Only 3% of ‘blue collar’ construction workers are women, a study of ONS data by the GMB union has shown.
The statistic, coming at a time when many industry sectors are crying out for shopfloor and onsite workers, also shows that women still only make up 13% of all construction roles, something the union blames on discrimination at all levels as well as ‘rigid, non-family friendly organisation of work at site level’.
It points to a pilot scheme sponsored by Build UK which trialled flexible working on construction sites and found productivity was increased and the wellbeing of the workforce improved, showing that improvement can be achieved, says the union.
Charlotte Childs, GMB national officer for construction and engineering, said: “Nearly a third of construction workers are over the age of 50 and in the next 10 to 15 years half a million workers will leave the industry.
“Women will be vital to plug that gap and the only way this will be done is with a huge shift in culture. A tremendous amount of work is needed to level the playing field for women in construction.”
A previous GMB study showed at the current rate of growth, gender equality in the construction industry will take nearly 200 years to achieve.
https://timewise.co.uk/article/making-construction-a-great-place-to-work-can-flexible-working-help/
