The built environment sector might be the first industry that comes to your mind when you think about an industry that has been dominated historically by men. Sarah Towers, operations manager SPIE UKThe sector can be a champion for the next generation of women working in the built environment.
According to a EngineeringUK 2020 report, Women in the built worldSector remains severely underrepresented, with only 14.5% being female in engineering occupations, compared to 49% overall female UK workers. To address this problem, many initiatives and pathways have been created. If we want to create an industry that is able to confidently say it acts for the benefit of all its customers, we must keep refining and improving on them.
There are many factors that can explain gender disparity. These include unconscious gender bias, a lack of knowledge by students about engineering careers and the many opportunities available. There are many studies, includingMcKinsey & Companys Diversity Wins 2020 reportIt is possible to demonstrate that diversity can increase creativity, innovation, and business performance. It is important that educational institutions and the sector engage with young people, particularly girls, to foster and sustain their interest in the sector and show that it is a career for all.
Education has the potential for closing the gender gap in the built-environment sector
According to the EngineeringUK report, young people’s perceptions and knowledge of a profession will influence their decision to pursue that career. Higher Education Student Statistics data from 2017-2018 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service shows that 35% of STEM subjects are chosen by female students. However, only 10% of engineers are female, so these students aren’t going into engineering.
The industry should ask why this is so and continue to work on dispelling stereotypes about building sites and hard hats. It is crucial that we demonstrate the importance of built environments in solving social and environmental problems. It is important that people have better visibility of career paths, benefits and development opportunities.
Many positive initiatives are being taken to address the gender gap. These include increasing teachers’ understanding of non-traditional vocations to better advise students on future career alternatives or exposing women and girls to female role models. Representation is important. It is crucial that women can speak at job fairs, recruitment booths, and other opportunities to influence young girls’ ideas about their future career.
What can women do in the built environment sector for their career?
For a start, Any role in the industry can be filled by women. The notion that engineering is a male job is changing. According to a study, 37% of new entrants to the sector are women who have completed higher education or entered the construction industry.Go Constructs 2019 Industry SurveyWe can only see this as a first step in the right direction.
We also recognize the numerous efforts of the industry to reduce the underrepresentation in the built environment. Mentorship in the workplace and allyship between our peers can help us continue to provide a safe place for women to talk about their goals and help the next generation succeed. The Moving Ahead and Deloitte researchOn turning the gender diversity dial, mentors and students found that they felt empowered by the relationship and reported greater career satisfaction and confidence. This combats the problem of women reaching a ceiling or leaving to find work elsewhere.
Another aspect to consider when considering the transition to working from home is. According toThe Resolution Foundations 2021 researchDue to pandemic-driven shifts within the workforce, the number women in the workplace has increased since more companies allow employees to work from home. Women can continue to contribute to the built environment by working from home and their careers. Diversity is essential for better decision making among teams. This allows us to have the conversation about how to make the work more beneficial to women’s lives in the same way that it benefits men.
It is a failure for the industry that many women don’t see the built environment as a career option because they feel discouraged by gender bias. This is a missed opportunity to recognize the diverse perspectives and experiences that the sector creates spaces for people to live, learn, and work. This is a problem the sector is beginning to address.
The competition for STEM-qualified people is fierce. Therefore, the built environment must think about how it compares to other professions. It is crucial that the sector inspires girls to become engineers and supports women in their careers once they are established.
The next generation of women working in the built environment
We can change the industry by combining the efforts of key influencers like parents and teachers, as well as the participation and representation in STEM of women role models and the industry’s efforts to attract both genders.
Although we have a long way to go before closing the gender gap, there is some evidence of progress in breaking down these barriers, and presenting the built environment to everyone, regardless of gender.
