Women in Construction: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead

The construction industry is making strides in closing the gender gap, with more women joining the workforce than ever before. Yet, despite these promising developments, there's still significant work ahead, and the recent progress simply marks a step in the right direction.

Latest Trends

While the number of women in construction has reached a near-record high, the industry continues to be predominantly male-dominated.

Women now own 13% of construction firms, and 16% of senior management roles are filled by women. However, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that only 13.6% of the overall construction workforce is female, down from a peak of 15.8% in 2023.

This decline might seem discouraging, but the overall trend over the past decade remains positive. A survey by Simian shows that more women are joining the industry than ever before, with 37% of new construction workers being women.

Nevertheless, construction is still falling behind other industries. Nationally, women make up almost half the total workforce, yet the stark underrepresentation in construction points to a clear gender gap.

Why Diversity Matters in Construction

The benefits of gender diversity go beyond a simple tick box exercise for corporate image building.

Research shows that companies with greater gender diversity experience lower turnover rates, for both women (15% lower) and men (25% lower). Companies with higher gender diversity are also 15% more likely to outperform financially, demonstrating the real value of inclusion.

Diverse teams are better at decision-making, as they bring a wider range of perspectives and experiences. In short, building a diverse workforce isn’t just about appearing forward-thinking - it’s a strategic move that drives innovation, improves decision-making and strengthens financial performance.

The Challenges

Despite the benefits, several barriers still hinder women from entering or staying in the construction industry. One major factor is the industry’s historical male bias - 10% of the nation’s male workforce is in construction, but it remains one of the least popular career paths for women.

The latest ONS Labour Force Survey found that 37.4% of women work part-time, often to balance childcare and work. Creating more part-time positions and offering flexible hours could help attract and retain women in construction.

Moreover, most women in construction are not “on the tools”- with 81% working in roles such as administration or design, and only 1% are involved in skilled trades. The gender pay gap also persists, with women earning up to a third less than their male counterparts. To add to this, discrimination is still unfortunately prevalent, with 72% of women reporting experiences of gender bias at work.

It's factors like these which reinforce the male-dominated nature of the industry, and only by addressing them head-on can the trend begin to shift.

Positive Changes

Despite all the challenges, the industry is making concerted efforts to become more gender-inclusive. Government-led initiatives like National Women in Construction Week and apprenticeship programmes are helping young women enter the field. Great strides have been made already, as one construction contractor recently saw 115 female applicants for just 17 apprenticeship roles.

Additionally, industry-driven campaigns like the Women in Construction Awards and the ‘I am a Housebuilder’ initiative are raising the profile of women in the field. Supported by Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions, ‘I am a Housebuilder’ promotes women’s success in the field and provides mentorship to help more women progress into senior positions.

Seven women are leading the charge, including Sophie Horgan, Director of Horgan Homes, and Xuan Meng, Founder and Director of Cosy Hauz. Both have overcome significant obstacles to achieve success in the industry and are now giving back by mentoring the next generation.

We believe in celebrating every achievement along the journey towards building better, so we are proud to support Sophie and Xuan in their missions.

Leading the charge into the future

As an industry, we should be offering more opportunities for women to enjoy long and rewarding careers. That means we all must play our part. We must work together to offer more opportunities to young women through apprenticeships and other professional development channels.

Creating inclusive workplaces is essential - not just for retaining women, but for ensuring they reach their full potential. A growing female workforce will only enhance the industry’s resilience, drive innovation, and boost competitiveness.

Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions has created its Building Better Hub to provide resources and talking points on major industry issues such as workforce gender diversity. Head over to the Building Better Hub and check out the latest videos on this topic, as well as a host of content including podcasts and blogs.