The IHBC has welcomed the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) initiative on an industry survey that has revealed that more needs to be done to change perceptions and encourage more women into construction.
image CCS website
The UK and Ireland campaign Spotlight on… women in construction has been launched by the Considerate Constructors Scheme to boost the much-needed industry effort to attract more women into the construction industry. Whilst 79% of respondents said the construction industry has improved its approach in encouraging women into construction, 52% have witnessed or experienced sexism within the industry.
CCS writes:
The survey also reveals the main reasons women do not choose to work in construction cited as being:
- Working conditions – 22%
- Lack of female role models – 22%
- Negative image of the industry – 20%
- The Scheme, which makes around 15,000 monitoring visits to construction sites, companies and suppliers every year, surveyed over 1,000 people to find out why women still only represent a meagre 11% of the construction industry workforce. The Campaign provides a variety of practical steps that can be taken to address this issue in the short, medium and long term.
The survey findings also revealed that:
- 94% of respondents agreed that the industry would benefit from employing more women
- 76% said there are no construction jobs which only men can do
- 74% said there should not be quotas for hiring women into construction.
It is clear from the survey, that although some results appear encouraging, there is still a huge amount to be done, particularly in addressing sexism and changing misguided perceptions of what a career in construction offers to women.
https://www.ccscheme.org.uk/the-scheme-launches-spotlight-on-women-in-construction/
