Construction is a huge industry, but does it unfairly discriminate against a major section of the workforce? Large scale projects can stop and start depending on wider economic confidence, yet construction remains a massive industry across the world. With the surging global population it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.It employs thousands of people on a day-to-day basis across the UK; perhaps even millions, on a sunny summer’s day. Why then, does such a gender disparity remain?
Women are said to comprise just 11 per cent of the construction workforce. Plenty of those work in offices in administrative, design or management roles rather than on site, where 99 per cent are men. On the face of it you might suggest it makes sense. A degree of physical strength is needed and, as a general rule, men are stronger than women.But there are all sorts of roles on construction sites, particularly large sites. It’s not just heavy lifting and ground working. For example, driving and lifting materials from vehicles requires less brute force, and comes with a skill-set that doesn’t require considerable strength. Logistics, organisation and management of teams is another.Is the issue one of culture? A changing room mentality, ‘all the lads together’? Does this put off women? Or is it simply a self-fulfilling issue because that’s always been the way it is, and nobody is that fussed about changing it? Or is it just good old fashioned, unspoken sexism?Here in the UK we have the lowest proportion of female engineers of any country in Europe. Just 14 per cent of people starting a first degree in engineering or technology are women.There are groups of people looking to address the issue, like the networking group Chicks With Bricks.The group’s organiser Holly Porter told The Guardian that she believes part of the problem is sexism.
“I think a lot of it is about perception. The reason I set up Chicks With Bricks was because you just couldn’t find any female role models; they weren’t publicised. There was an element of: ‘if you’re a woman in construction, you keep your head down, don’t talk about it and pretend you’re a bloke’.”
Clearly, there are no quick fixes. Stereotypes remain ingrained with attitudes and culture. There may be a gradual generational change, but at Atlantic Resource we believe it’s important that such networks, groups and initiatives promoting women in the industry continue and prosper. Strong workforces are diverse workforces, whatever the sector, combining on a range of different personalities, skills and experiences.By ignoring the issue, not talking about it and keeping our collective heads down, nothing much will change.If you’re seeking work or workers in the construction industry, male or female, get in touch.
