Rosa, J E; Hon, C K H; Xia, B and Lamari, F (2017) Challenges, success factors and strategies for women's career development in the Australian construction industry. Construction Economics and Building, 17(3), pp. 27-46. ISSN 2204-9029
Abstract
Construction is traditionally a male industry. Women have long had difficulties entering or advancing their career in construction. Evidence shows that a diversified workforce with gender balance will bring about higher levels of productivity. Despite the importance of this issue, there have been limited studies on women’s career development in construction. This study aims to investigate women’s career development in the Australian construction industry, with objectives to evaluate the challenges and success factors of women’s career development in the construction industry and provide strategies for narrowing the gender imbalance. A mixed approach of questionnaire survey and interview were conducted with female practitioners in the construction industry. Forty-three completed questionnaires were received and 10 interviews were conducted. Stress, family-work balance, and negative perception towards women in construction were the top three challenges identified. Dedication, determination, and independence were the top three success factors of women in construction. This study recommends construction employers consider providing personal development programs and flexible working arrangement for their female employees. Significance of this study lies on contributing to understanding women’s career development in construction. Findings will be useful for government and professional institutions to promulgate strategies for advancing women’s career development in construction.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | career development; construction; women |
| Index terms: | women, personal development, interview, practitioner, evidence, strategy, program, construction industry, career, survey, questionnaire, success factor, productivity |
| Subjects: | software systems, evaluation and assessment methods, sociology, industry analysis, health monitoring assessment and metrics, management, practitioner, professional development, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Research Practice, Information Management, Roles and Professions, Digital Applications, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here