How do we support more women to enter, stay and progress in Ireland’s construction sector? That was the focus of the first Constructing Equality Ireland Roundtable, which brought together employers, educators, community organisations and industry stakeholders with a shared ambition to create a more gender-balanced construction workforce. The format ensured all views, ideas and experiences were heard to inform how to achieve this shared ambition. While women represent over half of Ireland’s population, they make up just 10.9% of the construction workforce. Closing that gap is about much more than recruitment and effective HR policies. It requires a collective effort to challenge outdated perceptions, create more inclusive workplace cultures and ensure women can see clear pathways to long-term careers and leadership opportunities across the sector. Key themes from the discussion included: • Increasing awareness of construction careers among girls and young women from an early age including primary school. • Strengthening education, training and early career pathways into the industry through more structured TY placements or internships or graduate programmes. • Supporting the retention and progression of women already working in construction. • Creating workplace cultures where women feel they belong and can thrive. • Building stronger collaboration between industry, education providers, communities, careers services and government. Meaningful change will not come from a single initiative. It will come through sustained collaboration, practical actions and a shared commitment to creating opportunities, pathways and workplaces that work for everyone. The insights gathered will help inform the development of a sector-wide Gender Equality Action Plan, to be published in 2027. This was the first Constructing Equality Ireland Roundtable, but it certainly won't be the last. Constructing Equality Ireland founding partners are AstraZeneca, Bord Gáis Energy, Designer Group, Dornan, John Paul Construction, John Sisk & Son Ltd, Jones Engineering, Kirby Group Engineering, Turner & Townsend and Walls, with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and Women in Construction in Ireland (WICI) also represented on the Steering Group. #ConstructingEqualityIreland #GenderEquality #WomenInConstruction #ConstructionIndustry #Inclusion #FutureOfWork #BuiltEnvironment
