Breaking Down Barriers: Women in Construction

• Women now make up the highest percentage ever of the UK construction workforce, showing steady progress in a field traditionally dominated by men.
• But more needs to be done, which is why there has recently been an increase in employment support for women who are looking to learn a trade. 
• Industry initiatives are promoting inclusion and diversity by offering mentoring, training, apprenticeships, and job opportunities for women, and working to create a more inclusive workplace culture.

Seeing as it’s National Careers Week, Women in Construction Week, and International Women’s Day all at once, we thought we’d take the opportunity to highlight how women are succeeding in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Exhibit A: Construction

The building trade has long been seen as the domain of men, with women often reluctant to even consider a career on site or in the back office.

On one level, this makes a lot of sense. After all, women have historically faced and continue to face significant barriers to entering the industry, from stereotypes about gender and hyper-masculine workplaces to a shortage of female role models and a lack of awareness about the diverse range of available jobs.

But things are changing – and they’re changing fast.

Steady Progress

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), women now make up around 15 percent of the UK construction industry workforce, which is roughly equivalent to 325,000 workers.[i]

While this might not sound like a lot, it still represents the highest figure on record and evidence of gradual progress over the past decade or so. For reference, before the Covid-19 pandemic, women comprised just 12.6 percent of the sector’s labour.

Support for Women in Construction

There are several industry-led initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion and diversity in construction and encouraging more women to pick up a trowel, drill, or optical level set. These initiatives tend to focus on expanding mentoring, apprenticeship, and job prospects for women.

Many organisations and employers are also making a big effort to create a more welcoming and inclusive workplace culture. Among other things, these efforts aim to boost flexibility at work, ensure that women have the same career progression opportunities as men, and create an environment where women feel valued and supported.

What’s more, the Growth Company offers tailored support for people looking to start a new career or transition into a different one. We provide guidance to help people navigate the job market, develop new skills, and achieve their professional goals. This support includes job coaching, apprenticeships, training courses, and more.

The building trade is evolving, and women are set to play a key role in its future. If you're a woman interested in learning a trade, we can help you decide which role and support best suit your needs.

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a mission to generate growth, create jobs, and improve lives. We help people and businesses across the UK to develop, grow and succeed through a range of employment, skills and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire and Humber.

Contact us today to find out more.

[i] Office for National Statistics. 'LFS: In Employment: Construction: UK: Women: Aged 16 and over: Thousands: NSA'. Last modified March 10, 2025.