Country Findings from the WEC Research: Montenegro

Country Findings from the WEC Research: Montenegro

January 14, 2026
11:32 pm

Introduction

The Women Empowered in Construction (WEC) project aims to strengthen women’s participation in vocational education and training (VET) and employment in the construction sector. As part of the project’s research phase, partners collected country-level insights to better understand the current situation, main barriers, and opportunities for attracting and supporting girls and women in construction-related education and careers. This article presents key findings from Montenegro.

Current context: women and construction in Montenegro

Construction remains a traditionally male-dominated field in Montenegro. While the sector offers stable employment opportunities and diverse career paths (from technical design and planning to on-site work and management), girls are still underrepresented in construction-related VET programmes and later in the labour market. Social perceptions about “men’s jobs” and “women’s jobs” continue to shape educational choices, especially during early secondary school years.

What influences girls’ choices: perceptions and role models

A major finding from the research is that girls’ interest in construction is strongly influenced by how the profession is presented and by the presence (or absence) of relatable role models. Many students still associate construction mostly with heavy physical work, outdoor conditions, and predominantly male workplaces. When students are exposed to modern construction technologies, design-oriented tasks, sustainable building approaches, and digital tools, their perception shifts and interest increases.

Role models—female engineers, architects, site managers, or skilled workers—have a particularly strong impact. Seeing women successfully working in the field helps girls imagine themselves in similar roles.

Key barriers identified

The research highlighted several barriers that limit the participation of girls and women in construction-related education and employment:

Persistent stereotypes and social expectations: Families and communities often encourage girls to choose “safer” or “more suitable” professions.
Limited visibility of career pathways: Students are not always aware of the wide range of construction occupations and progression routes.
Workplace culture and confidence gaps: Some girls anticipate uncomfortable environments or lack confidence entering male-dominated settings.
Insufficient practical exposure: When students have few opportunities for site visits, hands-on workshops, or mentorship, construction remains abstract and less attractive.

What supports participation: practical learning and partnerships

One of the strongest supportive factors is meaningful, well-structured practical learning. Practical training that is planned, supervised, and connected to real tasks can increase students’ confidence and motivation. Partnerships with local companies also matter: they enable work-based learning, mentoring, equipment support, and real-life examples of professional standards.

When employers actively welcome female students, provide safe and respectful training environments, and present clear pathways for internships and employment, girls are more likely to see construction as a realistic and promising option.

Opportunities for improvement (what the research suggests)

Based on the findings, several actions can significantly improve participation and retention:

Better career guidance in schools with clear information about occupations, salaries, and progression routes.
Promoting modern construction (digital tools, BIM, sustainable materials, interior finishing, dry construction systems, project planning).
Mentoring and role-model activities, including guest lectures and “Women in Construction” talks.
Stronger school–industry cooperation through site visits, internships, and joint events.
Visible communication campaigns that show girls and women in practical and technical roles—not only in supportive positions.

Conclusion

The research in Montenegro confirms that increasing women’s participation in construction requires both cultural and practical changes: challenging stereotypes, improving visibility of career opportunities, and providing supportive learning and workplace environments. Through WEC, partners in Montenegro will use these findings to strengthen VET content, improve outreach and guidance, and build stronger bridges between schools and the construction industry—so that more girls can confidently choose and succeed in construction careers.

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Smart Tools, Stronger Workforce: How Digital Construction Can Bridge Ireland’s Skills and Gender Gaps

Smart Tools, Stronger Workforce: How Digital Construction Can Bridge Ireland’s Skills and Gender Gaps

January 5, 2026
11:08 pm

From AI-enabled planning to off-site fabrication, the digitalisation of Ireland’s construction sector could unlock more inclusive opportunities—if we act now.

Ireland’s construction industry is changing fast—but can its workforce keep up?

The country faces mounting pressures: a 47% increase in labour demand, accelerating green transition targets, and a growing need to attract underrepresented talent, especially women. These overlapping challenges were front and centre in the WEC (Women Empowered in Construction) project’s latest research, and they all point in the same direction: digital transformation isn’t just a technical shift. It’s a social one.

Digital is Here, But Unevenly Spread

From Building Information Modelling (BIM) to modular off-site fabrication, modern construction methods are no longer futuristic. But as Joan McNaboe of SOLAS notes, “digital tools are largely confined to bigger companies.” Smaller firms, who make up the bulk of Ireland’s construction sector, often lag in adoption, mainly due to training gaps and cost barriers.

Yet, this digital divide also presents a golden opportunity. Integrating digital tools into early-stage training and apprenticeships could equip a new generation of workers, including those currently underrepresented, with in-demand skills from day one.

A Pathway for Women and Career Changers

One standout insight from the research? Digital roles are more accessible and attractive to women.

Interviewees highlighted how roles such as BIM technician, digital site planner, and virtual design coordinator are:

Less physically demanding
More adaptable to flexible or remote work
Rich in career progression potential

These are precisely the factors that could encourage more women, parents, and career changers to enter the sector – especially if training is flexible, modular, and visible through career awareness campaigns.

The Digitalisation-Gender Inclusion Link

Despite persistent gender imbalances (only 10.2% of the workforce are women), there are signs of positive change:

Apprenticeship opportunities for women are gaining traction.
Training centres like Mount Lucas now have female instructors in digital and off-site roles.
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) reports strong female representation in digital-related areas like health & safety, environmental management, and engineering.

As Jeanette Mair (CIF) puts it: “There’s a shift happening. We’re seeing more women excited about roles in digital construction and design – jobs that offer flexibility and creativity, not just physical labour.”

What Needs to Happen Next?

To truly harness digitalisation for workforce inclusion, the WEC research suggests action in three areas:

Training Reform

Integrate digital skills (e.g. BIM, VR tools, sustainability metrics) across all training levels.
Prioritise short, flexible modules to support re-entry and upskilling.
Expand modular VET options, inspired by best practices in Germany.

Inclusive Recruitment & Visibility

Promote digital roles using gender-inclusive messaging.
Show real career stories, particularly of women in digital trades.
Engage career guidance professionals to challenge outdated stereotypes.

Employer Engagement

Encourage companies to offer remote-friendly or flexible hours for digital roles.
Pilot split-apprenticeships or job-sharing in BIM and offsite settings.
Connect SMEs with supports to adopt digital workflows and upskill teams.

Bridging the Gap, Building the Future

Construction has always been about shaping the future, quite literally. But now, Ireland has the chance to shape not just buildings, but a workforce that’s more skilled, more inclusive, and better equipped for the green and digital transitions.

As the WEC research shows, digitalisation isn’t just about tech. It’s about redefining who belongs on the construction site, and in the decision-making room.

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Research findings in Lithuania: labour shortages and the gender gap in construction

Research findings in Lithuania: labour shortages and the gender gap in construction

December 23, 2025
10:15 pm

As part of the WEC project, national research was carried out in Lithuania to better understand two connected challenges in the construction sector: a growing lack of workers and the very low participation of women. The Lithuanian research was led by VILNIUS TECH and combined three steps: collection of national labour-market data, desk research, and interviews with sector stakeholders.

Current situation in Lithuania

Construction is one of the biggest employment sectors in the country. In 2022, around 10.8% of Lithuania’s employed population worked in construction, equal to roughly 126-130 thousand people in “narrow” construction. At the same time, the sector is one of the most male-dominated in the economy: men make up about 91.4% of construction employees and women around 8.6%.

Clear signs of labour shortages

The data show a labour market that is increasingly tight in construction. The job vacancy rate in construction rose from 1.1% in 2019 to 1.8% in 2023, signalling growing unmet demand. Shortage occupation lists also point to a structural problem: many of the occupations identified as being in shortage in Lithuania are linked to construction and related crafts.

The strongest demand is for skilled trades and operators. Employers report difficulties finding plumbers and pipe fitters, electricians, concrete workers, bricklayers, roofers, painters, road workers, and heavy equipment operators, alongside shortages in site management and engineering roles. Regional patterns also matter: the Vilnius area is highlighted as particularly tight, with many vacancies relative to available workers.

Foreign labour is increasingly used to fill gaps

A major response to shortages has been recruiting from abroad. The research notes a sharp increase in the number of foreigners working in Lithuania in 2023, and many foreign workers are employed in construction-related occupations such as welding, concrete work, metal construction assembly, and other building trades. Policy changes also affected this trend, with quotas and rules changing between 2023 and 2024.

Why women remain underrepresented

The findings show that the low share of women is not explained by a single factor. Instead, several barriers reinforce each other:

Education and career choices: construction-related vocational and study paths attract very few women, which narrows the pipeline into the sector.
Stereotypes and sector image: construction is still widely viewed as “men’s work,” which affects career expectations from an early age.
Workplace culture and practical conditions: women often report being the only woman on site, needing to prove competence more strongly at the start, and facing gaps in basic facilities such as suitable restrooms or changing areas.

Stakeholder perspectives from Lithuania

Interviews with sector representatives broadly confirm the data and add practical detail. Stakeholders link shortages to demographic decline, emigration of skilled workers, and the demanding nature of construction work. They also highlight that relying on immigration can help in the short term, but does not replace the need for stronger local training and better working conditions.

Training and upskilling are seen as essential. National efforts to modernise skills, including training related to energy-efficient construction, are viewed positively. Some larger firms have started more structured in-house training, while smaller firms often lack capacity to do the same.

What needs to happen next

Across the data, desk research, and interviews, the Lithuanian findings point to a set of practical directions:

Strengthen vocational training and promote construction careers more actively, including earlier outreach in schools.
Introduce targeted actions to attract and retain women through role models, mentorship, supportive entry routes, and clear anti-harassment measures.
Improve working conditions and safety, and invest in modern tools and processes that reduce physical strain and raise productivity.
Use immigration in a well-managed way to address immediate gaps while also developing local talent and exploring return-migration opportunities.
Build stronger collaboration between government, industry, vocational education providers, and social partners so that solutions are coordinated rather than fragmented.

These Lithuanian research results provide a clear baseline for WEC activities. They show that improving gender inclusion is not only an equality issue but also a practical way to widen the talent pool and respond to long-term labour shortages in construction.

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Introducing WEC partners: VILNIUS TECH

Introducing WEC partners: VILNIUS TECH

December 19, 2025
10:05 pm

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) is a public technical university in Vilnius, Lithuania. The university focuses on technologies and engineering and works closely with business and public-sector partners. VILNIUS TECH has over 8,400 students and brings together 10 faculties, 3 research centres, 13 research institutes and 22 research laboratories. It offers 104 study programmes and cooperates with hundreds of international higher education and research partners, as well as around 300 business partners.

VILNIUS TECH has strong experience in international project implementation, supporting curriculum development, training activities, and knowledge transfer between education and industry.
In the Women Empowered in Construction (WEC) project, VILNIUS TECH co-leads Work Package 4 together with Outside Media & Knowledge.

This work package focuses on a training toolkit and educational resources for VET providers and construction companies, designed to complement the four curriculum modules developed in the project. The toolkit will include at least 15 practical tools such as checklists, case studies, best-practice guidelines and templates, and will be shared through the WEC online platform and partner networks.

VILNIUS TECH also leads the project deliverable related to eight local awareness-raising events (or webinars), engaging VET institutions and construction companies across partner countries. Outcomes from the events will be consolidated into a joint report and published on the WEC platform.

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Needs Assessment Report: Gender Inequality and Labour Shortages in the Construction Sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Needs Assessment Report: Gender Inequality and Labour Shortages in the Construction Sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina

December 15, 2025
2:25 pm

The construction sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing a dual structural challenge: a persistent shortage of qualified labour and a deeply rooted gender imbalance that continues to limit women’s participation. This needs assessment report brings together quantitative labour market data, educational statistics, secondary research, and qualitative insights from key stakeholders to provide an evidence-based overview of the current situation and identify priorities for change.

Labour shortages and gender imbalance: a structural problem

Women remain a clear minority in the construction sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Available data indicate that they make up around 10% of the total construction workforce, with the vast majority employed in administrative, office-based, or technical support roles. Site-based positions, skilled trades, and leadership roles continue to be dominated by men.

At the end of September 2023, 40,813 people were employed in construction in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including 4,291 women, confirming the limited female presence in the sector. While some growth has been recorded in recent years, particularly in Republika Srpska, this increase remains modest and insufficient to change the overall gender structure of the workforce.

Insights from employment services: unemployment and gender gaps

Data collected from cantonal employment services reveal persistent gender disparities among unemployed persons with construction-related qualifications. In all reporting cantons, men significantly outnumber women. For example:

Zenica-Doboj Canton: 21% women, 79% men
Tuzla Canton: 26% women, 74% men
Herzegovina-Neretva Canton: 22% women, 78% men

A particularly striking finding comes from Zenica-Doboj Canton, where women represent only 10.5% of jobseekers with craft-level construction qualifications, highlighting a pronounced gender gap in vocational trades.

Data from the Employment Service of Republika Srpska further underline this imbalance. In 2024, 1,223 individuals were removed from the unemployment register from the construction sector, of whom only 11.5% were women, suggesting that women benefit far less from employment opportunities even when vacancies exist.

Education trends: growing interest, weak transition to employment

In contrast to labour market outcomes, educational data present a more nuanced and, in some cases, encouraging picture. Several secondary schools and higher education institutions report a significant share of female students, and in some cases even a female majority, in construction-related programmes.

Notably, the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the University “Džemal Bijedić” in Mostar reports 52% female students, a rare example of gender balance in construction-related higher education. Similar trends are observed in several technical secondary schools, where female enrolment equals or slightly exceeds that of male students.

However, this growing interest among young women is not translating into proportional employment outcomes. A clear gap persists between education and the labour market, indicating structural barriers that prevent women from entering and remaining in the construction workforce after completing their studies.

Experiences of women in construction: barriers beyond statistics

Qualitative interviews with women working in construction-related roles highlight challenges that go beyond numerical underrepresentation. Stakeholders consistently point to:

Persistent stereotypes portraying construction as a “male” profession
Lack of respect and authority for women in supervisory and site-based roles
Limited career progression and a pronounced “glass ceiling”
Workplace discrimination and harassment, often underreported
Structural disadvantages for mothers, including inadequate maternity protections and limited flexibility

Despite legal frameworks guaranteeing gender equality, enforcement remains inconsistent, and most gender-equality initiatives in construction are driven by donor-funded projects rather than embedded public policy.

Skills gaps and outdated education pathways

Labour shortages in construction are exacerbated by skills mismatches and outdated curricula. Stakeholders emphasise that both secondary and higher education programmes lack sufficient practical training, leaving graduates unprepared for real-world construction work. Employers are often required to invest significant time and resources in retraining new hires.

This gap is further widened by emigration, as skilled workers leave the country in search of better wages and working conditions abroad. As a result, construction projects face delays, productivity losses, and increased pressure on the remaining workforce.

Key priorities for change

The findings of this needs assessment point to several priority areas for intervention:

Strengthening the link between education and employment through practical training, internships, and cooperation with construction companies
Promoting women as visible role models in construction to challenge stereotypes and inspire future generations
Improving workplace conditions, including flexible work arrangements and fully protected maternity leave
Modernising curricula to include practical, market-relevant skills
Strengthening enforcement of gender equality legislation and embedding inclusion measures into public policy

Conclusion

The construction sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina stands at a critical crossroads. Labour shortages threaten its long-term sustainability, while gender inequality continues to exclude a significant portion of the potential workforce. Although education trends suggest growing interest among women, systemic barriers prevent this potential from being realised.

Addressing these challenges is not only a matter of social justice, but also an economic necessity. Creating pathways for women to enter, remain, and progress in construction is essential for building a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready sector.

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Wrapping up 2025: partners meet to plan the next steps for Women in Construction

Wrapping up 2025: partners meet to plan the next steps for Women in Construction

December 11, 2025
9:09 pm

On 9 December, our project partners gathered online for the last coordination meeting of 2025 to look back on what we achieved this year and to prepare for an active period ahead. Although this was one of our regular monthly meetings, it played an important role in closing the year with a shared plan for 2026.

The meeting opened with a short recap of our recent work before moving into several practical updates.

Website and Wall of Support

Our Wall of Support is now fully functional, and we are preparing a wider outreach campaign for spring 2026. We also reviewed new articles, social media plans, and upcoming improvements to the website – including the future integration of online learning modules.

Curriculum development

Partners shared news from their local activities, including feedback from schools and training centres already testing elements of the project. We also discussed how the curriculum will be finalised, peer-reviewed, and translated so that it can be used effectively across all partner countries.

Preparing for the training in Ireland (May 2026)

A key part of the meeting focused on planning our international training event in Ireland. Partners reviewed the proposed dates, discussed travel and accommodation options, and shared information about the types of participants they intend to send. This early coordination ensures the training will be practical, balanced, and well-organised.

Transparent and well-organised administration

To keep the project running smoothly and transparently, partners discussed how we will handle all administrative tasks as we enter the final project year. This included agreeing on clear deadlines for submitting timesheets, using shared templates for documentation, and ensuring all financial records are complete and easy to verify. The team also reviewed preparations for the upcoming periodic report, confirming that all partners will follow the same standards and upload documents to shared folders so everything remains open, traceable, and compliant with EU requirements.

Next steps

Partners shared final updates, identified where additional support may be needed, and agreed on the immediate priorities. Our next meeting will take place on 8 January 2026, where we will continue preparing the training programme, finalising the curriculum, and strengthening our communication activities.

As we close the year, the consortium remains committed to supporting women’s skills, opportunities, and visibility in the construction sector through coordinated action across all partner countries.

To explore the project and follow our progress, visit:
https://women-in-construction.eu/

Needs Assessment Report of the WEC Project: Evidence-Based Foundations for Change in Construction

Needs Assessment Report of the WEC Project: Evidence-Based Foundations for Change in Construction

November 27, 2025
11:27 pm

The construction sector across Europe and the Western Balkans is undergoing profound structural pressure. While it is expected to deliver on housing demand, large-scale infrastructure, and the green transition, it continues to struggle with chronic labour shortages and deep-rooted gender imbalances. Against this backdrop, the Needs Assessment Report developed within the Women Empowered in Construction (WEC) project provides a comprehensive, evidence-based foundation for future project actions.

Prepared as the final output of Work Package 2 – Research and Mapping, the report consolidates findings from institutional data analysis, policy mapping, and stakeholder consultations previously conducted under Deliverables D2.1 and D2.2. Its primary purpose is to synthesise this evidence into a strategic framework that directly informs the development of the WEC vocational education and training (VET) curriculum and other downstream project activities.

Scope and Methodological Basis

The analysis covers seven countries: Ireland, Germany, Croatia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania. These countries represent a mix of EU Member States and Western Balkan contexts, enabling cross-country comparison while identifying shared structural patterns.

The report draws on:

Labour market and institutional data,
Analysis of national policy frameworks,
Stakeholder interviews with education providers, employers, and sector experts,
Mapping of selected VET programmes in the construction sector.

This multi-layered approach allows the report to identify both transnational trends and country-specific challenges relevant to gender inclusion and workforce resilience in construction

Core Challenges Identified Across Countries

Structural Labour Shortages in Construction

All participating countries report a significant and widening gap between labour supply and demand in construction. Shortages are particularly acute in skilled trades such as electricians, masons, and steel fixers, as well as in supervisory roles and emerging green and digital occupations. The report highlights that labour shortages are no longer cyclical but structural, intensified by the retirement of experienced workers and insufficient entry of new labour into the sector.

Demographic change, migration patterns, and declining interest in vocational education further exacerbate these shortages, creating long-term risks for sector sustainability.

Persistent Gender Imbalances

Women remain severely underrepresented in the construction workforce across all partner countries. Female participation consistently clusters between 8.6% and 14%, and is even lower in site-based and manual trades. Where women are present, they are predominantly employed in administrative, design, or managerial roles rather than technical or operational positions.

The report identifies a persistent pattern of horizontal gender segregation, reinforced by cultural stereotypes, workplace exclusion mechanisms, economic disincentives such as gender pay gaps, and weak educational pipelines. Female enrolment in construction-related vocational programmes remains below 20% in most countries, with some reporting figures as low as 5%

Weak Education-to-Employment Transitions

Even in countries where female participation in construction education is improving, this progress does not translate into employment outcomes. The report identifies several contributing factors, including:

Limited engagement of employers with VET systems,
Gender-insensitive workplace environments,
Absence of female role models and mentors,
Poor visibility of career pathways into construction jobs.

As a result, the report concludes that upskilling women without parallel labour market transformation leads to significant “pipeline leaks”

Inadequate Gender Mainstreaming in VET Systems

Gender considerations are largely absent from curriculum design, accreditation criteria, teaching methodologies, and school–employer partnerships across the countries studied. Most VET providers lack the institutional capacity, resources, or mandate to implement gender inclusion strategies specific to construction. Instead, general equality policies are applied, which do not address the sector’s unique workplace realities

Gaps in Current Construction Curricula

The structured mapping of existing VET programmes revealed several common gaps:

Curricula are technically robust but socially narrow, with limited integration of gender equality.
Green construction skills are largely missing or treated superficially, despite growing EU-wide demand.
Digital competences such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital site management, and data tools are inconsistently included.
Teaching methods rely heavily on traditional lectures and written assessments, with limited use of project-based or simulation-based learning.

These gaps limit the capacity of current programmes to respond to labour market needs and to support diverse learner profiles.

Priority Needs for WEC Project Development

Based on the consolidated findings, the report identifies five high-priority needs that must be addressed in future WEC activities:

Curriculum relevance and responsiveness, aligned with current and future skills demands in green, digital, and energy-efficient construction.
Gender-sensitive design and delivery, embedding inclusion throughout learning materials, assessments, and safety training.
Stronger education–employment linkages, including work-based learning, mentorship, and employer engagement.
Support for VET providers and trainers, through capacity-building in gender-sensitive pedagogy and organisational mainstreaming.
Policy and advocacy alignment, ensuring curriculum development is connected to regulatory frameworks and broader system-level change

Implications for the WEC Vocational Curriculum

The Needs Assessment Report confirms that the WEC curriculum must be designed as a transformative tool, embedding gender equality from the outset while integrating green and digital competencies across all modules. The curriculum is expected to address documented barriers such as cultural stereotypes, inadequate workplace facilities, and economic disincentives, while responding directly to labour market needs identified through stakeholder consultations

Conclusion

The report concludes that construction workforce challenges transcend national boundaries. Female participation remains consistently low across all countries studied, while labour shortages continue to intensify. In this context, the WEC project is positioned to contribute to both workforce development and systemic transformation by investing in women, modernising VET, and addressing long-standing structural exclusion.

By anchoring its future activities in the evidence presented in this Needs Assessment Report, the WEC project ensures that its outputs are technically robust, socially meaningful, economically relevant, and aligned with policy priorities at both national and European levels

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Introducing WEC Partners: Association Spin

Introducing WEC Partners: Association Spin

November 19, 2025
5:18 pm

We are proud to introduce Spin / Okret as a one of the partners in this project.

Spin is a youth-centred non-profit organisation based in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, dedicated to empowering young people and strengthening inclusive communities through high-quality non-formal education and international cooperation.

Since its foundation in 2018, Spin has been working to ensure that all young people – especially those facing social, economic, educational, or geographic barriers – have access to meaningful learning opportunities, support, and pathways to active participation. With deep roots in local youth work, Spin combines hands-on facilitation with strategic project design across a variety of themes including youth inclusion, employability, digital competences, peacebuilding, gender equality, well-being, and violence prevention.

Spin’s expertise includes developing and delivering youth trainings, workshops, youth exchanges, blended learning programmes, and competence-based educational resources aligned with European frameworks. The organisation also supports the capacity building of youth workers, educators, and institutions to adopt inclusive methodologies and to scale positive impact locally and beyond.

In international projects, Spin brings strong experience in project coordination, partner collaboration, activity implementation, and dissemination through established networks with schools, civil society organisations, and community stakeholders. Their focus on innovation, digital transformation, and learner-centred design ensures quality and sustainability of project outcomes.

We are delighted to work with Spin / Okret, contributing their passion, professionalism, and deep commitment to youth empowerment and inclusion.

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Germany – Country findings from the research

Germany – Country findings from the research

November 10, 2025
11:55 am

This article summarises the key findings from the Germany country research, focusing on the construction sector’s workforce trends, skills shortages, and the structural barriers that keep women underrepresented. The aim is to provide practical, evidence-informed insights that can guide project activities, employer engagement, and training design.

Key facts at a glance

Indicator	Finding (Germany)
Workforce size	Around 2.6 million workers (about 5 – 6% of all employed persons, 2023).
Enterprises and turnover	About 360,000 construction enterprises generating roughly EUR 430 billion annual turnover (2023).
Female participation	About 14% of the construction workforce is female (2024). In core construction trades the share is about 11%.
Women on building sites	Women are rare in manual trades on sites: about 1.9% of skilled trade workers on construction sites are female.
Female apprentices	Women account for about 3.5% of apprentices in main construction crafts (up from about 2.8% a few years earlier).
Recruitment difficulties	Over 53% of construction firms reported difficulty filling vacancies (with around 61% in civil engineering).
Foreign workforce reliance	Immigrant and foreign workers are about 24% of the construction workforce (main sector, 2023), up from about 8% in 2009.

1. Sector snapshot

Germany’s construction sector remains a major employer and economic pillar, but it is operating in a tightening labour market. Even as activity levels fluctuate, companies report that finding and retaining skilled workers is a persistent constraint.

2. Gender imbalance and where it shows up

Women’s underrepresentation is most pronounced in site-based and craft roles. The research highlights a two-speed picture: women are more present in planning, supervision, and some engineering functions, but remain largely absent from manual trades.

What the data suggests:

Headline participation is low: around 14% of the sector workforce is female, and only about 11% in core trades.
On construction sites, women make up roughly 1.9% of skilled trade workers, with only marginal progress over the last decade.
The talent pipeline is still narrow: women are about 3.5% of apprentices in main construction crafts.
In planning and supervision roles, women reach around 27%, indicating that role models and entry routes matter.

For project design, this implies that outreach and training need to be tailored to the specific points where women drop out or never enter: early career awareness, initial vocational choice, workplace culture on sites, and progression into higher-paid craft specialisations.

3. Vocational training pipeline and new entrants

The research points to declining trainee intake and limited applicant numbers, even though many companies still plan to train apprentices. This creates a risk of unfilled training slots alongside unfilled jobs.

New apprenticeship contracts in construction declined by about 4.7% in 2023, marking a second consecutive annual drop.
Refugee and crisis-affected country entrants into construction apprenticeships increased over time, reaching about 3,630 in 2023 (versus about 1,100 in 2016), indicating the value of integration pathways.
In civil engineering, beginner numbers also fell (about -1.8%), showing that shortages are not limited to manual trades.

This combination suggests that the challenge is not only training capacity, but also attractiveness and accessibility of training routes.

4. Labour shortages and the role of migration

Vacancy and unemployment indicators show a tight labour market in construction. Firms have responded with international recruitment and extensive use of posted workers, yet shortages persist.

Registered unemployment among construction-skilled workers was low in 2024, with about 50,000 unemployed and around 80,500 fewer than in 2020.
Surveys cited in the research report widespread hiring difficulty, including over 53% of firms reporting hard-to-fill vacancies.
Foreign and immigrant workers now make up about 24% of the workforce, and posted workers exceed 80,000 in 2024, reflecting structural reliance on cross-border labour.

A core message for employers is that expanding the domestic talent pool, especially women, is not a ‘nice to have’ but a practical response to labour shortages.

5. Wages, job quality, and the pay gap

Wages in construction have risen, but higher pay alone has not eliminated recruitment problems. The research also underlines that the gender pay gap is influenced by occupational segregation: women are underrepresented in higher-paid craft roles.

Average gross monthly earnings in main construction were about EUR 4,397 in April 2024, with variation by skill level.
Collective agreements set wage floors and have narrowed East-West gaps over time (for example, a top wage bracket around EUR 28.60 per hour is cited).
The research cites 2020 earnings data indicating women earned roughly EUR 42,163 versus EUR 45,044 for men in construction, with role distribution as a main driver.

Improving job quality is therefore not just about wages. It also includes predictable working time, safe and respectful workplaces, and clear development routes.

6. Policy direction and practical initiatives

Germany’s response combines skills policy, targeted equality measures, and labour mobility tools. At EU level, the Renovation Wave and Pact for Skills place renewed emphasis on scaling up workforce capacity while improving job quality.

Examples of action highlighted in the research include:

Mentoring and networks for women in technical roles, including structured mentoring programmes for junior engineers.
Practical guidance for companies on recruiting and retaining women, supported by chambers and competence centres.
International recruitment and cooperation to address immediate shortages.
Regional and sector initiatives that promote visibility and peer support for women in planning and construction.

7. Stakeholder insights from interviews

Interviews with sector stakeholders reinforce three recurring themes:

Early orientation matters. Interviewees stress starting in schools so girls grow up seeing technical professions as attainable.
Workplace culture is decisive. Inclusion is not achieved by recruitment campaigns alone; it depends on day-to-day conditions on sites and in teams.
Support and progression are required. Women entering male-dominated environments need structured support, mentoring, and clear development paths.

What this means for project activities in Germany

Based on the country findings, the most credible levers for project work are:

Targeted outreach that makes construction and related technical pathways visible to girls and women, with real role models.
Training that is designed around practical entry points, including bridging routes for migrants and career changers.
Employer engagement focused on job quality: safe sites, inclusive teams, and transparent progression into higher-paid specialisations.
Partnerships with existing networks and competence centres to avoid duplication and accelerate uptake.

Taken together, the Germany research underlines a clear opportunity: addressing skills shortages and gender imbalance as a single, connected challenge.

Meeting the Needs: Rethinking Education and Gender Inclusion in Construction

Meeting the Needs: Rethinking Education and Gender Inclusion in Construction

October 23, 2025
1:29 am

The construction industry across Europe and the Western Balkans is facing a double challenge: a growing demand for workers on one side, and deep-rooted gender imbalances on the other. To address these issues, the Women Empowered in Construction (WEC) project has published its Needs Assessment Report – a roadmap that highlights what must change if the sector is to become both resilient and inclusive.

Why a Needs Assessment?

This report goes beyond identifying shortages. It asks: What exactly is missing in current systems? What do women need to succeed in construction? And what changes must educators, employers, and policymakers make to remove barriers?

The findings point to five priority areas for reform:

Curriculum Relevance and Responsiveness

Construction training programmes are often out of sync with the realities of today’s sector. While technical foundations exist, they fail to reflect the skills needed for the green and digital transition.

What’s missing:

Green construction methods and energy-efficient retrofitting.
Digital site management tools (BIM, drones, 3D modelling).
Safety and compliance modules adapted to mixed-gender teams.

Recommendation: Develop modular, job-focused training units that prepare learners directly for the most in-demand roles.

Gender-Sensitive Design and Delivery

Most training programmes still reproduce old stereotypes. Female role models, gender-aware teaching methods, and inclusive materials are rare, leaving women without visibility or support.

What’s missing:

Inclusive language in training.
Properly sized PPE and safe workplace facilities.
Case studies showing women in technical roles.

Recommendation: Embed gender inclusion at every stage, from course design to assessment.

Stronger Education–Employment Bridges

Even where women are entering construction education, few make it into jobs. The pipeline “leaks” because schools and employers aren’t connected enough.

What’s missing:

Mentorship and job-shadowing opportunities.
Partnerships with inclusive employers.
Career guidance for non-traditional pathways.

Recommendation: Integrate real world work experience and direct employer engagement into every training module.

Supporting Trainers and VET Providers

Inclusion doesn’t happen automatically. Teachers and institutions need both tools and incentives to deliver change.

What’s missing:

Training for educators in gender-sensitive pedagogy.
Resources for schools to implement inclusion strategies.
Recognition and reward for inclusive performance.

Recommendation: Launch a capacity-building programme for VET providers, giving educators the confidence and skills to transform classrooms.

Policy and Advocacy Alignment

Educational change must be reinforced by policies that reward inclusive practices. Otherwise, progress will remain uneven between EU and Western Balkan countries.

What’s missing:

Gender-specific strategies in construction policy.
Integration of equality goals into accreditation and funding.
Incentives for inclusive hiring in public procurement.

Recommendation: Develop a policy annex to the curriculum, offering regulators and governments a toolkit to embed equality in labour and education systems.

Looking Ahead

Labour shortages and gender gaps cannot be solved in isolation. Both are symptoms of outdated systems that must be modernised. For WEC project, this means that the upcoming vocational curriculum (D3.2) will not simply deliver skills it will act as a transformative tool, reshaping how women are trained, supported, and integrated into construction. By embedding inclusion, digitalisation, and green skills from the start, the curriculum will do more than prepare workers. It will help reshape the sector itself into one that is sustainable, equitable, and future-ready.