Despite many initiatives to attract more women into the construction industry, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) says that members of the opposite sex still face huge barriers to entering male-dominated professions.

While 80% of girls said they might be interested in learning a non-traditional job, only 163 women started apprenticeships in the construction industry last year, compared to 18 000 men. JTL reports 16 female electrician recruits in 2003-04 and just four female plumbers.

The EOC lays blame at the feet of government, employers and educationalists for not removing ‘sex barriers’. “We have developed a number of ongoing projects to increase female entrants into the electrical and plumbing industries,” said JTL’s chief executive Denis Hird.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor