Michelle Turner, Sarah Holdsworth, Christina Scott-Young and Kara Sandri’s important work on the experiences of women working in the construction industry has been published in leading international peer-reviewed journal Construction Management and Economics.
The study explored the resilience of trades and semi-skilled women working onsite in the Australian construction industry. Survey results indicate that women had a high level of employee resilience despite little to no support from their workplace. Follow-up interviews identified that resilience is considered as a mandatory capability by women working onsite to manage gendered workplace hazards and attain career success.
Confidence, reflective practice, self-efficacy, and adaptability were considered as important characteristics related to employee resilience which enabled women to remain emotionally and mentally strong and focussed on the job. However, a high level of resilience does not necessarily reflect a positive workplace culture. While resilience may be a critical resource for women, it does not negate the need for the removal of harmful work conditions that women in construction are routinely exposed to. The results reiterate that more needs to be done to provide a mentally and physically safe working environment for women working onsite in the construction industry.
To read the full abstract click here.