New research has revealed that the commercial roofing, glazing and cladding subsector has notably higher female representation across roles, compared to the wider construction industry.

ECI Software Solutions, a provider of residential construction software, has created the ‘Gender Dynamics Report’ to analyze the current gender distribution across 24 construction subsectors, and advise how to attract and retain female workers as demand surges.

The commercial roofing, glazing and cladding subsector came second overall, with 40% of roles occupied by women, and while progress does still need to be made, this is significantly above the average industry rate of 25%.

The infrastructure construction sector came out on top, with 46% of roles occupied by women, while the Industrial Construction and Fabrication sector reported the lowest gender diversity overall, with women accounting for only 18% of its total workforce of 8,700.

The report also found that, across all sectors, female workers are disproportionately represented in operations and administrative roles, at 24% and 12% respectively. Their presence in project management (12%), engineering (11%) and accounting (6%) roles remain significantly lower.

Here, the commercial roofing, glazing and cladding subsector needs to make an improvement, with 36% working in operations. The remainder of its female workforce occupied ‘other’ roles – with zero involvement reported in project management, engineering, admin and accountancy roles.

The findings were based on a dataset of 464,000 workers, from companies with over 300 employees across the construction industry on LinkedIn.

The gender dynamic in the construction industry

Monica Wheaton, vice president of Customer Success in the Residential Construction Division at ECI Software Solutions, said:

“Despite progress in some areas, our research has highlighted significant gaps in female representation and shortcomings in benefits that help promote inclusive work environments.

“We are operating in a time where digital skills are increasingly vital for businesses to adapt and succeed. The construction industry stands at a crossroads where digital transformation is necessary, but negative perceptions and the critical skills gaps are constricting the labor force and the expertise needed.

“By pinpointing areas needing improvement, the construction industry can take meaningful steps forward, leveraging digital technology to create an inclusive and dynamic work environment that meets the diverse needs of its employees.

“In turn, this not only attracts and retains a wider talent pool but also opens up the sector as a viable career path for future generations, drives new ideas and innovation, and creates a resilient and robust future.

“To help address these critical areas, ECI Solutions recommends that the industry looks to introduce targeted initiatives, improved awareness, and enhanced benefit options that will enable the industry to harness the untapped potential of female workers.”

For the full ‘Gender Dynamics Report’ with all the data listed, including the review ratings, please visit: https://www.ecisolutions.com/blog/residential-construction/gender-dynamics-in-the-construction-industry/

Methodology

ECI Software Solutions analyzed LinkedIn employee data of the largest construction companies in North America, looking at the number of female employees and the proportion of females in specific roles in each company.

ECI then also looked at Glassdoor maternity, paternity, flexible working and overall satisfaction reviews for each company.

Data correct as of May 2024.

About ECI Software Solutions

ECI Software Solutions provides cloud-based business software for running small and mid-sized businesses end to end. Built by experts in manufacturing, residential construction, service management, building supply, office technology and wholesale/retail distribution industries, ECI’s industry-specific software connects businesses and customers, improving visibility, operational efficiency and profitability. With ECI, businesses seamlessly integrate sales and marketing, business intelligence, CRM, data and analytics, ecommerce, mobile apps and payment processing. With more than 30 years of industry leadership, ECI is trusted by 25,000 customers in more than 80 countries globally. Headquartered in Westlake, Texas, it has offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Australia. For more information, visit www.ECIsolutions.com.