Women in Construction Program: Industry Survey Summary Report
)
Women in Construction Program: Industry Survey Summary Report – Building an Evidence Base for Change
The NSW Government's Women in Construction Program Industry Survey Summary Report presents the findings from a landmark baseline survey conducted in June and July 2023. Led by Infrastructure NSW in partnership with the Department of Education, this survey captures critical data on the participation, experiences, and sentiment of women working in the NSW construction sector.
The Women in Construction Program has an ambitious goal to increase the participation and retention of women in trade and non-traditional roles, where female representation currently sits at approximately 4% of on-site positions. The program operates across four strategic pillars: Removing Obstacles, Creating Desire and Awareness, Fulfilment and Retention, and Accountability.
The survey gathered responses from 313 businesses and 594 workers across the sector, providing robust insights into workplace policies, industry challenges, and the factors that attract and retain women in construction. Key findings reveal that while 70% of businesses employ at least one woman, women remain overwhelmingly concentrated in office-based roles in businesses with fewer than 200 employees. The top workforce challenges identified by both men and women were lack of work-life balance (57%) and lack of flexible working hours (43%).
Encouragingly, the survey found positive momentum, with businesses reporting a 13.8% average increase in female employees over the past year—double the rate for men. However, the report also identifies significant opportunities, including the need to reposition "family-friendly" policies as benefits for all staff, provide greater support for the residential sector and smaller businesses, and champion clearer career pathways and equal pay.
This resource offers essential baseline data for tracking progress and informing initiatives that will help build a more diverse, inclusive, and thriving construction industry in NSW.