How Women in the Construction Industry Are Shaping The UK’s Future
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles apply across sectors and industries, including construction. Meeting DEI principles aligns with organisations’ overall ESG goals and corporate responsibility. However, the drive for more women in the construction industry isn’t just to meet these goals but to move the industry forward.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the percentage of females in construction in the UK, once an under-represented minority, has surpassed 15% of the total construction workforce. This growth is promising for the industry, with nearly 37% of new construction workers entering the workforce being women. This statistic shows that women are ready to break barriers in an otherwise male-dominated sector.
This promising trend of the rising number of women in construction work is positively impacting the UK’s construction industry. This blog explores the invaluable contribution of women in shaping the UK’s building and construction sector.
Meeting Workforce Shortages
The UK’s building and construction industry is experiencing fast-paced growth. Supporting this growth and development requires a larger and more skilled workforce. However, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimates that the UK will face a severe skill shortage in the coming years. A staggering 250,000 workers are needed by 2027 to meet the significant labour shortage.
Labour contractors and construction firms are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit men aged 16 to 19, who form the traditional sources of labour. The current gaps, which are being filled by hiring low-wage workers from overseas, may grow wider in the near future.
Once ignored by construction employers, female jobs in construction are on the rise, with women being hired to work across a variety of roles in the industry. Skilled women are bridging the skilled workforce shortage by actively applying for diverse job roles, from joiners and carpenters to various project management positions. The UK construction industry has a window of opportunity to tap into an underrepresented demographic.
Diverse Thinking
Diversity in the workforce has been shown to boost business results. A McKinsey study found that organisations with better gender diversity are 25% more likely to gain above-average profits compared to their less-diverse counterparts.
Companies stand to benefit from the unique skills and viewpoints that women in construction work bring. Women can infuse innovative thinking, problem-solving nature, and adaptability when diverse perspectives are needed to drive innovative solutions and better project outcomes.
Historically, women have excelled in areas of project management, digital design, and problem-solving. They can infuse their abilities into building and redefining the future of the UK construction industry.
Better Representation
The growing percentage of females in construction in the UK is a positive sign for the overall economy. There’s a significant cultural transition taking place, with more of the female workforce actively joining the building and construction sector.
When more women join the construction industry and occupy leadership positions, they become good female role models for school and college graduates considering a secure future in the construction sector. Better representation of women in this non-traditional sector can influence the future careers of talented women.
Breaking Perceptions
The general public may have an inaccurate, stereotypical image of the construction and building sector. This industry is often perceived as offering low pay and poor working conditions, as well as ignoring environmental concerns and underperforming. This poor perception can be a barrier to people joining the construction workforce.
Addressing these concerns and prompting change may take time. However, building a better image of the industry can begin by increasing awareness of the facts, especially among women. This can help change the sector’s poor image and increase the entry of women into the construction industry.
Hireforce Welfare Supports Women in the Construction Industry
The growth of female jobs in construction in the UK is a positive sign. However, women are still not considered significant contributors to the growth and development of this sector. Rather than being perceived as a stop-gap arrangement for meeting labour gaps or filling diverse roles, women in the construction industry must be recognised for their significant contribution to the sector. At the same time, it’s equally important to have a supportive and inclusive on-site environment to retain female employees.
Hireforce Welfare supports the participation of all genders in various construction activities. We provide a range of 6 to 16-person site welfare units with offices that support the welfare, comfort and well-being of all workers on-site, regardless of gender. Our gender-sensitive safety measures promote a culture of respect and equality on and beyond the site.
Fitted with clean washrooms, continuous water supply, separate changing rooms to change into workwear, a kitchenette, and a seated dining area are just some of the features that make our welfare cabins truly inclusive. We partner with contractors and building companies catering to small and large workforces and provide for their workers’ welfare and well-being needs.
Contact our team to learn more about the features of our range of welfare units.