The construction industry employs over 2.1 million people in the UK, yet it is estimated only 10-15% of this workforce are women.
Women in Construction Week aims to raise awareness of all the opportunities available for women in the construction sector, while also emphasising the growing role of women in the industry.
Post-Covid-19, as the property and construction sectors recover, the demand for residential and commercial buildings is set to increase. Women will be living and working in these facilities, so why should they not take an active role in constructing them?
There are many reasons women may not consider careers in the industry. One key factor is the perception of sexism in the industry. A study from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has shown around a third of women have said that fear of sexism has held them back.
With men making up the majority of workers on construction sites, it is no surprise that women may worry about exclusion, the potential for harassment, and lack of opportunities in this setting.
Furthermore, in 2018, the construction industry was also deemed to have the worst gender pay gap of any UK industry, with men earning an astounding 62% more than women in the sector. Nearly half of construction companies are not monitoring their gender pay gaps, so it is also extremely difficult to determine how well the industry has been dealing with this issue.
Pre-determined ideas about the industry are perpetuated from a young age, with construction work deemed as hard manual labour, with very inflexible hours. However, this is not what all roles in the industry entail, with many potential routes available including health and safety, construction management, procurement, surveying and site inspection.
In addition, there is currently a huge skills shortage within the construction sector. The Construction Industry Training Board has estimated that 230,000 new skilled workers would be required to meet the demand for new infrastructure and housing projects in the UK – are women the solution?
In short, yes. Women could play a huge part in solving the skills shortage, which is why it is so important for companies to prioritise equal opportunities and diverse workforces.
Promising statistics are emerging despite the Covid-19 pandemic halting progression. In higher education, women now represent 18% of civil engineering students and 31% of architecture, building and planning students. However, there is clearly a very long way to go.
Saara Hussein, Design Technician at Detail, said: “The construction industry and culture towards women has significantly changed and is continuing to change; it’s not just a man’s world anymore. As the ideologies and philosophies change, women are naturally becoming drawn to construction, as they feel safer, supported, and valued.
“There has always been a stigma attached to women working in construction, and before I entered the profession; I had the same perception as those who are looking from the outside. There are many aspects of working in construction that I love; every day is different, its dynamic, challenging and motivating. The best part is the sense of achievement after nurturing a project over several months or years and seeing it complete – from desk to reality.
“Yes, there is still a lack of women in site-specific roles; however, I truly believe that your gender doesn’t limit you or define your skill or value. Regardless of your gender, if you can envisage a path, there is no end to how far you can go; you just have to love what you do in order to deliver the best.”
It is on all of us operating within this industry to ensure we are promoting equal opportunities for all genders and consistently monitoring for any imbalance in pay between men and women. Diverse teams are proven to be more effective, and women should not be overlooked in the construction industry for any longer.
