The future of the construction industry in the EU is threatened by a chronic labour shortage exacerbated by the COVID crisis. The shortage of construction workers in the EU is expected to increase in the future due to a declining population and an ageing workforce FEMCON will develop innovative vocational education & training that will assist women working in or considering a career in construction industry to progress to visible roles within the industry.In so doing, FEMCON will increase the attractiveness of the industry for others, thus leading to a greater number of women choosing the sector.
Our VET aimed education will further impact female workforce in the construction industry across Europe, to become aware of their rights to equality in the industry & to utilise their skills in the industry towards their careers progression, thus creating conditions for positive change to happen, improving the industry outlooks & these groups’ quality of life.
Our women in construction project seeks to build a better future together by diversifying and improving the construction site of the future to include more women. Creating an inclusive environment for a gender diverse construction site and quarry for the benefit of society as a whole.
Through education and training programmes, we hope to create a cultural shift in attitudes towards women involved in construction and quarrying, develop and support career pathways for girls and women into construction and quarrying, normalise construction and quarrying as a career choice for girls and women, develop accessible educational programmes for all school goers and develop a pathway for career changers.
The future of the construction industry in the EU is threatened by a chronic labour shortage exacerbated by the COVID crisis. The shortage of construction workers in the EU is expected to increase in the future due to adeclining population and an ageing workforce
Across Europe, women make up only 9% of the construction workforce, leaving a huge talent pool that is not being used. The number of women in construction has fallen even further during the pandemic years.
The EU construction industry needs to employ more women if it is to have a sustainable future. According to EUROSTAT, the construction sector has the highest percentage of male employees (92%).
Operational Goals
- FEMCON INCLUSION REACH & TEACH toolkit, based on interactive, user-friendly formats, namely videos, text & graphics (PR1). Help VET educators reach both construction companies & female workforce pool, inspiring them to learn more about the need for change and to equip 15 leaders in construction companies to develop their own Inclusion Action Plan that would lead to increased female employees and shared with their sectoral peers.
- FEMCON CURRICULUM (PR2 ). A collection of Open Education Resources, which VET educators will use to empower women working or interested in a career in the construction industry. The OERs will include the pedagogic guide, which will explain methods to use & deliver the curriculum.
- FEMCON Women in Construction Good Practice Showcase (PR3). Inspire women interested in construction and those already working in the construction industry, as well as construction companies and VET to strive towards more visible roles and more favourable positions in the industry. The FEMCON Women in Construction Good Practice Showcase will highlight transferable solutions through a compendium of 35 case studies of inspiration, motivation & mobilization, showcased via video & multimedia formats, for ease of use, visibility & representation.
- FEMCON Women in Construction Platform & online course (PR4). Facilitate collaboration and learning through platform & online course, which use results from P1, P2 and P3
Target Groups
Women who belong/want to belong to the construction industry workforce: FEMCON aims to:Inform about the state of the construction industry and the workforce challenges, educate about their rights and obligations regarding work in the EU based construction industry, inspire and empower to take action towards the positive change in the construction industry, and career progression in this industry, support and inspire towards active communication and creation of community with their peers
Vocational education and training institutions and practitioners VET: For the Vocational Education and Training institutions and practitioners, FEMCON aims to: inform about the state of the construction industry and the workforce challenges, inform about the equality and inclusion challenges for women in this industry, inspire and empower to take action towards the positive change in the construction industry, and better representation of the female workforce, as well as protection of their rights, educate on how to create an action plan to reach these objectives, equip with resources and training materials needed to train both construction companies management and key staff and female workforce groups.
Construction companies: FEMCON aims to: Inform about the state of the construction industry and the workforce challenges, inform about the equality and inclusion challenges for women in this industry, inspire and empower to take action towards the positive change in the construction industry, and better representation of the female workforce, as well as protection of their rights, educate on how to create an action plan to reach these objectives, build bridges, a platform that links them to VET institutions and helps them better communicate with the female workforce
Vocational education and training institutions and practitioners VET: For the Vocational Education and Training institutions and practitioners, FEMCON aims to: inform about the state of the construction industry and the workforce challenges, inform about the equality and inclusion challenges for women in this industry, inspire and empower to take action towards the positive change in the construction industry, and better representation of the female workforce, as well as protection of their rights, educate on how to create an action plan to reach these objectives, equip with resources and training materials needed to train both construction companies management and key staff and female workforce groups.