EMPLOYERS and education providers have been urged to work together to address gender imbalance in the construction industry.
A Scottish Government report called on firms, schools and colleges to help showcase the sector’s job opportunities and attract a wider range of employees.
The research, which was undertaken by GenAnalytics with funding from the Workplace Equality Fund, was established by the Government to reduce employment inequalities, discrimination and barriers for ethnic minority people, women, disabled people and older workers.
Across the UK, around 11% of the construction workforce is female, with only 2% of female workers employed in craft trade roles.
The report focused on construction firm City Building’s supply chain of around 140 SMEs, following on from previous work which benchmarked the company’s diversity performance.
A range of workshops with SMEs explored the survey’s findings – which found 83% of staff at City Building’s suppliers were male, in line with national gender balance. The SMEs recommended that the construction sector should improve its image for Scotland’s young people through stronger relationships with schools and colleges.
Launching the report at City Building’s Queenslie Training Centre, Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Fair Work and Skills, said: “Attracting and retaining a diverse workforce is a key priority in driving economic growth. That is why I welcome the GenAnalytics construction report, funded by the Scottish Government’s Workplace Equality Fund into building greater diversity and inclusion in the construction sector.
“The Scottish Government is also committed to promoting a flexible, family-friendly working culture which aligns business success with a balanced work and family life.
“I’m pleased to announce that the Scottish Government will be providing continued support to Family Friendly Working Scotland with £159,000 of funding, in line with the aims of our forthcoming Gender Pay Gap Action Plan to promote fair work principles and the wider economic benefits these bring.”
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