Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Gender diversity building in construction sector

The NSW Government’s annual Women in Construction survey has revealed the number of women entering the industry has risen by 12.5% in the past year.

The survey of more than 1,000 construction workers also found that of the businesses surveyed, women now make-up 20% of the construction workforce.

Key challenges identified by both men and women, include a lack of work-life balance (62%), lack of flexible working hours (51%), and insufficient mentoring and leadership training (47%).

The survey also showed that achieving work-life balance and flexible work options are critical for staff retention, with 40% of workers considering leaving jobs due to difficulties balancing their work and personal responsibilities.

“We are committed to increasing women’s participation in the construction industry – this is essential for building a workforce that reflects our diverse communities,” said Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan.

“Change doesn’t happen overnight, but this report shows that targeted programs, like Women in Construction, can produce positive results. This report and the feedback I hear generally tells me that we still have a long way to go, across industry, in providing a workplace culture that encourages women to participate. Government is doing good work with industry, particularly large employers, but the change needs to happen in every workplace.”

Some concerning statistics were highlighted in the survey, with 69% of women reporting some form of gender-based discrimination in the past year, and 33% experiencing workplace sexual harassment.

The Government says it is committed to creating safer and more respectful workplaces, with the SafeWork NSW Respect at Work strategy continuing to drive efforts to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace through education and enforcement.

It is also leveraging its procurement power to ensure contractors introduce flexible workplace policies and encourage development of mentoring programs to support women’s long-term success in the industry.

Through the Culture in Construction Taskforce, several major infrastructure projects including Transport for NSW, Mulgoa Road Upgrade Stage 1 and Health Infrastructure NSW, Randwick Children’s Hospital Redevelopment are piloting the Culture Standard which includes capped working hours and a five-day week. Initial findings of the piloted projects suggest improvements to recruitment and retention of women in construction.

“This is an important step in helping all our workers feel respected and valued, listening to what women are calling out for, and showing our commitment to equitable workplaces,” said Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen.

“Government can and should leverage its procurement power to increase women’s participation, and Transport for NSW is implementing this across its projects.

“The workforce delivering Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 enabling works will be supported by wellbeing initiatives from the Culture in Construction Taskforce’s Culture Standard, which include a target for 40% female staff participation during project enabling works, flexible working hours and on-site mental health first aiders.”

In addition, the NSW Government’s Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program works with industry and contractors to implement flexible workplace and supportive policies, making construction a more appealing career choice for women.

Earlier this year, the government announced $2.2 million in funding to support initiatives to attract and retain women in construction and build more inclusive cultures.

The survey findings will guide the future direction of the government’s Women in Construction program, addressing entrenched issues and ensuring continued progress toward increasing women’s participation in the industry.

“The future of our trades industry lies in embracing the diversity and capabilities of all workers. It’s important that we’re creating a safe, inclusive and dynamic workforce that welcomes and supports women in all trade roles,” said Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison.

“The insights gathered from the annual Women in Construction Industry Survey will guide the future direction of our programs, ensuring our actions are informed by the experiences of women in the sector.

“We know there is more work to be done, and the NSW Government is working with industry to ensure we drive change by removing barriers and creating supportive pathways for women to thrive,” she said.

To find out more, and see the full survey results, see the Women in Construction program.

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