Women in construction: Bridging the green jobs gap

Our analysis indicates the construction labour shortage will be further exacerbated by the significant increase in employment needed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, compared to our baseline forecasts. We call these additional jobs the ‘green jobs gap’, which we estimate at 1.7 million new roles in the European construction industry. Bridging this gap will enable the additional construction work needed to deliver Europe’s 2050 climate targets.

What you will learn:

• Women are currently underrepresented in construction, making up only 15% of the European construction workforce. Increasing the gender diversity of the construction workforce poses a key opportunity to close the sector’s green jobs gap. 
• The green jobs gap is matched by a green skills gap—while the number of workers in a net zero aligned construction sector is higher, the skills those workers require will be different. Investing in female training tailored to the future of construction is an opportunity to give women the right skills and education for the transition to net zero construction. 
• There are several ways to improve the gender balance of the construction workforce including a cultural shift that changes social perceptions of construction workers and workplaces, and investment in female training and recruitment.