Raising the number of women in construction roles is becoming a central strategy in addressing the country's escalating housing shortage. At present, only 4.5% of trade-qualified workers are women. Industry leaders are aiming to shift outdated views and improve work culture in order to attract more female workers. They believe this approach is vital to achieving housing goals and easing a serious skills shortfall.
Australia's construction industry is currently short around 90,000 skilled tradespeople, and demand is expected to rise further as authorities commit to building 1.2 million homes under the national housing agreement. Although there have been small improvements over the past ten years, the number of women in trade roles is still unbalanced. Experts emphasise that this is more than a gender equity concern, as it is also contributing to delays in home building and infrastructure projects.
As median home prices continue climbing, with Sydney now averaging around $1.26 million which is about ten times the typical household income, many in the industry argue that making construction more attractive to women could expand the labour pool and help speed up development. There is increasing backing for mentoring programmes and public campaigns that challenge traditional ideas about physical strength, workplace culture and suitability for jobs such as plumbing and electrical work. Ensuring safety and fostering inclusive environments are also essential, given that harassment remains a known barrier to women's involvement in the trades.
The federal government is connecting the housing shortage to wider gender gaps in the workforce and is investing $3.7 billion through a national skills agreement to address the issue. Part of the strategy involves reshaping vocational training to prioritise gender equity and expanding support for apprenticeships in trades. Through these efforts, policymakers aim to increase the supply of housing and strengthen the inclusivity and resilience of the construction sector.
