Untapped Opportunities for Women in Construction

Women in Construction Week 2023

This article is about women in construction, written by women in construction.

The Australian construction industry, according to the RBA, is one of the five largest industries in the country, employing one in ten workers and valued at $165 billion – but it is also a citadel of male sovereignty with women making up only 5% of the total workforce. Dropping significantly from 2006 when women occupied 17% of the workforce, since then there has been a steady decline of women working in construction.

Women in Construction Week runs from 5-11 March 2023 and is celebrated internationally. Having been founded in 1953 in the United States, it has grown into a global phenomenon with its goal to highlight the achievements of women in construction and to improve conditions allowing more women to enter this workforce.

The Australian Government is hoping to drive change in this area having launched a $20 million Women in Construction Innovation program in late-2022, aimed at boosting the number of women in the workforce to 15% by end-2023. In partnership with this initiative, some of our State Governments have followed suit.

The New South Wales Government has piloted an Australian-first Culture Standard to improve facilities and working conditions at NSW construction sites. The Queensland Government joined forces with the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) to set a new industry precedent for female participation and the Victorian Government introduced Building Equality Policy (BEP) to encourage women to join apprenticeships and traineeships.

But is this enough?

Women power almost half the paid workforce in Australia. For male-dominated industries like construction, now is the time to rewrite the definition of ‘true diversity and inclusion’.

At Con-form Group, women make up 20% of our workforce. So, in line with the ideals of Women in Construction Week, we asked the women of Con-form Group about their experiences and their perspective on what the construction industry can be doing better.

BUILDING A NEW CONSTRUCTION CULTURE

“I love working in this industry. It’s challenging, tough and rewarding. The potential for women in this market is – I feel, untapped” said Boleyn Neist, Marketing Manager at Con-form Group. “If I had my time over again, I would have definitely studied a trade – like carpentry. It just wasn’t an option, or rather presented as an option for me as a young woman.”

She continues, “It’s important we raise awareness about these opportunities for women [in construction] and talk about what it means to be a female in this trade”.

Con-form Group’s core values are based on respect, mateship, cultural and gender diversity. We strongly believe in equality of gender, ethnicity, physical ability and cultural background. The team are united in building a safe, innovative, and respectful environment for all Con-form Group employees, clients and industry partners.

Joyce Gabinete, who works in Con-form Group’s finance department, compares her experience working in production, another male-dominated industry, and working in construction at Con-form Group. “The stark difference is patience and respect! Our male-counterparts in this company are so patient in terms of taking time to help me understand the technical aspects of our work – something I’m not certain is prevalent across the industry.”

Claire Godley, also from the Finance Department, added “our team understand the boundary between mansplaining and educating”.

When asked what advice they’d give to women wanting to enter construction, Project Coordinator Paige Coppack says, “communication is key… I find that having a sturdy voice and being clear in my communications with colleagues and clients is very important. Especially when working in a male-dominated industry when they are not expecting to hear a female’s voice over the phone.”

Claire agrees, “In my experience, I’ve felt I’ve been underestimated in this industry because I’m a woman. In such circumstances, you need to speak up, be firm and ask for clear information.”

Boleyn continues, “I don’t feel like I’ve experienced any discrimination at Con-form Group because I’m a woman. However, part of my job is to get on-site and document our work – this is where I’ve experienced some gender discrimination. In some instances, I’ve felt unwelcome on site. I’ve been looked at oddly, even heard some men mutter that ‘women shouldn’t be on site – they’re distracting’! However, there are sites I’ve been to where the guys, from the Site Managers to Sub-Contractors, were awesome! They were welcoming, kind and completely unbothered by my presence. They know I’m qualified to be on site and am there to do my job. I just wish this was the case across all sites.”

On being asked if they will be willing to work on-site, Casheena Flores, another Con-form Group teammate answered, “Absolutely!” She added, “my father is a Carpenter, and my husband is a Civil Engineer, so I have been pandered to choose a job on the basis of qualifications, not industry.”

BARRIERS FOR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

In 2020, RMIT University released a research paper exploring the barriers of woman in construction. They found eight overarching reasons for the gender-gap in Australia, they are listed as being:

1. Problems with apprenticeship training
2. Hostile work environment
3. Poor worker wellbeing
4. Psychosocial safe climate
5. Incivility and disrespect
6. Lack of supervisor support
7. Work-family conflict
8. Resilience

“I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, literally, but I need that respect and to be seen beyond my gender because I am just as qualified to be on a site as others are”, says Boleyn.

“Imagine Bella teaching Bob the ropes. The industry would be better for it. It would be stronger, more productive, and more collaborative.”

Australian Constructors Association

SMALL STEPS CAN LEAD TO BIG CHANGES

From our perspective, in order to drive change, we need to reframe the dialogue about how roles in this industry are portrayed to women, and from a young age. It’s time for women to see roles in construction as a viable career in all areas of its various trades.

When the women of Con-form Group were asked for their ideas on how to can improve gender-equality in construction, they had this to say – almost in unison…

• Equality and respect programs implemented across the industry.
• The public sphere can normalise the conversation of women in construction. Namely, around women being able to do the hard yakka – because we can!
• Closing of the gender pay gap across all roles in construction.
• Appropriate amenities on sites.
• Schools and Parents can encourage their female students and daughters into looking at all industries as a career – including trades. The pay for blue-collar jobs, as they’re known colloquially, can be just as lucrative, if not more so, than white-collar jobs – which woman are mainly pushed into.

“I believe women can do just as much as men can do. I always have. I think anyone can train [to do a job], anyone can learn – male, female, it shouldn’t matter” explains Kate Davis, Accounts extraordinaire at Con-form Group.

FILLING THE LABOUR SHORTAGE VOID

The Australian Financial Review reported that construction job vacancies rose by 80% and “over 100,000 jobs are expected to go unfilled by 2023” as a result of a lack of skilled and qualified candidates.

Here’s an idea – why not fill this gap with women? This will not only fill the labour shortage but also will improve mental health and work-life balance for current construction workers.

BENEFITS OF HIRING WOMEN FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK

Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency has reported that a gender-balanced workplace improves productivity, economic growth, mental wellbeing in employees, retention and organisational reputation.

Even despite its challenges, women are known to enjoy working in construction. Of course, every job, no matter the industry, has its ups and down and construction is no different.

Tamara, HR Manager at Con-form Group concludes, “while the industry is still male dominated, I have noticed a shift and it’s all very exciting. I believe a greater representation of women in this workforce will result in new innovations, growth and positive change.”