Construction requires a highly diverse job set and skill set, and yet, diversity within the construction workforce is still underrepresented, despite the variety of roles available. It remains a traditionally male-dominated industry, and more needs to be done to address this reality.
According to CIOB, a global professional body for construction management and leadership based in the United Kingdom, “There has been a noticeable and much-needed shift within construction in recent years towards greater understanding and acceptance of the benefits that equality, diversity and inclusion play in the workplace and wider society.”
But there is still a long way to go:
- Women make up 15 percent of the U.K. construction industry, with approximately 2 percent working on-site.
- Black, Asian and minority ethnic employees make up 6 percent of the workforce.
- Disabled employees also make up 6 percent of the workforce.
- 60 percent of LGBTQ+ employees have experienced homophobic and derogatory terms at work.
Beyond ticking the box
White males remain predominant in construction roles, which can cause unconscious bias in decision-making and also in how people outside this “norm” are viewed — often resulting in a noncohesive and unaccepting workspace.
However, it is important to recognize that diversity recruitment should not be a box-ticking exercise and that real policies and procedures need to be in place. This should include things like making sure that PPE is suitable for both men and women, of all shapes and sizes, and that there are male, female and accessible toilets readily available without having to ask a supervisor for a key.
Promoting racial diversity is equally important, with very few Black, Asian and minority ethnic employees currently in management positions.
According to research from Business in the Community, just 3.4 percent of all construction managers in the U.K. are from ethnic minority groups. In contrast, based on the most recent census data, these groups make up 14 percent of the population.
Active employment procedures need to be implemented that do everything possible to strengthen these opportunities for minority groups, which could include more training being provided to put everyone on an equal footing when it comes to career advancement.
Apprenticeships are an attractive option
A good way to ensure diversity in your construction workforce is to offer an apprenticeship program specifically aimed at minority groups, be that based on gender, sexual orientation, race or disability.
Employers can get up to £12,000 in grants from the U.K. government or the Construction Industry Training Board for taking on an apprentice. There is no required commitment to give them a full-time job at the end of their apprenticeship, but employers may find that having someone who has learned on the job within their company is much more beneficial than hiring from outside. And if you have apprenticed a diverse workforce, then these apprentices are able to work their way up the ladder in an inclusive environment of their and your creation.
Tackling the skills shortage
Brexit, coupled with people returning to their homeland as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in the loss of a significant proportion of European Union workers and a skills shortage that has been a particularly hard hit in the world of construction. With many builds put on hold during 2020, construction workers are in high demand for the increase in jobs that have now been given the green light.
Construction News reports that the staff shortage in construction is continuing to bite, with 33,000 job vacancies for the period of April to June 2021, which is the second-highest level of vacancies in the past 20 years, only beaten by the 35,000 job openings that were recorded in the previous period of March to May 2021. Vacancies are significantly higher than they were pre-COVID in 2019.
However, it also states the average weekly earnings for people in the construction industry jumped almost 14 percent between April 2020, when the U.K. was in lockdown, and April 2021. It is the biggest increase recorded in any industry. This makes it a highly lucrative profession, with a variety of roles being sought, and therefore a great career option.
The pandemic triggered construction companies to reconsider their offerings and move their businesses online. After a surge in e-commerce and accelerated digital transformation, establishing a digital presence to target new customers has never been more important.
Southern Sheeting is one example of industry leaders embracing this opportunity to diversify their team, by hiring female e-commerce manager Jo Morfield. Tony Hobbs, managing director of Southern Sheeting, says: “[Jo] will play a key role in supporting us on our digital journey, achieving our ambitions and growing our online capabilities. Jo’s experience and enthusiasm for helping companies realize a digital transformation is just what we need to take [our] offering to the next level.” With this shift, there are now more job opportunities available on- and off-site to establish a more diverse team.
Addressing diversity in the construction industry
The benefits of increasing diversity in the workforce are numerous. It brings different thinking to the table, ensuring the widest range of ideas are explored, and makes industries more representative of their customers and wider society. The built environment is for everyone, and the more inclusive the industry can become, the more it will serve the needs of our communities.
Building People has been set up to try to address diversity shortcomings and is creating connections across the built environment to address the industry challenges of skills, diversity and social value and facilitate discussion, collaboration and change.
Diverse and inclusive organizations have been shown to be more creative, productive, profitable and naturally more organically responsive to diverse customer needs. Employers are finally recognizing the need to attract and retain a diverse and talented pool of construction professionals, resulting in an inclusive working environment and offering a better chance of success in global markets.
