Attracting women to careers in construction will require a more comprehensive and substantive plan with approaches from multiple angles to address this decades-old issue, according to the HIA.
While women only make up 15% of the construction workforce, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) estimates an additional 83,000 trade workers are required to build the volume of housing needed right now. This figure does not even include professionals like engineers, construction and project managers, surveyors, architects, planners, certifiers, and designers.
The comments came from the Managing Director of the HIA, Jocelyn Martin, in the wake of International Women’s Day on 8 March.
“[It} offers an important opportunity for the construction industry, employers and governments to consider new and innovative ways to promote the breadth of careers available and the limitless career prospects that exist in the construction industry,” Ms Martin said.
“HIA is advocating that ‘business-as-usual’ approaches addressing these critical shortages won’t cut it.”
The association’s plan to attract more women to the industry includes implementing a widespread long-term funded program for every primary school to promote careers in construction; engaging industry-leading women ambassadors to talk about their experiences; commitment to increasing apprentice and traineeship support payments; targeting apprentice retention through industry-based mentoring programs; and fund ‘try a trade’ and build ready’ programs.
Ms Martin also said HIA advocates providing long-term financial support for employers to take on apprentices; developing a workforce development campaign specific to the most in-demand trade and non-trade roles; specific campaigns to target mature-aged workers wanting to change careers to return to the workforce after an absence; offer GTO funding that educates employers on contemporary family-friendly employment practices; and to continue funding for the National Construction Industry Forum.
Image credit: Empowered Women in Trades
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Focused on concrete and construction for more than 11 years, her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com