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The construction industry remains one of the most male dominated industries in Australia and the world, with the participation rate of women in the sector at just 12 per cent.  National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) CEO, Laurice Temple, explains why change is necessary.

The first step in making this change happen is to bring together the industry's leaders and professionals at the association's national conference in October. The two day event will be held at the Pullman Hotel, Albert Park in Melbourne from October 8-9, 2015.

With a target set by the G20, to close the participation rate by 25 per cent by 2025, the construction industry’s contribution is vital to meet this goal.

Women currently only hold three per cent of CEO-level positions in the construction industry and the pay gap is an alarming  28.9 per cent, according to the Work Place Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). The data clearly shows women are not accessing the same earning opportunities as men.

The good news is that the association has a suite of resources to help employers undertake a gender pay gap analysis. WGEA has also been running a series of pay equity workshops in Sydney and Melbourne.

The NAWIC’s national conference is paving the way for change and will contribute to the bottom line.  The goal of encouraging women into the construction industry also comes at a time when the G20 has strengthened its position on closing the gap even further, by formally establishing W20, or Women20, a new initiative to promote gender inclusive growth.

Launched in April, the initiative is proof that the G20 is taking gender equality seriously. Closing the gender gap and creating more economic opportunities for women is not only a moral issue, it’s smart economics.

Raising the number of women in the labor market has a positive impact on growth. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), full convergence in participation workforce rates should increase the annual GDP per capita in OECD countries by 0.6 percentage points, with an equivalent increase in GDP of 12 per cent by 2030.

Growth is particularly important for countries like Australia which has an ageing population. Between 1990 and today, the women’s participation rate in the global workforce dropped from 57 to 55 per cent proving that female economic advancement is not a linear process which is why there is no substitute for well-targeted active policies.

Topics to be covered at the national conference include examining ways to reduce the gender wage gap, increase participation of women and to provide the tools required to achieve this goal.

This isn’t a women only initiative. It’s about inclusiveness and equality across the entire industry, regardless of gender, age or background. We’re hoping to champion change, but this doesn’t just start by encouraging women into the construction industry, it begins with establishing the industry as a great career choice.

Women and men already working in construction need to be our advocates, to inspire and attract new talent. It is important that we make it known from a young age that the construction industry is not just a ‘man’s job’ and this includes nurturing young women who show an interest in male dominated subjects, such as physics and math. Then, and if, they choose this industry, we need to provide on-going support through associations like NAWIC to empower them in their future careers.

For more information on the NAWIC or the national conference 2015 visit www.nawic.com.au

About the Author

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is a not-for-profit organisation. Currently CEO of NAWIC, and an active non-executive board member, Laurice Temple is a senior executive with over 25 years’ international experience.
Her education and experience is in construction of large infrastructure projects with roles in cost, planning and scheduling, and project management, working on the construction of manufacturing plants, airports and rail, to name a few, in the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia. Temple is also an active member of Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Australian Institute of Project Managers (AIPM) and Women on Boards (WoB).