Last Updated on April 18, 2023 by Admin
The construction industry converts a range of resources into social, economic, and environmental infrastructure. It is one of the most influential sectors globally and in individual countries. We are discussing here the women in the construction industry.
The construction sector contributes significantly to all countries’ gross domestic product (GDP). It is also a significant employer. It is estimated that it provides 7 percent of total global employment or some 220 million people on average.
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Globally, the construction industry employs some 220 million. The industry is a significant contributor to the level of employment in all countries.
This covers an extensive range of trades, such as plumbers, carpenters, scaffolders, electricians, and plasterers. In addition, various professions are involved, such as engineers, architects, and surveyors. For unskilled workers, employment is often temporary, insecure, and dangerous.
Construction is the second largest industry in India after agriculture and contributes significantly to the GDP. It employs skilled and unskilled workers and is growing at around 7 percent per annum.
With over 35 million people engaged in this sector, women occupy nearly 30 percent of the workforce. Almost 65 percent of the women work as construction laborers since their families are already in the workforce or male members of their families are employed there.
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Table of Contents
Women In Construction
Women Leaders are changing the world as we see it today. When women, the very few, take top leadership positions, they bring about a change in the very culture of an organization.
According to data from the International Labor Organization (ILO), in 2021, women make up only around 10% of the global construction industry workforce.
This gender imbalance has persisted for many years, highlighting the need for increased efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the industry.
While there have been some positive developments in recent years, such as the growing number of women-led construction companies and initiatives to promote gender equality in the industry, there is still a long way to go to achieve true gender parity in construction globally.
In India, women comprise 42 percent of new graduates but only 24 percent of entry-level professionals. Of these, about 19 percent reach senior-level management roles.
Women hold only 7.7 percent of board seats and just 2.7 percent of board chairs. In the construction, the number drops further as only 1-2 percent reach top-level management positions.
However, there is a shortage of women in technical and managerial roles, particularly civil engineers, architects, structural engineers, electrical engineers, maintenance and supervisory staff, as just 1.4 percent of women are engaged in such technical roles.
Out of these, less than 2 percent reach leadership positions in construction companies.
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The ratio of male to female students in Civil Engineering courses is 4:1. From this pool, only 20 percent of women join the construction sector and the rest move on to other jobs/sectors. And also, at the specialized construction management and postgraduate course, only 20-30 percent of students are female.
It is a constant challenge to hire women in such a male field for various reasons but the most glaring not many women look at construction or civil engineering as a career option.
More than within the industry, this stigma is due to environmental and societal pressures that make this disparity un-breachable.
Construction has always been a male bastion in India and the world. Very few women are on sites or working in civil construction companies.
It was never considered a career option (when women started asserting their choice to exercise options) for young engineers, architects, or professionals. It was unfathomable why a woman would want construction as a career option.
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The scenario has changed over the past few years as more female students are enrolling in civil engineering and construction management courses.
Also, more office/indoor and IT-enabled technical jobs are emerging due to technological advancement. So the demand for women-centric workplaces in construction and similar industries has arisen.
In the construction industry, women are working at three levels:
- Women in a technical positions as engineers or architects
- Women in an administrative positions like managers (Finance, HR), etc
- Women as construction labors
The situation of women in an administrative positions is favorable as they are not required to travel to the construction sites and may have the option to work flexible working hours.
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Construction is India’s second-largest jobs sector after agriculture and is predicted to grow substantially in the coming years.
According to a report by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), women make up only 4.84% of the total workforce in India’s construction industry.
However, the report also notes that the representation of women in construction is increasing, with a 5.1% growth rate in female employment in the industry between 2017 and 2019.
Additionally, the report highlights the potential for the construction industry to provide opportunities for women to enter the workforce, particularly in rural areas where construction is a significant source of employment.
Though an industry needs serious labor reforms, it remains an essential source of jobs for the very poor and marginalized.
Women working in construction are on the increase. 37% of new entrants into the industry from higher education are women.
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The construction industry is growing.
With the government looking to invest in infrastructure all over India, road projects, building projects, and other construction jobs are in high demand. Many crews are employed before the next job even starts.
Plus, construction work is available almost everywhere, so you can travel, too! If you’ve ever thought about getting into construction, now is the time to do it!
Possible construction jobs for women include
There is a huge range of jobs within the construction sector, and figuring out which one you’re interested in is important. As a women employee in the construction industry, you could land a job from the various jobs available in the construction industry.
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The number of women in construction jobs is increasing.
Yes, the number of women in construction jobs is increasing, although women remain underrepresented in the industry. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of women working in construction jobs has steadily increased over the past few decades.
In 1985, women comprised just 3.4% of the construction workforce, but by 2020, that number had risen to 10.3%. Similarly, in the UK, the number of women working in construction has increased by 50% in the past five years, according to a report by Randstad. While progress has been made, there is still a long way to go to achieve gender parity in the construction industry.
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Strong Career Progression Opportunities
Many companies are making a strong push for gender diversity in every industry, and that includes construction projects. Young women are being encouraged to consider career growth opportunities in fields that previously they would have had to fight to even get into, let alone to be considered for promotions in.
Nowadays, managing directors, construction managers, project manager, and more high-level positions are considered fair game for the female workforce in construction – with the bonus of being a potential role model for other women looking to become tradespeople.
Women In Construction have strong industry support.
Women’s rights in the workplace are now an everyday conversation, and the construction and building industry recognizes that.
Groups like the national association of women in construction, along with social media movements and sexual harassment training for male colleagues, all mean that women are treated better than they ever have been – and when they’re not, there’s more support than ever.
Trade unions also recognize the positive impact that women can have on construction sites and in construction companies, meaning that as a female construction worker, you’re likely to get more support and help than women in some other industries.
How can I get into the Construction Industry?
There are many ways into construction, whether you’re leaving school or establishing your career. You could:
- Earn while you learn in an Apprenticeship
- Develop deeper into your chosen field with a degree
- Build your skills with an Internship
- Get a taste of the industry with work experience
- Achieve a qualification to help you on your journey
Working in construction makes you feel precious in society. You’re working in a job that you know can change people’s quality of life. You feel proud of doing this job.
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Conclusion
To encourage women’s participation in construction, they must be supported and encouraged for non‐traditional choices early.
If you’re interested in a lifelong career with strong growth opportunities and job security, working in the construction field could be for you – especially if you’re a female worker. Job sites are no longer limited to men, with women doing the administrative work, so get started with a course in construction today!
Reference
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294355586_THE_ROLE_OF_WOMEN_IN_CONSTRUCTION_INDUSTRY_AN_INDIAN_PERSPECTIVE
- https://www.mahilahousingtrust.org/our-work/women-in-construction/
- http://www.businessworld.in/article/Women-Workforce-In-The-Male-Dominated-Construction-Industry-In-India/09-02-2019-167009/
- https://www.goconstruct.org/construction-today/diversity-in-construction/women-in-construction/
