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The Proportion Of Female Trainees Has Remained Between 3% Or 4% Since ...

The proportion of female trainees has remained between 3% or 4% since 1999/2000. Female trainees were more numerous in technical qualifications (662), accounting for 48% of the total number of female trainees in 2004/2005. However, females were just as likely to be found on painting and decorating courses compared to other occupations (National Guidance Research Forum )
Low representations in teaching and research suggest that more energy needs to be put into change at college and university level. Numbers of women self employed are low, along with rates of pay.
3.5Case Study: The Hill McGlynn ‘Women in Construction' report findings 2005
In 2005 the construction recruitment company HillMcGlynn questioned 3000 of its key clients and female workers on their opinions and experiences of equality in the workplace. The results of the study are used as an example of the current concerns and the typical questions asked in this kind of research. The full results of the HillMcGlynn female staff questionnaire (see Appendix I) suggest that it is in the education of young people where change might be brought about.
Conclusions found by the Hill McGlynn report were mixed, suggesting that some companies recognise the benefits of recruiting more women, while others do not.
17% of the companies questioned worked towards recruiting women, while 55% of the same companies altered their working hours for women.
47% of women admitted to contemplating leaving the industry if they were to have children which suggests that further measures need to be taken to allow longer maternity leave and flexible hours.
When questioned about their companies' policies for recruiting more women into the industry, some respondents said the following:
‘Should my company be recruiting they have no preference in sex and should the person fit the job, they would hire them regardless'
‘They have offered me a good training programme and currently are finding me a degree course'
‘The best applicant wins, not bothered about the gender, although men are favoured by some management' (http://www.hillmcglynn.com).
The report from Hill McGlynn states that ‘there are now as many female construction workers as there are receptionists' - however, women still only make up 4% of all construction managers. Poor wages are apt to discourage women from staying in their professions and progressing to higher status. The graph below illustrates the gender pay gap in Management in EU Countries (I.L.O, 2004).

Fig 1.4 Gender pay gap in Management in EU Countries (Source : Breaking through the Glass Ceiling 2004)
The main conclusion drawn was that schools and colleges are failing to promote the industry to female students. The industry is still perceived as a ‘male dominated and orientated industry with long and inflexible working hours.


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