Women in construction currently make up around 14% percent of the industry, with around 24,000 employed in the sector. Most of these are in support services, however, only an estimated three percent are working on the tools, according to Women in Trades NZ.
Tradeswomen make three times fewer ACC claims compared to their male counterparts, more than half of female trade apprentices are still engaged in an industry related to their training ten years later, and one in three women in the trades are businessowners. These figures come from the not-for-profit organisation set up to promote trade careers to women and employers in New Zealand.
Waikato-based builder Jess Nielsen made history late last year as the first woman to place in the 2023 Registered Master Builders CARTERS Apprentice of the Year competition.
the bachelor of construction undergraduate and volunteer firefighter was working in taumarunui when she came third in the national competition. in the event’s 20-year history, she is the first to reach the top three.
The Bachelor of Construction Undergraduate and volunteer firefighter was working in Taumarunui when she came third in the national awards. In the event's 20-year history, she is the first woman to reach the top three.
Jess was one of an increased number of female entrants this year, supported by the gradual rise of women choosing trades. The 22 year-old carpenter started out labouring to earn extra cash, while working part time as a ski instructor, and is now two and a half years into her apprenticeship. Competition judges called Jess ‘a highly impressive person’. “Jess’s building knowledge shone through in her interview, and she also showcased a great level of skill in the national practical competition where she scored very highly.”
Having Jess gain recognition and exposure is a great step forward, a reason to celebrate not only Jess herself, but also how far women have come in the industry in recent years. But what’s the lay of the land for female tradies as we enter 2024?
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and its ‘Building Belonging’ campaign aimed to find out. ‘Diving into the barriers holding women and minorities back’, the Building Belonging podcast series explored why Aotearoa's trade industry is still lacking diversity. Co-founder and past president of NAWIC New Zealand, Stacey Mendoca says she formed the Kiwi branch of the international organisation in 1995, initially to make female friends in the construction industry. Working as a quantity surveyor in Wellington, Stacey attended a women’s business networking event only to find she didn’t feel as welcome once she shared what she did.
“Some women literally turned on their heels when I told them I worked in construction,” she says.
So, she set about creating a local community for women in construction careers. Now, NAWIC has over 1200 members in New Zealand, with seven different regional branches across the country: Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Manawatū, Wairarapa, Wellington, Canterbury, Queenstown Lakes, and Otago.
“The numbers have grown hugely,” says Stacey. “We have had a huge growth in mid-career women have a career change and coming into construction. We also have a lot more women clients and consultants, as well as women in the sheds and on the tools."
Times and attitudes have changed since NAWIC’s inception, says Stacey. “I had an old dude phone me recently, for example, who said they didn’t want to take on a female chippy apprentice previously. But he had called me to say he wished he’d done it sooner, as they are the best worker they have ever had.”
CHAMPION OF WOMEN IN TRADES, QUALIFIED JOINER ANDREW BELLAMY IS GM AT WOOD SOLUTIONS. HE PRIDES HIMSELF ON BEING ONE OF THE FIRST TO EMPLOY A FEMALE JOINER, 23 YEARS AGO. FEMALES NOW MAKE UP A QUARTER OF THE WORKFORCE. HE ECHOES STACEY'S CALLER. “WITHIN A MONTH OF HIRING A FEMALE JOINER, WE SAID SHE'S THE BEST HIRE WE'VE EVER MADE," SAYS ANDREW, WHO HAS BEEN IN THE TRADE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
Andrew says, “I recommended a friend in Invercargill hire a female apprentice after he was complaining about not being able to hire any apprentices down there. He rang me to say, ‘She’s great, I should have listened to you earlier!’”
Fear of the unknown has held employers back in the past Andrew feels. “We’re all human, and often, humans don’ like change,” he says. “There’s been a fear among some people to employ a female tradie. And strength has probably been the excuse for some.
“If you’re worried about that, you need to look at your techniques and processes because it’s a learned skill and a learned strength. You could have a male first IX rugby player straight out of school who may get injured because he may not be able to lift as well as a much smaller female because he’s not got the correct techniques. It’s a learned strength.
At board level, women are taking more seats at the table. Qualified builder, Niamh Barraud, runs her own company, Windy City Builders, and is on the board of NZ Certified Builders. She’s a former NZCB Wellington President. Last year, NZCB launched a programme to provide support to apprentices and their employers, including matching female trainees up with mentors. Niamh told Radio New Zealand last year that increasing female numbers was a focus for many businesses in the sector.
"It's a battle that every institution in the industry is focusing on now because diversity is becoming a much more important part of the industry," she said.
Elsewhere in the Kiwi construction sector, director Liz de Kort was appointed to the board of Registered Master Builders’ Association in 2022. She is currently the only female on a board of eight. Whereas, Infrastructure NZ has a majority female board membership. Tracey Ryan serves as Chair, as one of seven female board members, compared to six males. It launched its Women’s Infrastructure Network in 2016, to increase numbers of women in leadership roles, grow the visibility of women, provide networking and a support group for women in the infrastructure sector. It now has six regional chapters and over 2100 members.
The work of more women in trades will be celebrated at this year’s NAWIC Excellence Awards. Nominations opened on Tuesday 23 January and close on Friday 15 March at 7pm. The national awards ceremony will be held on Friday 19 July at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre, with tickets going on sale after the finalists are announced.
A handy roadmap tool for better diversity and inclusion in your construction business has also been created by Diversity Works NZ and the Construction Accord. It is tailored to your situation and downloaded by answering some quick, simple questions.
