The results from the FMB’s research into the general public’s opinions on female builders and tradespeople include:
- Almost one third (30%) of home owners would feel more positive about hiring a female builder or tradesperson to complete a task in their home, as opposed to a male builder or tradesperson
- Women feel particularly positive about hiring female builders with 35% saying they would feel more positive about hiring a female builder or tradesperson to complete a task in their home
- Of those who felt more positive about hiring a female builder, the reasons were as follows:
– 51% think female tradespeople might be more respectful of their home
– 46% would like to support more women working in non-traditional job roles
– 42% might feel more at ease with a female tradesperson
– 37% think female tradespeople might be more trustworthy
– 35% think female tradespeople might be friendlier
– 30% think women often have better attention to detail than men
– 20% prefer the company of women
– 18% relate better to other women
– 16% think it would be a novelty and a welcome change to hire a female builder - Despite feeling more positive about hiring a female tradesperson, 30% fewer people would encourage their daughter to pursue a career in construction than their sons
- Nearly two-thirds of the general public are ‘gender blind’ when choosing their builder or tradesperson and wouldn’t care whether they were a man or a woman.
Commenting on this research, Brian Berry, chief executive officer of the FMB, said: “There’s a clear appetite among consumers for more women to enter the building industry with one third of home owners saying they would rather hire a female builder. There are numerous reasons for this and chief among them is that these home owners feel that female tradespeople might be more respectful of their home. Consumers are also keen to support more women working in non-traditional job roles which is a breath of fresh air. However, there’s a serious gap in the market here as currently only 2% of tradespeople are women.”
Berry concluded: “The construction industry is in the midst of a skills shortage and until we appeal to women – who obviously make up 50% of the population – we’re unlikely to dig ourselves out of this skills hole. Despite feeling more positive about hiring a female tradesperson, 30% fewer people would encourage their daughter to pursue a career in construction than their sons. In 2018, this attitude is outdated and denies thousands of women a potentially rewarding career. Today is International Women’s Day and we’re calling on all parents, teachers and careers advisers to talk to young women about a career in construction. The construction sector can appeal to anyone who takes pleasure in the built environment and wants to avoid being trapped behind a desk all day. This can and should apply to both men and women equally.”
Debi Sporn from Sporn Construction, who has worked in construction for more than 16 years, said: “The public perception of the construction industry is changing but not quickly enough. As a woman working in construction, I’m able to bring a different perspective to our firm and how it operates. Not only that, clients seem to respond well to the fact that our company employs both men and women. Construction is an exciting sector to work in and I would absolutely recommend pursuing a career in our industry.”
