Building up women’s confidence in sector

THE Construction Industry Federation has organised a two-day event in the hope of getting more young women on to building sites.

The call comes as concerns about labour and skills shortages within the sector continue to grow.

Women from a number of companies will be on hand at the CIF’S I Wish event at Dublin’s RDS today and tomorrow to advise girls from secondary schools across the country on how to land a job.

CIF director Dermot Carey said: “There has been a traditional disengagement from a very young age between girls and construction.

“We are trying to change this trend and let young women know there are many roles in the industry for them and many female role models in the industry. As the sector recovers and evolves, we are increasingly competing with other industries for talented young people, who not only want to work in a diverse workplace but expect diversity as a matter of course.

“We would like to see more young women considering construction as the viable, modern, innovative and interesting career option it could be for them.”