiders. We also share our personal journeys in construction. This includes talking about the role of women and promoting the skills and abilities offered by dyslexic and neurodivergent people, which can be beneficial for many construction roles.

All of this to say that we deeply value a focus on personal wellbeing and attention to equality, equity and inclusion within the workplace, which may make it more welcoming for even more women to join in the future. Stay tuned for part 2... and be sure to contact SC4 Carpenters today.