There are more young women working in the construction industry than ever before, but it’s still not enough according to national industry Jobs and Skills Council, BuildSkills Australia.

As part of this National Skills Week (19 to 25 August 2024), analysts at BuildSkills have crunched the numbers focusing on female construction workers. BuildSkills chief executive officer Brett Schimming says there has been a concerted effort to attract more women into the construction industry over recent years, and the data is reflecting this.

“In the 15 to 24-year-old age group, there are more females working as construction trades workers than ever before,” he explains.

“The latest data available, which is as of May this year, shows there are more than 3,000 young female construction trades workers. Construction trades workers are usually the people on the tools at a job site, and most women in this age group are over 18 years of age, and many are apprentices.”

The number of female construction trades workers is 11,980 for 2024, compared with 6,100 back in 2019.

“Despite the increase, female construction trades workers still only represent 2.9% of the sector’s workforce in 2024,” Brett says.

BuildSkills was tasked with developing the first-ever national workforce plan for the construction, property and water industries. The plan, set to be released later this year, will support Federal Government policy making and skills and training needs across the sectors.

“BuildSkills’ workforce plan will place a priority on ensuring the skills and training of today meet the needs of the future, and attracting more women to the construction industry is a key priority,” Brett says.

National Skills Week will this year encourage all Australians to discover how Vocational Education and Training (VET) can be the ultimate game-changer in their own or their families’ careers and lives as well as highlight the game-changing impact skills has on Australia’s future and economy.

Supported by the federal government, National Skills Week 2024 aims to celebrate the many and varied inspiring and heart-warming success stories and demonstrate how others can transform their lives by listening to those who have done it.