Work Stress Is a Threat to Gender Diversity in the Construction Industry

Abstract

The construction industry is missing out on numerous performance gains derived from gender diversity. Its reputation for excessive work stress, resulting in poor psychological health, is among the reasons for women not entering the industry or for them leaving the industry prematurely. Using an online questionnaire survey, this research investigated whether women professionals in the construction industry differ from their men colleagues in the stressors faced at work and the degree of work-related psychological injuries suffered. The respondents comprised 167 men and 110 women professionals working in the Australian construction industry. The results reveal that: (1) women professionals suffer more anxiety and acute stress symptoms than men professionals, but no significant difference is apparent between the genders in the level of depression suffered; (2) the top 10 stressors at work facing construction professionals are the same for both genders, with time pressure, excessive workload, long work hours, and unpleasant work environment being the critical issues; and (3) women professionals experience more discrimination, bullying, and sexual harassment. The research contributes to practice by identifying aspects that need improvements for making the construction industry gender diverse and sociopsychologically sustainable.