UNSEEN FORCE OF WOMEN IN INDIA'S CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
India's construction sector ranks second in employment after agriculture and is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country, witnessing significant expansion. The construction sector also significantly contributes to India's GDP, amounting to 9%. The sector serves as a crucial source of employment, particularly for the economically disadvantaged. Women in this sector are often involved in unskilled tasks such as digging, cement mixing, stone breaking, and carrying heavy loads. Approximately 57 million individuals are employed in the Construction Sector, with only 7 million being women. The construction workforce, despite its economic importance, ranks among the least skilled in the country, presenting a limitation to both sectoral growth and the millions engaged in it. In addition to this, despite the sector's substantial economic impact, there exists a significant gender disparity, particularly in higher management and technical roles within the real estate sector. A report by the World Trade Center and Primus Partners sheds light on the often unrecognized role of women in the workforce, emphasizing the prevailing issue of wage inequality. Traditionally perceived as male-dominated, the real estate sector owes much of its growth to the invaluable contribution of women, who constitute the backbone of the construction workforce. Recent years have witnessed a positive trend with an increasing number of women assuming leadership roles in major Real Estate Organizations. Despite this progress, substantial room for improvement remains, particularly in addressing the scarcity of women in leadership positions and technical and managerial roles. Gender inequity is further exacerbated as women are disproportionately represented in informal roles within the formal sector, grappling with additional burdens of domestic and care work. Managerial roles for women in the Real Estate Sector are notably scarce, with a glass ceiling limiting their upward mobility. The construction industry classifies its workforce into leadership, technical, semi-skilled labour, and unskilled labour. However, the representation of women at the corporate board level is strikingly low, standing at around 17.3%, and a mere 1-2% reach top-level management positions. In technical and managerial roles, only 1.4% of women are engaged, with less than 2% reaching leadership positions. The gender disparity extends to licensed architects, where 47.6% are women, facing a 15% gender pay gap. Even in mid-level and semi-skilled roles like site supervisors, contractors, surveyors, carpenters, plumbers, painters, and masons, women's participation remains minimal. Additionally, female workers in this category endure unstable employment, receive lower pay, and are often limited to part-time work. These dismal numbers speak volumes of the gap and the urgent need to make a change. While India's construction sector propels economic growth, there needs to be greater advocacy for gender equality in the sector. We have seen quite a few organizations focus on raising awareness of working with women – Gender awareness sessions, Inclusive Leadership Sessions, roadmaps on creating Inclusive workspaces, Women Leadership journeys are some ways organizations are bridging this gap and we can proudly say, at Embrace, we have partnered with quite a few organizations in this space to make an impact Initiating skill training programs tailored to enhance women's proficiency in construction not only addresses the immediate employment needs but also serves as a catalyst for their broader social and economic advancement. By breaking down systemic barriers, fostering inclusivity, and promoting diversity, the industry can harness the full spectrum of talent available.
Tags : construction sector substantial room World Trade Center Primus Partners economic impact sectoral growth real estate grappling leadership technical semi-skilled labour unskilled labour inequality