Careers
The Skills Shortage
Like many industries today, construction is facing a skills shortage, with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimating that the industry needs to recruit nearly 240,000 extra workers over the next five years.
It’s therefore essential that we attract young people into our industry and push for 50/50 gender parity by making the next generation realise that housebuilding offers rewarding and successful careers for everyone.
However, to do this, we first need to understand how people view our industry. What do our teenagers think about construction, and are we facing a hearts and minds battle in order to win them over and solve our skills shortage?
We commissioned One Poll to conduct a survey of teenagers and their parents to discover whether young people still view jobs as being suited to one gender or another, and the results were clear.
What teens think
Our poll of 1,000 13-17-year-olds found 72 per cent felt certain careers and job roles are still very much for men or women only, despite youngsters wanting to challenge perceptions.
In terms of industries, construction (54 per cent), childcare (49 per cent), and beauty (49 per cent) are still considered to be the most divided, as youngsters still view them as ‘his and her’ roles.
Trades are still typically considered to be for men, including bricklayers (59 per cent), plumbers (59 per cent), and electricians (53 per cent). While hairdressers (58 per cent), childminders (53 per cent), and receptionists (52 per cent) are seen as “women’s jobs”.
However, the research also found eight in 10 girls believe they are just as capable, if not more so, of taking on jobs which are typically seen as being for the opposite gender, while 71 per cent of boys feel the same.
Question 1
Certain careers and job roles today are still very ‘gendered’ (i.e. some careers and jobs are for men and some are for women)?
Question 2
Which industries do you think are typically ‘gendered’?
Question 3
Which job roles do you think are typically male/for men?
Question 4
Which job roles do you think are typically female/for women?
Question 5
I am just as capable as boys, if not more so, of taking on jobs which are typically seen as being for male/for men.
Question 6
I am just as capable as girls, if not more so, of taking on jobs which are typically seen as being female/for women’
Question 7
Have you ever considered a career which is typically seen as being for the opposite gender?
Question 8
What are your reasons for considering a career that is typically seen as being for the opposite gender?
- 14% It's the career/industry my parent works in, so I know a lot about it
- 25% I want to do something unexpected
- 27% I want to challenge gender stereotypes
- 29% I've seen more people of my gender in these careers
- 31% It would make me feel confident and strong
- 31% The pay is good
- 51% It's something I've always been interested in
Question 9
Have you ever felt put off the idea of going into an industry or specific career due to the following reasons?
- 24% worried I wouldn't fit in
- 24% lack of experience in that area
- 19% the fact the industry / role is typically seen as being for the opposite gender
- 16% knowing I'd be outnumbered by people of the opposite gender
- 15% worried that working in that industry or career would make me be seen as 'different'
Question 10
My generation is much more accepting of breaking the norm i.e. taking jobs that are typically seen as only being for a specific gender?
Question 11
What do you think when you see someone in a job which is typically seen as being for the opposite gender?
- 38% I think it's great for future generations
- 34% It makes me feel confident that I could do the same thing
- 34% I'm pleasantly surprised
- 9% I question if they know what they're doing
- 7% I'm worried for them
- 6% I'm confused
Question 12
Do you think enough is being done to encourage all genders into all job roles?
Question 13
Which of the following have motivated / would motivate you to choose a particular career path?
Question 14
Which of the following has or would prevent you from following a particular career path?
Question 15
Who, if anyone, has ever tried to put you off pursuing a career in a job typically seen as being for the opposite gender?
- 55% no one
- 11% my friends
- 9% my mum
- 8% my dad
- 7% school careers adviser
Question 16
Which of the following careers, if any, have you ever considered?
Parents' views
Our survey also asked 1,000 parents of teenagers aged 13-17 for their views, revealing 54 per cent believe there is more acceptance of any gender in any job today than when they were first applying for work.
Typically, they feel supportive (60 per cent) and inspired (24 per cent) if their child wanted to seek a career in an industry which is seen as being for the opposite gender. However, while 46 per cent of mums would feel proud, only 36 per cent of dads would.
Our survey also found that 45 per cent of parents have encouraged their child in relation to a career they expressed interest in.
What untypical is doing
We hope our findings will spark more conversations as we continue to raise awareness of the roles available in construction and encourage all genders to apply.
We all have skills that lend themselves to certain jobs and industries. Rather than being categorised by our gender, wouldn’t it be great if this generation of youngsters ignites a change and our dream of 50/50 parity in the construction industry turns into a reality, while our skills shortage quickly becomes a thing of the past?
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