Join us as we celebrate the women driving advancement in the construction industry.
How many women are in construction? 10% of workers in the construction industry are women. 86.7% are in office positions, and only 2.5% are tradespeople. Today, we call for a safer, more inclusive & equitable sector.
This week we caught up with our managing director, Joanne Waller, for an insight into her experience within the construction industry.
What is it like to be a woman in the construction industry?
Property development and the wider construction industry are excellent for women; it's fast-paced, exciting and challenging, and no two days are the same. Thirty years ago, I'd have never imagined working in construction, and at that time, it was not encouraged, but I am so happy to be here.
What is the most satisfying part of your job?
Seeing your projects develop from the initial design to completion is one of the most fulfilling aspects of working in this industry. We are providing homes for families and individuals to start a new chapter in their lives; what could be more rewarding than that?
How can we encourage more females into construction roles?
Women remain massively underrepresented in the sector, but little by little, we are seeing a much-needed positive shift with more women taking on construction roles at various levels of seniority. A rise in organisations such as 'Women in Construction' are helping to normalise the position of women in the industry, which is fantastic, particularly with gender fluidity and broader inclusivity. This needs encouragement from a school level rather than gender-traditional courses being pushed on our teenagers. The world is changing, and the Construction industry needs to evolve.
If more women are going to choose construction roles, and I sincerely hope this is the case, we need to address the glaring disparity when it comes to the current gender pay gap. The industry would greatly benefit from a wider gender balance overall as women can bring fresh perspectives and skill sets, improving site productivity.
We need to make construction an aspirational career path for women and create more opportunities within the industry. A push to upskill and progress females already working in construction into site manager and hands-on leadership roles will help create positive female role models that all women can aspire to.
We still have a long way to go, but seeing more and more females on site is incredible.
Organisations such as Women Into Construction and NAWIC are great resources for women looking to progress within the construction industry.
Sources: www.darcyassociates.co.uk
