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On March 8th, International Women's Rights Day, the focus is on persistent inequalities in various sectors, including construction. Long considered a male-dominated field, the building and public works sector is undergoing a slow feminization, though significant barriers remain.
During a roundtable organized by Synaxe in partnership with the association Les SouterReines, six women working in construction shared their experiences and perspectives. Here’s a look at an inspiring discussion that sheds light on the challenges and solutions for better integrating women into this industry.
A Sector Still Overwhelmingly Male
📊 The numbers speak for themselves:
🔹 In 2018, only 11.9% of the workforce in the construction sector were women (compared to 8.7% in 2001).
🔹 Only 1.6% of women work on construction sites, with most holding positions as technicians (45.3%) or managers (20.3%).
🔹 In SMEs, 24% of businesses are led by women, but in the artisan sector, that number drops to just 13%.
🔹 Progress is slow: in 10 years, the industry has gained just 1% more women.
Despite these small advances, integrating women into construction remains a daily struggle, with barriers that are not just physical but also cultural and organizational.
Barriers to Women’s Inclusion in Construction
The low number of women in the sector is largely due to deeply ingrained stereotypes:
👷 A job perceived as too physically demanding: The belief that construction requires significant physical strength, even though many tasks are now mechanized.
🛑 A male-dominated environment: Women often have to work twice as hard as their male colleagues to gain respect.
👀 Lack of visibility: Few female role models are highlighted in industry communications.
📚 Limited career guidance: Young girls are rarely encouraged to pursue careers in construction.
🏠 Work-life balance challenges: Unusual working hours and frequent travel can deter some women from entering the field.
These barriers are further reinforced by biases in hiring and workplace integration:
❌ Job postings and descriptions are often designed with men in mind.
❌ Teams on-site tend to favor male colleagues in communication and training.
❌ Sexist jokes and inappropriate remarks are still too common.
Initiatives to Drive Change
In response to these challenges, new solutions are emerging to promote gender diversity in the sector.
📜 The Rixain Law: Enforcing Quotas to Accelerate Change
Adopted in 2021, the Rixain Law mandates that 30% of leadership positions be held by women by 2026, increasing to 40% by 2029, in companies with more than 1,000 employees.
The goal? Create a ripple effect by making women more visible in leadership roles and fostering their career advancement.
🎓 Training and Awareness from an Early Age
Training centers are beginning to open their doors to more women, with female-only cohorts to encourage interest in the field.
The CCCA-BTP launched the initiative "Plurielles: Women at the Heart of Construction", a program aimed at showcasing women in construction careers.
The association Les SouterReines, a partner in the roundtable, runs the "Objective 100" initiative, which enables middle school students to complete a one-week internship in construction. This hands-on experience helps expose young girls to these careers and break down stereotypes.
👷♀️ Women Speaking Up
Women in the sector are stepping up to drive change:
📢 Interviews with female construction workers to share their experiences and inspire others.
🎤 Testimonies and events to raise awareness among companies and male colleagues.
🤝 Building support networks: Connecting, sharing, and helping each other integrate into the construction industry.
Encouraging Future Prospects
The construction sector is evolving, and the role of women is becoming a crucial transformation issue. With digitalization, evolving job roles, and increasing awareness, new opportunities are emerging, particularly in areas such as:
💻 Digital technology: project management, 3D modeling, BIM...
🌱 Sustainability: eco-construction, renewable energy...
📊 Leadership roles: site managers, civil engineers...
Though there is still a long way to go, every initiative counts. It is essential to continue encouraging women to enter the construction industry and tackle cultural and structural barriers.
🛠 The Construction Industry Needs Women, and Women Belong in Construction!
💡 Want to learn more? Check out the roundtable replay: https://podcast.ausha.co/les-batisseurs/les-batisseurs-etre-ou-ne-pas-etre-une-femme-dans-le-btp
👏 A huge thank you to the speakers and everyone working daily to drive change!