ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the factors and interrelated decisions that influence the career dynamics of female and male construction professionals in the United Kingdom. It draws on research by the authors which compared the determinants and resultant career patterns of construction professionals through detailed career history profiles of matched ‘pairs’ of male and female informants. These data were used to establish any disparity between men’s and women’s career progression and to explore the determinants of women’s organizational and occupational mobility patterns. Initially, the chapter outlines the nature of employment within the UK labour market and the impact that male domination has on the sector. Next, the literature surrounding the nature of careers in organization is reviewed as a precursor to explaining how women’s and men’s careers were examined in this study. The chapter then presents and discusses the findings of the research, which reveal the importance of addressing gender inequalities in career development if the industry is to benefit from the advantages that a diverse workforce can bring.
