The construction industry is one of the most male-dominated sectors in the UK, with reports showing women make up only 15% of the construction workforce in 2024, totalling around 340,000 female workers.
Women in Construction: The Statistics
- 15% of professionals in the UK construction industry are women. (ONS)
- 1% of the manual workforce in construction is female. (SIMIAN)
- Women occupy just 9.2% of the highest-paid roles in construction, while 29% are in the lowest-paid quartile. (New Civil Engineer)
- Women hold only 7% of line executive roles in the construction sector. (Autodesk)
- 38% of female construction workers have never had a female manager. (Randstad)
- 20% of women feel they cannot return to senior positions after maternity leave. (Randstad)
- 67% of women across sectors report experiencing gender-based inequality in the workplace. (Randstad)
- 66% of young women are either working in, considering, or open to a career in construction. (Redrow PLC)
- The number of women employed in the construction industry reached 340,000 in Q2 of 2023. (ONS)
- Nearly 60% of employers in the UK aren’t providing women’s PPE. (NAWIC/CIOB)
How Many Women are In The Construction Industry?
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), only 15% of professionals in the UK construction industry are women, and many of these roles are in administrative or managerial positions, rather than on-site jobs.
SIMIAN, a leading construction consultancy found that women make up only 1% of the manual workforce, with most labour-intensive roles still heavily dominated by men.
The Gender Pay Gap
Shockingly, one of the most significant barriers preventing more women from joining the construction workforce is the persistent gender pay gap.
Research carried out in 2023 by New Civil Engineer revealed that women occupy just 9.2% of the highest-paid roles in construction, while a disproportional 29% are in the lowest-paid quartile.
The gap is even more pronounced in leadership positions, where women hold only 7% of line executive roles, according to research by Autodesk.
Although there has been progress in recent years, the rate of change remains slow.
Workplace Culture
Women in construction also face far-reaching challenges related to workplace culture.
A recent report by leading HR consultants Randstad, found that 38% of female construction workers had never had a female manager, with 20% of women feeling they would be unable to return to senior positions after taking maternity leave.
In addition, harassment and discrimination remain concerns, with 67% of women across sectors reporting gender-based inequality in the workplace, and many indicating that male-dominated networking and decision-making processes exclude them.
Despite these obstacles, more women are showing interest in construction careers. A survey of 1,000 young adults by House Builder Redrow PLC found that 66% of young women were either working in, considering, or open to a career in construction.
The number of women employed in the industry reached 340,000 in Q2 of 2023, a record high, reflecting shifting attitudes and growing awareness of the opportunities available to women in construction. However, significant barriers remain, and closing the gender gap requires targeted action from the industry.
Gender Discrimination in the Construction Sector
The figures above clearly show that gender discrimination remains a key barrier for women in construction, discouraging many from entering the industry or advancing within it.
The sector has long been perceived as male-dominated, with women facing challenges ranging from pay inequality to cultural bias. Despite ongoing efforts, the gender pay gap remains significant, with women often occupying lower-paid roles and struggling to advance into leadership positions.
Entering on-site roles present additional challenges for women, as construction jobs are often marketed as physically demanding and better suited to men.
In truth, the manual nature of construction labour is very often not the problem for women working on-site. Instead, it is the lack of awareness around providing the correct equipment and tools that many workers face on a daily basis.
NAWIC (The National Association of Women in Construction) conducted a directory alongside CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) and found that nearly 60 per cent of employers in the UK aren’t providing women’s PPE, despite it being readily available in the market.
To not facilitate female workers on-site is not only a major social issue, but could also be crippling construction businesses who are in the midst of a labour shortage globally.
Why Hiring More Women is One of Construction’s Biggest Opportunities
The construction industry faces a significant labour shortage, with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimating that an additional 250,000 workers will be needed by 2027 to meet growing demand.
This gap presents a huge opportunity for the sector to tap into an underrepresented demographic: Women. By actively recruiting, training and marketing towards more women, the industry can address both its labour shortage and its diversity challenges, while unlocking substantial economic benefits.
The Benefits Of Diversity
Diverse teams have been consistently shown to drive better business outcomes. Research by McKinsey found that companies with high gender diversity are 25% more likely to experience above-average profitability than their less-diverse counterparts.
In construction, where innovation, problem-solving, and adaptability are critical, the inclusion of diverse perspectives can lead to more creative solutions and improved project outcomes.
Most importantly, women bring unique skills and viewpoints that can help redefine construction’s future. With increasing automation and technological advancements in the industry, the traditional perception of construction as physically demanding is changing.
The modern construction landscape requires a broader range of skills, such as project management, digital design, and problem-solving, areas where women have historically excelled.
Additionally, many women who are more than capable of the manual nature of construction work often struggle to hear about opportunities in the market due to a lack of awareness.
This begs the question, how can we begin to appeal to this huge untapped demographic?
How Construction Companies Can Hire More Women
To fully unlock the potential of women in construction, companies must implement proactive strategies to attract, hire, and retain female talent. Here are just some key approaches construction firms can take:
- Change Recruitment Processes
- Introduce More Apprenticeships For Women
- Get Involved In Events
- Create A Healthy On-Site Working Environment
Change Recruitment Processes
One of the first steps is to overhaul recruitment practices to be more inclusive. In 2024, job adverts should use gender-neutral language, clearly outline flexible working options, and emphasise opportunities for development.
LinkedIn research reveals that women are more likely to apply for jobs only when they meet 100% of the qualifications, while men tend to apply when they meet around 60%.
By highlighting training and development opportunities in job advertisements, companies can ease concerns about meeting all the requirements and encourage more women to apply.
Introduce Apprenticeships for Women
Apprenticeships offer a practical way to bring more women into the industry. Targeting female students with tailored apprenticeship programs, especially in traditionally male-dominated trades like bricklaying and carpentry, can help break down stereotypes and provide young women with hands-on experience.
Increasingly, young women are showing interest in these apprenticeships, signalling a shift in perceptions about their role in construction.
Get Involved in Women in Construction Events
Participation in industry events that promote women in construction is a powerful way to demonstrate a real commitment to diversity. Companies can sponsor, attend, or host these events to connect with female talent and show that they value inclusivity.
Events such as Women in Construction Week, the Women in Construction Awards or networking forums can provide exposure and mentorship opportunities for women interested in the field.
Invest in Creating a Healthy On-Site Environment
A supportive and inclusive work environment is crucial to retaining female employees.
This includes offering gender-sensitive health and safety measures, such as properly fitting safety gear (PPE) and facilities such as sanitary bins provided in on-site toilets, and providing training to address discrimination and unconscious bias.
Promoting a culture of respect and equality on-site ensures that women feel safe, valued, and empowered to succeed.
This might be the hardest but most rewarding change construction businesses can employ. It requires a true commitment from people at every level, to rewire how they market, support and compensate their current and prospective employees, regardless of their gender.
