I realise that’s a big ‘if’ and am under no illusion about the size and solidity of those barriers.

Mountain of bias to climb

Analysis by Go Construct, the industry-sponsored campaign to boost recruitment, estimates that women make up just 14% of construction professionals. 

That sounds pitiful, but at least it’s progress. When I began my degree in building surveying little more than a decade ago, women made up just 10% of the entire construction workforce.

Then there’s the stubborn problem of the way women working in the sector are treated. A 2020 survey of 4,200 women working in construction conducted by recruitment firm Randstad found that almost three-quarters (72%) had experienced some form of gender discrimination at work.

This, along with the pay gap in construction, could be why many talented women conclude that construction isn’t a viable career for them.

Chipping away at an image problem as tough as concrete

Two key strands lie behind the negative impression many women have of construction.

The first is the lack of awareness of how diverse the sector is, and the huge variety of careers that construction offers — from surveying and engineering, to site management and town planning.
 
The second is the view that the industry is antiquated and unaccommodating to female construction professionals. 

Stereotypes can take years to change, but forward-thinking companies and independent not-for-profit organisations like Women into Construction are making great strides in creating a more gender-equal workforce by reaching out to women, of all ages, and helping them to explore the wide range of rewarding roles that construction involves. 

Schools are playing their part too, by encouraging and supporting more female pupils to study the STEM subjects that will open doors to courses in construction’s most exciting specialisms.

•   'There are still many industry events taking place where there is a minority of women on panels'
•   'Be unapologetic in fighting for what you deserve'
•   Only now am I starting to understand that I don't need to have a 'game face'

The industry now has an opportunity to inspire young people further by embracing green technologies and improving the sustainability of the built environment. With a growing number of graduates and school-leavers concerned by climate change, developers, consultants, and contractors who champion green tech and carbon reduction stand to boost their appeal among groups, including women, that may not have considered a career in construction before.

Construction employers shouldn’t stop at boosting the recruitment of female talent — they should also support the retention and progression of the female staff they already have. Some will need to consider whether changes are required to ensure their female employees enjoy the same opportunities for career advancement as the men, and whether they can improve the work environment to enable parents to balance their work and childcare commitments more easily.

As a woman who loves working in construction and is proud to work for a company like Naismiths that champions women in construction, I am encouraged by the changes the industry is already making to create a more gender-equal workforce. But there is so much more to do.

The right thing to do, for construction and women

Attracting more women to work in construction has always been the right thing to do, but the perfect storm of Brexit and the boom in post-pandemic demand — both of which have exacerbated construction’s long-term skills shortages — means it’s no longer merely the moral thing to do.

With the safety valve of EU workers now closed, parts of the construction industry are spiralling into a full-blown recruitment crisis. That’s why women are more than just an untapped talent pool — they could be construction’s salvation. 

Are you a woman in the financial services industry keen to get your voice heard? Contact [email protected] — we would love to chat!