Constructing Equality Ireland initiative launched to boost female representation in construction

A new industry-led initiative has been launched to accelerate gender equality and increase women's representation across Ireland's construction sector.

Named 'Constructing Equality Ireland', the programme is facilitated by Business in the Community Ireland. The coalition aims to bring together organisations from across the built environment to develop collaborative, evidence-based solutions designed to improve the attraction, retention, and career progression of women in the industry.

The initiative is backed by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and Women in Construction Ireland (WICI), both of which sit on the steering group alongside the founding partners.

Recent sectoral data highlights the ongoing representation challenges in the industry, with women making up just 10.9% of the overall construction workforce in Ireland. Furthermore, women hold only 9.1% of board positions and 15.2% of senior leadership roles across the sector.