The National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) Queensland is calling for a pink collar boost to the economy with new research showing construction has the lowest female participation rate of any industry.

Just 12.4% of all construction jobs are held by women according to statistics from the Australian Labour Market Information Portal. NAWIC says the number of women on the tools is much lower at around 2%.

The Queensland branch is leading the charge in closing the gender gap with a Cannon Hill apartment block being building with a 20% female workforce.

NAWIC Queensland president Jennifer Gillett says encouraging more women to pick up the tools could provide a boost to the economy by maximising local workforces.

“COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of supporting regional economies by keeping workers employed locally, and it’s fairly clear that the construction industry has an untapped resource due to the shortage of female tradies,” she says.

“We want women to realise that construction offers a solid career path with varied roles – both on and off the tools – and that there is work available with support through industry bodies like NAWIC for those looking to re-train.

“The Cannon Hill apartment project is just one example of how women can make the move into construction, with a growing number of employers in building and associated works embracing the opportunity to create a more diverse team.”

Casey Bell is among the team of 16 women working on the Cannon Hill apartment project. There are an additional 64 women expected to join the team.

“I’ve worked on a few smaller projects around Brisbane but the atmosphere on a project like this is very different and exciting to be a part of,” she says.

Casey is currently completing an electrical apprenticeship with QBuild.

“So far I have been involved in running the underground conduit, which basically means we run thick pipe through the ground so the cables are protected from any damage the build might do.

“It’s interesting jobs like this that caught my eye when choosing my trade. There are so many different components to the electrical trade which really appealed to me, plus you get to learn something new every single day and the work constantly challenges me.

“The industry can be daunting for women because it’s so male dominated but choosing this career has been the best decision and it would be great to see more women embrace construction.

“For girls considering this career I always say just give it a go, even if you are a little nervous.

“Working in construction is an extremely challenging and rewarding career; it’s a really great industry to be apart of and you always get lots of support from everyone.”