It’s no secret that construction has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, with the sector often being one of the lowest performers in terms of gender diversity.
However, while there is still much work to be done to address the gender imbalance, recent research from Redrow has highlighted that things are heading in the right direction, with more women than ever before either working in or considering a career in construction.
Two-thirds of women open to a career in construction
One of the standout figures from these latest findings revealed that three in five (66%) young women already work in, have considered working in, or are open to working in construction.
This statistic signals a significant rise from the previous year, when only 17% of women had expressed the same sentiment.
Perceptions are also changing among younger generations. In 2020, 44% of young people believed construction was dominated by men. In 2024, this figure has dropped to 39%, while 32% of young people surveyed said they had considered a career in construction.
What has changed?
Of the 1,000 young adults surveyed, 39% of women said the earning potential was one of the sector’s most appealing factors. This was followed by 26% of women citing the industry’s long-term career prospects, and 25% saying the idea of setting up their own business was the biggest draw.
The rise in the number of female role models working in the industry has also likely had a knock-on effect, with 42% of women saying they’d want to work for a business that has female or LGBTQ leaders.
More women training at Able Skills
Here at Able Skills, we’ve seen first-hand an increase in the number of women pursuing trade training, particularly in technical areas such as electrical, gas and plumbing, with electrical seeing a 75% increase from 2022 to 2023.
We’ve also seen a similar increase in the number of women completing construction courses outside of these technical areas, including training in trades like bricklaying and carpentry.
These increases have been across Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications, which may suggest that the women completing them are genuinely interested in going on to pursue a career in the industry.
How do we build on this?
Education has a major role to play in boosting the number of women interested in a construction career. The industry must do better at explaining and advertising the vast scope of opportunities that are available, be it working on site or in the office.
Ensuring women hold senior positions within construction organisations is also vital. Female role models are essential in any industry, particularly in one in which women are so underrepresented.
Addressing the gender pay gap in construction is also essential. This is an area where the industry has clearly lagged behind, and tackling it head on is integral to improving diversity.