The wide gender pay gap in the construction industry must be closed if the industry is to attract and retain the best and brightest women, says the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
“Men are frequently paid more than women doing the same job in the construction industry. For every dollar men earn, women are earning 82.3 cents,” says NAWIC’s Chief Executive Officer, Sheryle Moon.
“While the common excuse for this 17.7 per cent pay gap is that women take time out of their careers to be carers, the truth is that the pay gap is established from the moment a woman commences her career.”
“A study by Graduate Careers Australia released earlier this year showed the average gap in starting salaries for graduates is $5,000, and that the pay gap for graduates in the building industry is by far the worst.”
“How do we explain to talented, educated and skilled young women that they can expect to earn $9,000 less than their similarly qualified male colleagues?”
In April, NAWIC released a discussion paper, What women want in a construction career, to explore how to boost the participation of women in the construction industry.
“We know that attracting and retaining more talented women requires a change in the way our industry is structured. It means encouraging flexibility, embracing diversity and investing in attraction. It also means ensuring that women receive equal pay,” Ms Moon says.
“Closing the gender pay gap should be an industry priority.”
