This Article published by Build Australia, 11 March 2021.
Women now make up 12.7% of construction workers*, a huge leap of nearly ten times the 1.4% representation** seen throughout the eighties and nineties.
Evan Graham, CEO of Sydney-based commercial plumbing firm Limcora believes this increase spells great things for construction. “Traditionally it’s been a male-dominated industry so it’s great to see more women coming through,” he says. “We have a couple of women on the team and that’s been really positive for us.”
“I’ve found that generally speaking, females have an eye for detail that some of our male plumbers don’t have which definitely adds value. We’re installing tapware and toilets and so we value the eye for detail. That’s really important to us.”
Jessie McGaw is the Warehouse Manager at the Limcora base in Pitt Town, NSW. Having always loved working outdoors, a career in plumbing was a no-brainer for her. “I always wanted to work outdoors and work in the construction side of things,” says the 37-year-old. “I worked with Dad and my brothers on occasion, so you can say I was always a bit of a tomboy. The beautician life wasn’t for me!”
Jessie encourages anyone interested in the construction industry to go for it. “You’ll love it!” she says. “If you love being outside and you don’t want to sit at a desk all day, just give it a go. There’s always something to learn in the industry and it’s definitely more hands-on. I learn something new every day and I love it.”
Mackenzie Scott is a First Year Apprentice with Limcora. She too gained her love for working outside by helping out her dad as a child. “I always remember helping Dad out when I was little and from that it
sparked interest and I knew it was the path I wanted to take,” she says. “Honestly the reactions towards me being onsite and around have been really positive overall which actually shocked me.”
Mackenzie is enjoying her apprenticeship. “You’ve just got to keep pushing yourself mentally and physically. If it’s what makes you happy, work for it.“
Although she says, her biggest struggle is “Definitely not being as strong as the boys!” Nevertheless, she’s determined not to have any ‘special treatment’ and has made that clear from the start. “When I did work experience, I found one guy was like, “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to”. But I told him, “Treat me how you would treat one of the boys, I wouldn’t be here if I wanted to be treated differently”. From then on, that supervisor made sure everyone knew not to treat me any differently!”
And what would CEO Evan say to women considering a career in construction?
“Look into apprenticeships,” he says. “If it’s something you want to do, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. There are companies like Limcora who are willing to give anyone a go, as long as they’ve got the right work ethic. Gender isn’t even a consideration. Just have a crack!”
Published by Build Australia, 11 March 2021.
