Promoting the integration of women into the construction and landscaping trades: a major challenge for the sector

The role of women in the construction and landscaping sectors is improving, but persistent obstacles remain. According to a survey of 520 people, including 360 women, 69% of respondents feel they still have to justify their skills to clients, colleagues, or suppliers. More than half (56%) reported experiencing situations where someone addressed a male colleague, or even their partner, instead of them.

For small businesses, recruiting women remains a real challenge. Nearly half (49%) have already hired a woman, but a lack of applicants, sometimes unsuitable working conditions, and the persistent image of these jobs as "unsuitable" still hinder their entry onto construction sites. Yet, the benefits of gender diversity are tangible: employers observe greater attention to working conditions, more professional conduct, and a more supportive and protective attitude among colleagues in mixed teams.

The realities of motherhood also illustrate the constraints women can face. Among those who were pregnant during their careers, 22% shortened their maternity leave and returned to work, most often more than a month before the scheduled date, whether they worked on construction sites or in offices. Nine percent even reported not being able to take their maternity leave at all, mainly due to company management, a lack of support staff, or a personal desire to quickly return to work.

In light of these findings, the study identifies several levers for action to promote the sustainable integration of women into the sector. These include promoting careers in construction and landscaping from the initial stages of school guidance, providing protective equipment and tools adapted to the female physique, offering financial support to companies for the acquisition of handling aids, and adapting infrastructure – sanitary facilities, changing rooms, and site facilities – as well as work organization, to make construction sites more welcoming and inclusive.

For Jean-Christophe Repon, president of CAPEB: “The results of this study are revealing. They demonstrate that we still have a great deal of progress to make collectively in informing women that our professions are open to them and in facilitating their integration. The stakes are high for our sector, given the number of skills we will need to meet environmental and societal challenges. Increasing the number of women in these professions is an essential prerequisite for the long-term viability of our small businesses. I hope that we will collectively embrace the concrete solutions highlighted in the study.”

For Pascal Rineau, President of the CNATP: “The presence of women in the construction and landscaping sectors is a strength; they often bring a fresh perspective and contribute to quality, safety, and innovation on our worksites. Their integration is quite natural and without any particular difficulty. There is therefore no reason to impose any obstacles or barriers during recruitment. The CNATP fully supports this dynamic, which is essential to the future of our companies. Our professions benefit when they are built with everyone.”

According to Paul Duphil, Secretary General at OPPBTP: “This study confirms a crucial point: if we want more women to join the construction industry permanently, we must resolutely pursue improvements in working conditions. The situations reported show that infrastructure, work organization, and equipment are not always designed to accommodate all profiles. Adapting site facilities, providing truly ergonomic PPE and tools, facilitating handling, and rethinking certain layouts are essential to making our construction sites more inclusive. Beyond the issue of attractiveness, it is also a matter of performance and prevention: when working conditions improve for women, they improve for all employees. OPPBTP intends to continue its role in supporting companies to create work environments where everyone can perform their job safely, efficiently, and respectfully.”

This study highlights that women bring added value to the sector, but that further efforts are needed to adapt attitudes, working conditions, and equipment. Coordinated action between manufacturers, employers' organizations, prevention bodies, and public authorities is essential to strengthen their presence and success in the construction and landscaping industries.

About the study

The study, conducted with 520 respondents, draws on the experiences and perceptions of women working in construction and landscaping. It complements the fieldwork carried out by OPPBTP on prevention and safety practices on construction sites.

The full study report is available for download. here.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.