A recent Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) survey indicates that nearly a third (32 percent) of its members are under the age of 30, with the Institute optimistic of a gender balanced future for the profession.
The figure is made astounding by the fact that the 32 percent is more than double the amount of female AIQS members overall, with triple that of the average number of females in the construction industry.
“The construction industry has always been male dominated,” says AIQS Board Member, Fiona Doherty.
“Even today, just 13.3 percent of the industry identify as women and within our own Association, the number is 14 percent overall. To see that number jump to 32 percent in the under 30s category is a really exciting indication of a far more balanced future.”
“I think this can be attributed to a strong push across the board for gender equality - from schools pushing STEM subjects to associations like AIQS all promoting the advantages and rewards of a career in construction.”
28-year-old Ziqi Chen (pictured), an Executive Quantity Surveyor for Rider Levett Bucknall, is one of these females under 30 who is an AIQS member. She says she sees the profession's benefits as a drawcard.
“Quantity surveying was offered as a new major when I was in my first year of university doing a building and construction management degree. I have always liked maths and thought this might be the best-suited profession for me.”
Now working in the profession, Ziqi says the rewards keep coming.
“I like the fact that quantity surveying has many facets. Every project is unique in itself and there are also a range of services to quantity surveying that many might not realise but we do deliver as part of our profession.
“It also gives a sense of achievement seeing the project you are involved in being developed from hand-drawn blocks and lines to considering every detail and then to seeing it built.”
