The construction industry is far from being synonymous with a robust female workforce. In fact, women make up an exceptionally low percentage of workers in this field, and without intervention, these stats show no sign of drastic change. There’s a multitude of compounding factors which account for the low uptake on construction-related roles by women.
The main offenders include the ever-present unconscious gender biases afflicting employers and young women deciding on a career path alike; there’s the outdated, clichéd perception of a building site as a toxic, hyper-masculine environment, or the common misconception that the main feature of every job is physical labour. Sure, there are some roles that still require heavy lifting (and there are talented, skilled women well able to manage those too), but in recent years a lot has been mechanised. On any given project, there are a wealth of professional opportunities that don’t list superhuman strength as a CV requirement.
In the realms of manufacturing, design, tech, academia, and research, previous pushes to get females into STEM are beginning to pay off. Each of these fields display a slow and steady increase in women in their respective industries. However, only a disproportionally low number of those ‘T’, ‘E’, and 'M’ graduates ever make it to the world of construction.
According to the Women in Trades Network Ireland, less than 5% of construction workers on-site are women, while the number of females in trades apprenticeships doesn’t even hit 1%. If your instinct is to go: ‘Ah, sure, that’s on site, there definitely must be millions of women in the legal, planning and development roles. Surely that will push that number up. Right?’ Nope. Actually, the Central Statistics Office estimates that only 5.5% of the workforce across all construction-related sectors are women and the number of women in senior management positions is chronically low. Meanwhile, SOLAS, a state agency dedicated to further education and training, revealed that only 34 of the current 10,000 apprenticeship placements are filled by women. In a report released earlier this year titled: ‘Women in the Construction Industry’, Mercury Engineering examined the reasons for, and impact of, these inherently negative stats in depth.
This problem is nothing if not systematic. The Department of Civil & Building Engineering at Loughborough University recently released a report highlighting a similar, albeit marginally better set of statistics relating to the UK. There, women represent 11% of the construction workforce but most of these jobs are office-based. It's actually only 2% of women who work in manual jobs. When it comes to technical roles, 9% of UK engineering professionals are female. This is compared to 18% in Spain, 20% in Italy and 26% in the forward-leaning Sweden.
Although the industry is booming, Irish construction companies are facing a crisis with the increasing skills deficit. As identified in the Irish National Skills Strategy for 2025, we are presently in dire need of chartered surveyors, engineers, and graduates with training in internationalisation and management capability, ICT, Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems and Green Economy skills.
It's a very human trait that people - including women or anyone from different cultural or socio-economic backgrounds - have a tendency to emulate what they see. Since there are such a scarcity of diverse mentors in leading construction roles, visibility and supports are key. Leading women in the industry should be allocated the time and financial support needed to recruit and teach others.
But who's responsibility is it to fix an issue that's deeply ingrained? Sure, company policies need to be put in place which address the biases related to gender and diversity, along with the disparity in pay and opportunities that go alongside them. While quotas in any industry are a hugely divisive topic, internal targets, and the supports to help reach them, are the base level required to achieve anything resembling balance.
As we can clearly see from the SOLAS figures, however, the damage is done well before a candidate is even qualified. This is where lobbying and marketing implemented by the government and the education system need to come into play. It’s time to re-educate young people and tell the more rounded story of this evolving industry. Construction is a modern, booming area of business which is constantly evolving and growing in scope. Why shouldn't this workforce be a reflection of this?
The tech industry is leading the way when it comes to making efforts towards tipping the gender balance towards 50/50. They utilise the concept of ‘company culture’, and have reassessed things like schedules, workspaces, paternity leave, training, and childcare supports to be more family friendly. Schemes such as returnships and diverse mentorship schemes help when challenging the preconceptions as to who’s best suited to which kind of role. There’s no doubt that the nature of these two industries are vastly different, and what works for full-time employment is not comparable with location-based, project work. However, there are lessons and thought processes that can be learned and implemented.
What’s needed in construction is a revolution of sorts; a cultural shift and re-education of the workforce, starting from C-levels down. Across every industry, diversity is how businesses thrive; new innovative ideas and fresh voices mean dynamic growth and outside-the-box thinking. This isn’t about meeting a 20% quota, it’s about being inclusive, and creating a comfortable space with paths to leadership for people irrespective of gender, physical ability, sexuality or cultural background.
Developments like these take time, of course, but the first step towards any improvement is a conversation. Employers are the leaders in this industry, so if you are reading this and feeling motivated, contact the Women in Trades Network Ireland about the small changes you could implement today that will make all the difference tomorrow.
This article is a thought piece by writer, activist and academic, Gemma Creagh.
Build a career in construction and pop along to our Construction Jobs Expo 29th September. Women in construction are especially welcome - let's make it 7% by the end of the year!
We are delighted to have CPAS join us for our forthcoming Construction Jobs Expo. Their team will be exhibiting on Saturday 29th September at Croke Park's Hogan Suite.
Are you currently looking for a job or moving to a new role? Remember that there are other benefits beyond your basic salary that you may be entitled to from your employer. You should consider all elements of your remuneration package when reviewing a job offer.
Pension contributions, sick pay cover, income protection and death in service benefits are all part of a good remuneration package and employers know that to attract and retain employees this will mean including them in a comprehensive scheme.
CPAS is a professional pension administration provider and administers a number of pension schemes that were developed solely for the construction and related industries.
The Construction Workers Pension Scheme (CWPS) is an industry wide pension scheme providing low cost pensions, sick pay cover and death in service benefit for workers in the construction and related industries. It allows employers to comply with their legal obligations while at the same time providing valuable benefits to their employees with the minimum amount of fuss and overheads.
For employers looking to provide a bespoke benefits package, CPAS can design a tailored pension solution through Construction Executive Retirement Savings (CERS).With its flexible structure, CERS can meet the particular needs of each employer and member by providing bespoke and varying pension arrangements for each participating company.
No matter your age, role or position in the construction industry, talk to CPAS today about the value of additional benefits available through our pension arrangements.
Insurance is essential in the construction industry. Meet Worldwide Insurance / Cover365 at the upcoming Construction Jobs Expo. Their team will be exhibiting at Croke Park on Saturday 29th September.
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Cover365.ie / Worldwide Insurances has established an unrivalled reputation as a provider of insurance schemes for specific industries.
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Linesight is a top international consultancy firm who provide professional advice and support to the global construction industry. Chat with their staff in person about your future at our next Construction Jobs Expo Saturday 29th September in Croke Park.
Linesight has been providing consultancy services, management support and strategic advice to the construction industry since 1974. From initial concept to project completion, they have developed long-lasting relationships with some of the biggest companies in the world.
With staff located across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the USA, their reach is vast. Their permanent and long-established presence in these areas allows them to develop strategic partnerships, access local resources, formulate the most up-to-date market insights, and gain deep knowledge of each territory.
They specialise in eight key areas to provide faster project delivery, greater cost efficiency and maximum value for money.
• Program Management
• Project Management
• Cost Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Health and Safety
• Consultancy
• Procurement
Their people are the key to their success, and they continually seek out passionate, motivated individuals to join the Linesight team. Successful hires will work on some of the world’s most innovative builds, choosing projects that speak to their ambition and drive. Make sure to register now for this expo event, as places are free but limited.
Bord Gáis Energy has joined the list of exhibitors at our Construction Jobs Expo Saturday 29th September in Croke Park. They will be joining Ireland’s top employers in the industry. Register your place now and take the first step towards a career you love.
Bord Gáis Energy employs nearly 300 people in Dublin and Cork supplying customers across Ireland. They’re Ireland’s leading dual fuel company, supplying natural gas and electricity to over 680,000 customers. They also provide other energy-related products and services such as appliance servicing and repairs for residential natural gas customers.
Innovation is at the heart of what they do so they’re continually developing products and services to provide a reliable, safe, cost-effective energy service to their customers.
They’ve been in operation since 1976. Since mid-2014 they’re also part of the global Centrica plc Group. Centrica is active in the energy chain − from sourcing it to saving it − and this helps Bord Gáis Energy operate more efficiently. Bord Gáis Energy generates, sells and trades energy for use in the Republic of Ireland. They also own a state of the art 445MW Power Generation Plant in Whitegate, Co. Cork.
If you want to speak with a member of the Bord Gáis Energy team about your options, register now for this free event.
In the past few decades, evolving technology has affected the way in which we, as a society, both interpret information and interact with one another. Every facet of industry has faced huge changes. In many cases what’s now possible with tech, has surpassed the predictions of elaborate works of Sci-Fi. Think of Orwell’s 1984 compared to real-life, modern-day surveillance as revealed by Edward Snowden, or even how an iPhone improves upon many of the functions of a Star Trek communicator. Now if only we could nail that transporter tech – commutes would be a whole lot easier. But what do these shifts mean for the world of Construction? Below are a few of the trends that are reshaping the way we build.
These are no longer just military death machines, the expensive playthings of a man-child, or how an overenthusiastic photographer gets unflattering aerial shots of wedding revelers. No. In fact, drones are being used across the industry to monitor and understand projects as they unfold - ultimately keeping them on track. These drones can be equipped with cameras, GPS trackers, heat sensors, and even laser scanners. They can go into areas that would be too expensive or dangerous for a human to go and create 2D and 3D maps of a project.
Picture a 'Smart Site', where every item of machinery or tool could be, in theory, connected to the internet, both recording data and talking to one another. You would have component sensors installed to monitor operating conditions or performance levels – but across absolutely everything. And I mean everything. This could refer to all items onsite, from a construction worker's vehicle, to their safety equipment, right down to their glasses. They would transfer data on location. While this helpful for improving safety and productivity, it would not be so fantastic if anything got hacked.
Yes, it’s certainly handy to be able to scan through your emails, but a truly cohesive series of apps on mobile devices can save time and money. This means strengthening communication procedures between staff and management but also making important data easier to access for everyone on the project. Any issues can be tracked and documented quickly with all information being updated in real-time. The bigger the site, the more issues this will solve in the long run.
As it stands today, you can 3D print with materials such as plastic, metal, ceramics and even glass; massive items such as multi-storey buildings or even whole bridges have been 3D printed with great success. It’s possible now to buy yourself a 3D printed house, with companies popping up delivering these across the globe. However, while it’s relatively easy and cost-effective to make components, molds, and smaller items, the technology is not advanced enough, nor is it fiscally viable yet, to make the switch to 3D printing completely.
Imagine you could walk around your building before it’s even completed and spot any potential issues before you break ground? Virtual Reality Architecture and engineering professionals use BIM models as representations of what the structure should be, after construction. Comparing the physical work to the model is perfect for staying on task and catching issues early. Plus, going on a virtual tour of your completed structure definitely beats eyeing up a scale model.
Meet your future employers in person at our free recruitment event, the Construction Jobs Expo. Register your place now.
The Construction Jobs Expo is delighted to welcome multinational giants, Amazon to our list of exhibitors at our recruitment event on 29th September. Amazon will be joining us at Croke Park, so register your place now to avoid disappointment.
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.
This June, Amazon announced that it is creating more than 1,000 permanent new jobs in Ireland over the next two years. In addition to central Dublin, where Amazon opened a new 170,000 square foot building, these highly skilled roles will be based in Amazon locations in North County Dublin, Blanchardstown, and Tallaght.
After first opening an office in Ireland in September 2004, Amazon extended its commitment and investment in the country, and in April 2006 opened a Customer Service Centre in Cork. The Customer Service Centre now spans over 47,500 square feet and employs more than 1,000 people in a variety of roles from Instructional Designers and Support Engineers, to Operations Managers and Capacity Planners.
In November 2007, Amazon Web Services (AWS) opened its first EU region in Ireland. Since then AWS has grown the number of staff and the diversity of their roles. AWS now has highly skilled staff and teams of Account Managers, Data Centre Engineers, Logistics Managers, Mechanical Technicians, Professional Services, Security Specialists, Solutions Architects, Support Engineers, Technical Account Managers, and Trainers based in Dublin. These teams are working with customers in every industry, across almost every imaginable use case.
Today AWS’s teams in Ireland engineer new technologies to support Amazon’s businesses, including our retail operations, customer services, seller services, devices, and AWS. There are currently more than 2,500 Amazon employees across Ireland and more than 1,000 engaged in data centre operations.
Chat with a member of the Amazon recruitment team in person this September at the Contruction Jobs Expo, and build the future that’s right for you. Register now.
The latest Tender Price Index published by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland shows that construction tender prices are continuing to rise and increased by 3.95% in the first half of 2018. According to the SCSI’s index – which is the only independent assessment of construction tender prices in Ireland – the forecasted increase for 2018 will be 7.4%, almost half a percentage point ahead of what the Society predicted at the start of the year.
This will bring construction prices back to the level they were at in the first half of 2006 and just five index points below what they were when prices peaked in the first half of 2007.
Des O’Broin, President of the SCSI, described the increases as concerning in the shorter term and a challenge for those involved in procurement, especially public procurement which is a fixed price tender process. Given the continued rise in tender prices over a relatively short period of time, it will be a concern for contracting authorities receiving tender proposals for national projects that contractors may well run into financial difficulty half way through – as evidenced in recent school delivery projects.’
‘If the current trend continues prices will be back at the peak boomtime level of 2007 early next year. The current rate of increase is simply not sustainable in the long term. The major reason cited by SCSI members for the continuing increase in tender prices is ever increasing workload coupled with the skills shortage being experienced by both main contractors and specialist sub-contractors. Given the market uncertainty and the continuing increase in tender prices it is very important for clients embarking on building projects to make appropriate provision for future tender inflation’ Mr O’Broin advised.
The indices represent a national average; however, the rate of increase is not uniform across the country. For the first half of 2018, Dublin and the rest of Leinster increased by more than the national average, rising by 4.2% and 5.1% respectively. Prices in Munster and in Connacht / Ulster rose also but by less than the national average, increasing by 3.38% and 3.12% respectively.
The SCSI Tender Price Index will continue to monitor construction tender levels and trends and the Society will publish its next six-monthly update early in 2019.
Want to build your career in construction? Register now for our free Construction Jobs Expo.
We are proud to have STS Group exhibit at Construction Jobs Expo this autumn. The multinational company will be looking to recruit at Croke Park on 29th September.
About STS Group
Specialist Technical Services (STS) is a leading multinational engineering services provider. Their clients are some of the world's leading names in the Pharmaceutical, Data Centre, Commercial and industrial sectors. They provide the highest levels of expertise and performance across electrical and instrumentation, design and commissioning works.
STS is a privately-owned company headquartered in Waterford, Ireland and with 8 offices in Dublin, UK, Mainland Europe and the Middle East. STS employs the best people, invests heavily in training and education and ensures that the highest standards of health, safety and governance are applied throughout the organisation.
Career Opportunities
STS directly employs over 800 people. Their team is the main factor for the continued success of the company. Furthermore, they recognise their employees as their most valuable asset. The company continues to expand and gain new projects across Ireland and Europe. As a result, they are in search for more talented people to join their team. Electricians, engineers, estimators, quantity surveyors, health, safety, environmental and quality professionals and instrument technicians are among the skills they are always looking for.
Graduate Programme
STS have designed a programme that provides graduates with the challenge and opportunity to grow your career. They are always looking for bright, achievement-driven engineering/construction industry graduates. Graduates with the ambition to work alongside the best professionals in their field. In addition, STS will invest in your training and development. They provide the support and experience you need to help you fulfil your potential.
Apprenticeships
In STS a high standard is expected of all apprentices and only the most suitable candidates are selected. For instance, they have designed a Pre-Apprenticeship programme where all participants will undergo 3 months evaluation. Also, they regularly look for talented registered apprentices seeking a new challenge and opportunity during their apprenticeship.
The progress within the construction industry has resulted in high demand for specific trades, including heating and plumbing. Heat Merchants Group will be looking to recruit skilled individuals to join their team at Construction Jobs Expo. Talk to them about their career opportunities at Croke Park on 29th September 2018.
Heat Merchants is a 100% Irish owned company that supply central heating systems, gas and oil boilers, spare parts, bathrooms and the latest renewable energy technology to the domestic and commercial heating and plumbing industry across Ireland.
Heat Merchants have been supplying heating and plumbing trade professionals with an extensive product range and expert advice since 1978. A central distribution facility in Athlone supports their 31 branches. This ensures a reliable and efficient customer service throughout the country.
Heat Merchants have a large commercial division on hand to offer technical advice and guidance. They also offer a full specification service for projects of all sizes. They work with a network of Irish as well as international suppliers to introduce the latest and most efficient heating and plumbing products to the Irish market.
As a result, they can offer extensive support through the experienced teams in their branches across the country and through their central Customer Support Centre. In addition, their Technical Support and Design Team is on hand to offer expert advice plus a complete system design and specification service for both domestic and commercial projects.
The Group recognises talent and potential and encourage growth and development. Ideas are welcomed and progression supported. They have a number of exciting career opportunities across a wide range of disciplines so no matter what your ambition they can offer you your chance to thrive. Join them and you’ll play an integral, exciting role in their team
