Celebrating Women in UK Construction
"We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements".
These words, found on the International Women's Day website, struck a chord with us. We frequently read articles about how few women work in construction and how few girls participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). But we don't see enough people actually celebrating the accomplishments of women in the industry and the progress that the industry has made.
Yes, there is still a long way to go, but let us pause for a moment to take stock and appreciate how far we have come before diving back into the challenges.
The increase in Women in the Construction Industry
Data from Statista on the number of people employed in the UK construction industry show that the number of women entering the industry in recent years has significantly increased:
- In Q1 2018 - 1,959,000 men employed in the UK construction industry, and 283,000 women
- In Q2 2022 - 1,847,000 men employed in the UK construction industry, and 324,000 women
An increase of 41,000 women is impressive on the surface, but the percentage increase of 14.8% in the number of women working in the industry between 2018 and 2022 is even more remarkable, and certainly cause for celebration.
What the Industry is Doing Right
Educating and inspiring future generations is key to addressing the perception of the industry and encouraging new talent. Esh Construction's award-winning Building my Skills and Get into STEM programmes engage with schools and colleges to educate pupils, parents and teachers about the options available in construction. This promotes the industry to girls and allows students to adapt their career paths and open the sector up to students from STEM subjects.
Engaging with young people does not end with schoolchildren. According to Go Construct, "37% of new entrants into the industry who came from higher education are women," and their "Women in Construction" pages work to dispel some of the construction industry's myths. Their website also includes useful information on how to get into the industry, whether you're a school leaver or already have a job, such as apprenticeships, traineeships, work experience, and even further qualifications.
Mentoring - working in a male-dominated industry can be intimidating for a woman. Mentoring schemes can help with this, but it doesn't have to be just women mentoring women; men can also make a difference. By being aware of how women in the workplace may behave differently than men and may therefore require managers who have more than one management style, by ensuring that women are not interrupted in meetings more frequently than their male counterparts, by ensuring that PPE and facilities provided to women are appropriate, and by simply being more aware. Women supporting women is fantastic, but we need men to support this too.
Providing female role models makes it easier for women to imagine themselves in any industry. Seeing women in construction and having visible role models is important for women - even on a subconscious level. Balfour Beatty recognised this as part of a previous International Women's Day campaign, when it said that "a business which reflects the society it serves will be better placed to continue to deliver for its stakeholders". It featured a number of the most powerful women in business sharing their experiences.
The Business Case for Gender Diversity in Construction
Aside from the legal requirement to promote workplace equality, it appears that businesses are becoming more aware of the clear business case for doing more to address gender balance in the industry.
There are advantages to involving more women: an open, diverse, and inclusive environment leads to increased productivity and staff retention. WISE claims that their research discovered "a correlation between STEM companies having more women on their boards and reaching the FTSE 100," and they also outline the additional benefits of gender balance in business in their publication Why Gender Diversity Makes Business Sense.
From a practical perspective, encouraging more women to pursue careers in construction will help to address the sector's skills shortage, which is, as we all know, a major issue.
In Summary
The construction industry is changing, and the skills required by the industry are also shifting as technology advances (think increased use of drones), building information modelling / BIM (consider computer skills), and modular construction (think of the design and installation challenges).
There are countless opportunities for women in the construction, and we personally can't wait to see their presence in the industry grow.
How Can We Help?
Are you searching for an opportunity in the construction industry or a hiring manager in need of top talent? Get in touch today getus@jamesgrayrecruitment.com