Only 15% of people working in construction in the UK are women and less than 2% are working on-site in skilled trades. Let that sink in for a moment.
For every 100 workers on site, maybe one or two are women. That’s not just underrepresentation, it’s a missed opportunity for the industry.
At WiCA, we’re working to change that. Visibility matters. When women see someone who looks like them thriving in construction, it opens a door. When young girls visit a site and see women operating machinery, managing teams, or leading engineering solutions, it redefines what’s possible.
Representation is more than a statistic, it’s a signal. A signal that says: you belong here.
Let’s talk about what we can do, collectively, to improve those numbers. Whether it’s mentoring, raising awareness, creating safer environments, or challenging stereotypes when we hear them. It starts with awareness, and it moves with action.
What have you seen in your own workplace? Are things changing? Or are we still hearing “you don’t look like someone in construction”?
Let’s have the conversation.
Drop your thoughts or share your story below.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey, 2023
CITB Construction and Built Environment Labour Market Intelligence Report, 2022
