16 Apr 83% of East Anglia haven’t encountered female trade professionals
New research has found that careers in construction trades are not being considered by women despite a strong public desire to see more females in the sector. Shockingly more than three quarters of East Anglia (83%) have never encountered a female in any of the main construction trades roles of plumber, electrician, carpenter or builder even though (90%) East Anglia would like to see more women in such roles. Yet, more than eight in ten (88%) of women surveyed from the region have never even considered a career in the industry.
The survey commissioned by Able Skills, specialists in construction training, found that only (17%) of the people surveyed from East Anglia had encountered a female in these roles. Of those, (95%) described the service received as positive and would recommend the service to others. None reported a negative experience.
But why are there so few women considering a role within the construction trades industry? Women reported that the career was never highlighted as an option for them to pursue. More than three quarters (82%) of women said no family, friends, careers advisors or teachers had ever discussed a career in the construction trades industry with them. While 36% of men in the region said their family discussed this occupation with them, this was the case for only 18% of women.
The biggest factors holding women from East Anglia back from pursuing a career in a role traditionally associated with the opposite sex were concerns about: not being taken seriously (38%), facing prejudice in the job role (47%), and finding it intimidating (32%).
