The main objective of FEMCON was to make the construction industry more attractive for women and convincing women, trainers, construction companies and policy makers about necessary changes and actions that can be taken to create more open and pleased environment for female workforce. Therefore the project was focused to: - Inspire and empower towards the positive change in the construction industry and better representation of the female workforce, as well as protection of their rights - Create conditions for positive change to happen and improve the construction industry outlook in women eyes, - Learn more about the need for change and the role of action plans to create common and consistent strategy for creating females pleased environment - Increase the attractiveness of the industry for women, by presenting a greater number of women choosing the sector and underlying the necessity of more visible female roles in construction industry and more favourable positions that can be taken also by women. - Develop innovative vocational education & training that assists women working in or considering a career in construction industry to progress to visible roles within the industry.
The EU construction sector, is one of the largest and most influential in the world. It rapidly develops and continuously incorporates new technologies and sustainable practices. In recent years, the attention has increasingly been focused also on gender diversity. The underrepresentation of women in construction is visible, both on the construction site as well as taking into account leading roles and running business. The sector is estimated to have only 9% of women as the construction industry’s workforce, leaving a huge talent pool that we’re not tapping into. From the other side, the construction labour shortages in the EU due to the declining population & the ageing workforce is ongoing phenomenon. The industry is suffering from a skills shortage, which has a huge influence on the necessity to increase the attractiveness of the industry for women. Nevertheless, there is still a belief in society that the construction industry is for men, which additionally affects the need to create conditions for change, improving the industry gender outlook & quality of life in the male dominated sector. New gender equality skills should be developed to create a safe & welcoming environment for the female workforce in this field.