While women make up only 12 per cent of employees in the Australian construction industry, they are representing the sector in a wider range of jobs than ever before as engineers, lawyers, accountants and site supervisors, rejecting the stereotype that women in the sector mainly work in clerical or administrative roles.

This follows reports from universities across the country that courses in engineering, construction and architecture have attracted soaring numbers of female undergraduates in recent years, with the National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) QLD/ NT president Marnie Beckett saying this will only improve the breadth of skill sets in the industry.

“It’s great to see more women forging successful careers in a range of opportunities in construction, trades and mining. With more women seeking out non-traditional roles in the industry, the industry will begin to experience the benefits of greater workplace gender diversity,” says Ms Beckett.

“Queensland’s building and construction industry is growing and there is an increasing call for trades, designers, engineers, project managers, trainers, estimators, contract managers, H&S, and support services like accountancy, marketing, HR and lawyers.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the number of female trade workers and technicians nationwide has increased 20 per cent since 1996. Construction is one of Australia’s largest industries, employing nine per cent of the workforce, or approximately one million people.

While construction still has a reputation as a tough industry for females, Marnie Beckett says there is enormous opportunity for personal and career development, and the construction work offers huge rewards for its increasingly diverse workforce.

“Construction employees can use their skills all over the world, and while the industry is still predominantly male, it’s a lot more inclusive than in decades past, offering a wide variety of work environments and experiences, from large corporations to small family-owned businesses.”