Women are entering construction and maritime, signaling greater equality; women now comprise 1.2% of global seafarers, up 45.8% since 2015.

Since 1988, IMO has advanced gender equality, launched the International Day for Women in Maritime, and strengthened Women in Maritime networks to improve diversity and visibility; join Women in Construction and Women in Maritime networks for guidance and opportunities.

The UAE accelerates maritime gender equality via the IMO Gender Equality Network and targeted recruitment.

Women's construction participation is rising; US female apprentices nearly doubled from 2016–2019.

Firms like Leighton and Vistry Western adopt paid leave, flexible work, and gender targets; target employers with such policies and women’s networks.

Women crane and heavy‑equipment operators are achieving longevity and advancement, and four women now run the Stacker‑cum‑Reclaimer at Tata Steel Meramandali, India, after training.

Case studies include Elena Badaeva with 30+ years as a crane operator in Russia; Kazakhstan’s Farkhana Safargaleeva returning post‑retirement with 15 years’ experience; Hong Kong’s Ms Hing and her daughter Ms Shan featured as crane operators to attract talent; and China’s Li Rui, a tower crane driver earning over 9,000 yuan monthly after online certification. [7].

Training and continuous learning are pivotal, and hyperrealistic VR crane simulators enable safe practice and faster skill development; solutions include proper PPE, hands‑free protocols, safety audits, and VR simulators.

Core skills include mechanical, communication, and computer; a Mechanical Engineering diploma may be preferred; pursue these plus safety certifications and job matching. [6].

Mentorship, networks, and role models help women overcome barriers, yet limited training access and stereotypes still affect hiring, pay, and promotion, requiring sustained employer and policy action.

Women are entering construction and maritime, signaling greater equality; women now comprise 1.2% of global seafarers, up 45.8% since 2015.

Title:

Content: Crewing shortages could be addressed with greater inclusion of women

–First Lady tells maritime industry stakeholders
WHILE speaking at the American Caribbean Maritime Foundation (ACMF) Gala and Anchor Awards at the Lauderdale Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday evening, First Lady Arya Ali advocated for greater inclusion of women in the maritime industry through training and job opportunities.

Mrs. Ali served as patron of the Gala and Anchor Awards which honours stalwarts in the cargo and cruise industry for their accomplishments and positive impact on the Caribbean shipping and maritime sector.
This year, the Gala and Anchor Awards was held under the theme: “Talent in your backyard”. Noting that talent exists here in the Caribbean, Mrs. Ali posited that talent is underutilised when women are unable to access opportunities and contribute to the development of the region’s maritime industry.

She drew attention to the fact that women represent only 1.2 per cent of the global seafarer workforce as per the BIMCO/ICS 2021 Seafarer Workforce Report, underscoring that this represented a positive trend in gender balance, with the report estimating 24,059 women serving as seafarers, which is a 45.8 per cent increase compared with the 2015 report.

“Now, imagine if we were to make more opportunities available to women in the maritime sector, how many of our challenges could be addressed – including crewing shortages,” she told a gathering of almost 200 people, which included executives from some of the largest shipping and cruise line companies in the Caribbean.

With the global shipping industry suffering acute crewing shortages, particularly among officers, the First Lady said that this is the ideal time for companies and agencies to think about greater inclusion of women in the industry.
“Important in all of this is ensuring we create an environment in which women are identified and selected for career development opportunities in the maritime industry,” she said, adding that the Government of Guyana remains committed to supporting gender equality and the empowerment of women through gender specific fellowships and other opportunities.

She highlighted an ongoing collaboration between the Office of the First Lady and the Atlantic Alliance Maritime and Offshore Training Institute – a 100 per cent woman-owned Guyanese company – through which 100 women from the hinterlands are being provided with scholarships for maritime training.
Mrs. Ali said that efforts like these must continue with support from partners like ACMF, which has since provided scholarships to 42 Guyanese.

“…it would be remiss of me to not acknowledge the 42 scholarships which have been provided to Guyanese through the Foundation for Maritime Training. As Guyana’s maritime sector continues to rapidly expand, these kinds of investments in local companies and in our human resource will prove to be invaluable to our nation’s development,” she said.

Mrs. Ali also used the opportunity to urge players in the industry to reassess their individual and collective roles – both at the national and regional levels – and to rethink as industry professionals, government officials, diplomats, experts, and even advocates how they could build an industry that is more resilient, reliable, and inclusive.

The event was attended by a number of officials including President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, Michael Bayley; President of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), Professor Andrew Spencer; President of ACMF, Dr. Geneive Brown Metzger; and Director-General of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, Rear Admiral Peter Brady among others.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Scroll to Top
All our printed editions are available online
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.

How has the gender balance in the construction and maritime industries changed over recent decades?

How has the level of discrimination for female employees in the construction industry changed over recent decades?

Since 1988, IMO has advanced gender equality, launched the International Day for Women in Maritime, and strengthened Women in Maritime networks to improve diversity and visibility; join Women in Construction and Women in Maritime networks for guidance and opportunities.

Title:

Content: Pausing To Reflect Around IMO's International Day For Women In Maritime

Four years ago, I was walking with my daughter in the pram during lockdown and thinking about ways in which to stay connected with people in the short term...
UK Transport
To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com.

Four years ago, I was walking with my daughter in the pram during lockdown and thinking about ways in which to stay connected with people in the short term, but also to create something that can have a future. I wanted this initiative to have a focus and a cause, and so our Women in Maritime Network was born. Over the past few years we have brought together clients and contacts from our offices around the world, with a joint aim to progress and support those already in the industry as well as to inspire the next generation. The network has been on real a journey - from virtual webinars and workshops to in-person networking events and thought provoking panel discussions.

In 2022, the IMO launched the International Day for Women in Maritime to take place annually on 18 May to celebrate the women in the industry but also to encourage the industry as a whole to look at itself and at how it can improve its diversity and inclusivity. Shortly after the launch, we had a thought provoking discussion with Lena Gothberg, the producer of the Shipping Podcast, who highlighted the changes that needed to be made and that it was everyone's responsibility to make a change whether it is through marketing, recruitment policies, flexibility for families or commercial incentives.

While I was hopeful, I wasn't convinced the message was being heard.

2024 has changed that.

As this year progresses I am hearing more and more inspiring stories - it is exciting. From small changes, such as a male manager including the more junior woman's name alongside his on documents. This showed that not only was she was involved in the content of that document but that he considers her on an equal footing – simple yet powerful. I saw institutional changes too, including more and more newly created women's networks in organisations that have been historically conservative. I was moved by the hurdles that these women had to jump in order to get the network approved. The sheer grit and determination required to drive change for the women who are following them was evident.

More than ever we are seeing gender diversity linked targets being a priority across multiple deals. Last year the London office advised ABN AMRO on the US$200m sustainability and gender diversity linked loan to Navigator Gas and our Athens team advised Citi and BNP Paribas on the $2.8bn sustainability- and gender diversity-linked facility to GasLog Ltd. But its not just us, we're seeing this trend across the shipping market as a whole, coming together for actionable change to collectively to address the environmental impact of the industry through regulation, technology and financial incentives – in particular incentivising gender diversity in shipping loan agreements. This is a trend that we expect to continue throughout 2024 and beyond.

I recently finished a nine month secondment at UKEF where I watched some truly stand out women making an impact - not only in the executive committee, but in managerial roles throughout the department. UKEF have since vowed to increase SME support fivefold, with a focus on SMEs that are underserved, such as ethnic minority and women-led businesses. What a fantastic example to set.

Spring 2024 has also seen the Flexible Working Act passed into law so that employees are now able to request flexible working arrangements from day one of their employment, instead of having to wait 26 weeks. This is music to the ears of many carers who need to be able to work flexibly to make the puzzle of working life fit together.

Just this week I was at an event to celebrate the Women in the Maritime industry, with excellent discussions and enthusiasm for the changes to come. Despite all this positive momentum, there is an alarming amount of work still to do - from educating the younger generations on the variety of career options, to finding ways to retain and promote senior female talent in organisations, there are a number of tangible things than can be done to help progress gender equality in the industry.

Is it too soon to say that tides are turning (pun intended)?

Yes, but to have so much good news and being only May gives me hope for what is to come.

No pressure June to December, but there is a lot to live up to.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Pausing To Reflect Around IMO's International Day For Women In Maritime

UK Transport

Contributor

See More Popular Content From

Mondaq uses cookies on this website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies as set out in our Privacy Policy.

Learn More

How has the gender balance in the construction and maritime industries changed over recent decades?

What are construction and maritime companies doing to promote and aid women in the field?

What are governments doing to promote and aid women in construction or maritime industries?

Why are construction and maritime industries more popular with women nowadays?

The UAE accelerates maritime gender equality via the IMO Gender Equality Network and targeted recruitment.

Title:

Content: Energy and Infrastructure Launches ‘ Leaders in Difference ’ Initiative
T + T - normal size
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has launched the “Leaders in Difference ” initiative, which is dedicated to empowering women in all fields, especially in the maritime sector.
The initiative aims to qualify experienced female talent capable of making a difference in the industry, in order to help promote the growth of the maritime sector in the UAE, based on its leading global position.
This comes within the framework of efforts on the empowerment of women within the strategic plan of the International Maritime Organization and in line with the celebration of the International Day of Women in the Maritime Sector
The UAE places a high priority on empowering female talent in the maritime workforce by nurturing young female talent and providing them with the necessary resources to excel, as this contributes to strengthening the sector with the capabilities of future female leaders.
Engineer Hassan Mohammed Juma Al Mansouri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for Infrastructure and Transport Affairs, said: “We need skilled competencies in the maritime sector of both sexes, like any other industry, and our main goal should be to recruit enhanced talent to ensure the growth of the sector.
We need to change all preconceptions about the industry, discovering a diverse and young group that is able to keep up with its continuous development.
Today, maritime academies and institutions focus on the need to inject the maritime workforce of qualified female talents, this is the required role that contributes to the guidance and care of women to provide them with the necessary resources to achieve excellence, and thus we witness the birth of a maritime industry that is renewed by distinguished female leaders.
Engineer Hessa Al Malik, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said: The need to promote the role of women in maritime activities has become an issue of unprecedented importance and is receiving great attention at all levels.
The UAE is one of the founders of the IMO Gender Equality Network.
The State also contributed to the preparation of a set of IMO resolutions in the field of women ’ s empowerment, gender equality and the promotion of women ’ s participation in the maritime sector, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially the fifth goal on gender equality.
The UAE is also currently chairing the Association of Arab Women in the Maritime Sector, in cooperation with the Technical Cooperation Programme of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in supporting women in the maritime sector.
Print Email

How has the gender balance in the construction and maritime industries changed over recent decades?

What are construction and maritime companies doing to promote and aid women in the field?

active recruitment of women
women's networks

What are governments doing to promote and aid women in construction or maritime industries?

Women's construction participation is rising; US female apprentices nearly doubled from 2016–2019.

Title:

Content: Daytime Plus
Send Save Print PDF
Women break into construction sector to fill labour shortages
Bloomberg: The number of construction workers in the United States exceeded 1 million in May last year, for the first time since data collection began in 1964, and the share of women among workers in the sector reached its highest level at 14.1 percent last month.
About a third of construction workers in the United States are Hispanic, according to BLS.
Cerato herself got to know the industry at an early age through her Mexican immigrant father, saying, “I used to go out to work with him, and I never saw anyone like me, so it never occurred to me that it could be a viable career path. ”
The presence of another Latina as a mentor made a big difference, she said, adding: “That ’ s why our representation is important. ”
One of the women is Andy Dirkschneider, who negotiates millions of dollars in loans to buy land for her family ’ s homebuilder, but sometimes vendors call her “petite ” and ask to speak to the man in charge.
Dirkschneider, 32, who heads Brookline Homes in Charlotte, said: “I tell them I ’ m the man in charge.
A young blonde girl doing this job confuses everyone.
It ’ s frustrating, but it can ’ t be allowed to. ”
Dirkschneider and thousands of women like her are breaking through the walls of the professions.
It is not brittle, it is concrete.
The field of construction has always been a world for men, from handicrafts such as construction and carpentry to the offices of developers and executive companies.
The accelerating wave of retirement of the 1960s and 1970s generation has exacerbated the industry ’ s chronic labor shortage.
Construction jobs totaled 440,000 in April, the highest in Bureau of Labor Statistics records that began in 2001.
Aryan Higuish, a senior researcher and fellow at the Women ’ s Policy Research Institute, said there is room for growth, because the construction sector ’ s historical dependence on men now risks constraining its growth.
The institute estimates that about a third of women in the industry work in deals, and their share across sectors such as painting and carpentry is still as small as a tenth, though Higuish believes it will continue to grow.
This is partly because of the need for labor and because states and local administrations want to see more diversity in companies when they are awarded contracts.
Patrice Haley, of the diversity leadership team at construction giant DPR, said: “In this industry, we can ’ t dismiss people on the basis of gender.
“A lot of veterans are retiring, and we can ’ t leave any of the doors closed. ”
One of the temptations for women in the industry, Haley said, was to see what they were building right in front of their eyes, and she had started working in the industry in a manual job that required wearing a helmet and toe boots.
She said, "I can say I worked on this and built that."
There ’ s also the temptation to pay better than many other jobs that don ’ t require a college degree: In 2021, the average salary of an electrician was $59,000 and $98,500 for a construction manager, according to U.S. Department of Labor data.
Taqiya Wallace, 35, works for a large energy company in tracking construction project documents.
But she dreams of getting a license as a general contractor to start working on her own.
In June, I began studying building skills in a 16-week curriculum organized by Goodwill Industries in South Piedmont, Charlotte, where I learned to read blueprints and handle equipment.
If all goes according to plan, she will finish training with four industry certifications.
Although Goodwill does not target women, its organizers say a group of 15 people who completed training last year were all women, about half of whom went on to work in industry jobs.
Wallace, who was the first to receive a college degree in her family, sees getting a contractor ’ s license and hanging a sign for her company as a way to build the wealth she can bequeath to her family.
She said, “I want to be able to tell them this is our legacy. ”
Harassment and discrimination
Despite these encouraging trends, the sector still has a long way to go.
About a quarter of respondents to a survey of 2,635 workers conducted by the Women ’ s Policy Research Institute last year said they had experienced sexual harassment or repeated harassment on the basis of sex.
Half of those surveyed said that their lack of equal treatment by men was frequent or persistent.
Jenny Parker stood at a construction site in High Point, North Carolina, on a very hot day in July, grabbing a paper cup with an iced drink as she looked at her sawdust, paint and sweat stained shirt and said, "I love this.
It took me 10 years to get here. ”
Parker, who spent nine years in the Marine Corps, was upset by the managerial jobs she worked so she could pay her bills while raising her daughter, so she started working hard in real estate.
She signed up for training in building skills so she could repair the rental housing she owned.
At High Point, Parker received hands-on training in building house structures, performing stone work, and installing roofs.
She said she was able to work in partnership with the men on the team, but there were tensions at times, adding: “To be female in a male environment you have to prove yourself and work twice as hard, ” noting that some men do not accept instructions from a woman.
She said, “It ’ s a mindset that men should overcome. ”
Nicole Goulsby, owner of Red Ladder Residential, a construction company in Raleigh, North Carolina, recalls that when she started running worksites, some men ignored her when she addressed them.
She said her experience of bias faded when she distributed her signed paychecks, and she now notes that there are more women on the crews she contracts, whether they ride boards or paint.
Golsby explained that women build relationships easily and are more attentive to details, making them suitable for her field of work.
Nicknamed “Becky Nicky, ” Golsby said,“ I see things that no one else sees, and that ’ s why I do my job well. ”
The construction industry is also attracting more minority women.
An analysis by the Women ’ s Policy Research Institute found that the number of female construction apprentices between 2016 and 2019 nearly doubled, while Latinas recorded the largest increase of any race.
If we look at Ferridiana Cerato who graduated from college in 2020 with a double major in history and Spanish without being able to find any job that would enable her to benefit from her education well, she decided to try construction management.
Cerato took courses and received some certificates, including a certificate in welding.
She is now a project engineer in Indianapolis.
The job requires toughness, the 24-year-old says, with a lot of conversational “that doesn ’ t conform to HR rules ” and dealing with cynicism at times.
Cerato is one of three women in a team of nine managers and the only Latina among them.
Add a new comment
The comment received from the participant or reader is an expression of his own opinion and does not reflect the opinion of the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Nahar
View comments

How has the gender balance in the construction and maritime industries changed over recent decades?

How has the level of discrimination for female employees in the construction industry changed over recent decades?

Firms like Leighton and Vistry Western adopt paid leave, flexible work, and gender targets; target employers with such policies and women’s networks.

Title:

Content: InYourArea Community

South west business builds a more equal foundation ahead of International Women's Day

Vistry Western now has an equal ratio of male and female directors, with a newly appointed female managing director at the helm

By Danielle Hicks

EMBRACING EQUALITY: Female directors at Vistry Western

International Women’s Day on March 8, provides the perfect opportunity to highlight achievements and #EmbraceEquality - the theme for 2023 - and one business that’s celebrating change this year is Vistry Western.

In the last 12 months, the region - which builds Bovis and Linden properties in South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Wales - now has an equal ratio of male and female directors, with a newly appointed female managing director at the helm. Emma Colin, 38, is responsible for 142 employees and is joined on the board by Rachael Humphreys, regional land director; Sarah Sperring, regional customer service director; and Sue Scholfield, regional sales and marketing director, who also won the national Housebuilder of the Year Star Award in 2021.

Emma said: “International Women’s Day is important as it enables us to take a step back to reflect on our successes and review how we can make improvements to ensure our place of work is inclusive and provides equal opportunities for all. I’m proud Vistry Western has an equal number of male and female directors.

READ MORE

“Having a balanced board provides different perspectives; we’re constantly learning from each other and it’s wonderful to see these different approaches having a positive effect on the working environment. In this day and age, having a balanced workforce should be the norm but in construction that is not the case.

“34 per cent of all of our employees at Vistry are female, compared to the industry’s 15 per cent average, but there’s still a lot of work to do to ensure we attract and retain a more diverse workforce. I feel the responsibility to call out behaviour, showcase best practise and be open about any struggles, so we can help spread change.”

Vistry places a strong emphasis on addressing imbalance and has an active Diversity and Inclusion working group and committee, which promotes equality and represents minority groups throughout the business.

READ MORE

Emma added: “It’s great to see change happening. On the last site visit we held for UWE Bristol, we were really encouraged to see two thirds of the building surveying students were female.

“I’m really excited about the future at Vistry and will continue to champion change by encouraging more women into the industry - it’s a brilliant, dynamic place to work. This year, the western region will deliver over 500 properties across a range of developments, including large dual-branded consortium sites, joint venture schemes, and our first development in Wales.”

Ways Vistry Group has implemented change:

  • Between 2021-2022, Vistry promoted 11 females into director posts across the business.
  • Supported the use of the agile working policy to enable hybrid working.
  • Joined the ‘Women into Construction’ organisation, which has helped recruit women into all roles in the business.
  • Run events hosted by the ‘Women’s Network’ to promote the profile of women in construction.
  • Delivered recruitment training, which included the topic of ‘unconscious bias’ to support fair and consistent recruitment practice.
  • Analysed data on progression and pay gaps, particularly in light of the impact of covid, and produced action plans.
  • The company’s maternity leave policy has been reviewed and improved and the menopause guide sets out the support available to employees.

Get all the latest news, updates, things to do and more from your local InYourArea feed.

How has the level of discrimination for female employees in the construction industry changed over recent decades?

Women crane and heavy‑equipment operators are achieving longevity and advancement, and four women now run the Stacker‑cum‑Reclaimer at Tata Steel Meramandali, India, after training.

Title:

Content: Follow Us:

Woman breaks gender barrier to operate Hyva

Subodh Pandey, Vice President, TSM, congratulated the new recruits and interacted with them along with other executives of TSM Sandeep Dhir, Chief, Human Resource Business Partner, Subrata Basak, Chief, Logistics Operation and Suvransu Sekhar Rout, Chief, RMHS & Raw Material Processing Plant, TSM.

Statesman News Service | Bhubaneswar |

Breaking the gender barrier, four women employees are on the strenuous job as Stacker-cum Reclaimer (SCR) raw material handling system (RMHS) at the Tata Steel Meramandali (TSM) in Dhenkanal district of Odisha.

Besides, a woman has been assigned the job for Hyva operator. It is for the first time that female employees will shoulder the responsibilities as SCR operators in Tata steel’s Meramandali unit, the company said in a statement.

Subodh Pandey, Vice President, TSM, congratulated the new recruits and interacted with them along with other executives of TSM Sandeep Dhir, Chief, Human Resource Business Partner, Subrata Basak, Chief, Logistics Operation and Suvransu Sekhar Rout, Chief, RMHS & Raw Material Processing Plant, TSM.

 “We are extremely pleased to have you in our team as this marks a monumental milestone on gender balance among the workforce in the plant. While accelerating our commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, this measure will also encourage more girls to look for such jobs”, Pandey said.

 “As a responsible corporate, we not only strongly believe in the diversity of our human capital but also guide our vendor partners to imbibe our beliefs and contribute to it. This is directed to reimagining how a job gets done, reshaping the team and empowering employees wherever they work”, Basak said while speaking on the occasion.

Breaking the barrier, the female SCR operators with Diploma in Mechanical Engineering underwent safety induction and on the job training, prior to their on boarding for stacking and reclaiming operation, considered mostly as a male-only job, the statement added.

How has the gender balance in the construction and maritime industries changed over recent decades?

How has the level of discrimination for female employees in the construction industry changed over recent decades?

What are construction and maritime companies doing to promote and aid women in the field?

Case studies include Elena Badaeva with 30+ years as a crane operator in Russia; Kazakhstan’s Farkhana Safargaleeva returning post‑retirement with 15 years’ experience; Hong Kong’s Ms Hing and her daughter Ms Shan featured as crane operators to attract talent; and China’s Li Rui, a tower crane driver earning over 9,000 yuan monthly after online certification. [7].

Title:

Content: Sections
Technique
“Intechcom ” has created a hyperrealistic VR simulator for crane operators
Intechcom has created virtual simulators for crane operators.
The development helps to increase the professional level of crane operators and make the learning process more intensive and convenient.
The simulator consists of a real driver ’ s chair with crane joysticks and buttons and VR glasses that give the user maximum visibility both horizontally and vertically.
There is a place for the teacher (a separate computer is not required), you can configure the complexity of tasks, record the progress of their implementation, etc.
The development is portable: it easily fits in the trunk of a conventional car, is assembled and disassembled in 15 minutes.
Currently, two types of simulators are ready: the portal (GANZ crane is taken as a basis) and the bridge, designed for work in steelmaking plants.
IT personnel for industry will be trained in a special educational center
IT industry support
The fundamental difference between the VR-simulator “Intekom ” from others, where the student sees everything on the screen, is hyperrealism.
Igor Ovyan, CEO of Intechcom, said: “The standard training of the crane operator lasts 2-3 months: the theoretical part can be laid in 2 weeks, the rest of the time takes production practice.
But for virtuoso ownership — to really “feel ” a machine — it takes years of experience.
Therefore, the higher the realism of the simulator and the more various professional subtleties laid down in the program, the better prepared the beginner.
Our specialists collected data in the port of Murmansk and at the NLMK steel plant.
We climbed into the cockpit of the crane, recorded the sounds of the port and workshop, consulted with experienced crane operators, who revealed many nuances, for example, that a quiet click should sound when a certain, rather rare action.
Extremely realistic SCs have been modeled.
You can memorize the rules as much as you want, but in the real situation you get confused.
The VR simulator provides full immersion: the cabin swings from the wind or overload, the operator is blinded by the sun or, on the contrary, visibility deteriorates due to gas pollution in the workshop, etc.
We have been engaged in the modernization of industrial equipment for many years and implemented all the novelties in the simulator, even a touch panel for monitoring, which warns about exceeding the load or if the cable is wound.
After training in a virtual environment, it is much easier to transfer to the real chair of the crane operator - there is no difference, while the risk that a beginner will not cope with expensive equipment is much lower.
VR-simulator is ideal for career guidance.
Impressions are strong: the cabin is transparent, you are at a huge height and you are subject to a powerful car.
A reason to fall in love with the profession. ”

How has the gender balance in the construction and maritime industries changed over recent decades?

What are construction and maritime companies doing to promote and aid women in the field?

Training and continuous learning are pivotal, and hyperrealistic VR crane simulators enable safe practice and faster skill development; solutions include proper PPE, hands‑free protocols, safety audits, and VR simulators.

What are unions, professional organizations and non-profits doing to promote and aid women in construction or maritime industries?

Core skills include mechanical, communication, and computer; a Mechanical Engineering diploma may be preferred; pursue these plus safety certifications and job matching. [6].

Title:

Content: Helping young people achieve their dreams across the world! The Penghu Branch of the Ministry of Labor Gets a Competitive Advantage for Youth
Reporter Huang Shou-shuang / reporting from Kaohsiung
The Department of Labor Development of the Ministry of Labor has actively promoted investment in youth employment programs, breaking through the gender framework for young people to achieve a competitive advantage, showing that they do not let their eyebrows go, and bravely breaking into the offshore wind power work field, because they keep improving, so that their lives can be turned around, and they can increase their value and pay.
This is an advertisement, please continue reading.
The second phase of the Youth Employment Program is to help unemployed or jobless youth aged 15 to 29 with professional skills and employability in key industries. The training fee for participating in the New Pioneer Program is up to 100,000 yuan per person. At the same time, in order to relieve the financial pressure of trainees during training, there is a monthly learning incentive subsidy of 8,000 yuan during training, which can be subsidized for up to 12 months.
Guo Genghua said that a 29-year-old female student who participated in the industry's new frontier plan has broken through the gender framework, showing that she does not let the eyebrows go, bravely breaking into the offshore wind power work field, because she keeps improving, let her life turn over, and give herself a raise.
Guo Genghua also said that the female student university major in business management, because of the personality of extrovert and like sports, after graduation, had done sports powder editor, sports substitute teacher, construction supervision and other work, but long-term, life and income instability, let her feel at a loss for the future, about to enter the age of 30, she hopes to find a skilled job and stable employment. With the encouragement and introduction of his family, he enrolled in the Offshore Wind and Marine Engineering Career Counseling Program of the Penghu Branch of the Penghu District of Kaohsiung City, and decided to give himself an opportunity to study in a cross-disciplinary field.
The female trainee pointed out that because she graduated from a non-related department and never touched the field of electromechanical or marine engineering, and in the training process, she often has to carry more than 10 kilograms of equipment, simulating land and sea hanging operations or first aid subjects, which is a challenge in terms of physical strength and endurance, so relatively few women are involved in related work.
At the beginning of the training, she was full of anxiety and fear, but the equipment of the training unit not only passed the international safety standards, but also every instructor and teaching assistant has a professional license. During the training period, she successfully obtained five basic safety training certificates from the Global Wind Organisation. Before the training, she attracted the favor of manufacturers through job matching, and successfully entered the Danish company Global Wind Service Taiwan Branch to become a wind technician.
This is an advertisement, please continue reading.

Mentorship, networks, and role models help women overcome barriers, yet limited training access and stereotypes still affect hiring, pay, and promotion, requiring sustained employer and policy action.

Title:

Content: News
INDIA
2 hours ago

Empowering Women to Embrace and Excel in Leadership Roles

Apoorva Aggarwal
Updated on Apr 13, 2023, 16:18 IST- 5 min read

How often do you come across a woman leader who is taking the reins and leading a company or organization to success? Despite the progress made in gender equality, women are still underrepresented in leadership positions and need to be empowered to take on these roles. The Seventh Edition of Avtar & Seramount Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) report highlights the bottleneck in the women talent pipeline; with only 26% of women in managerial roles in 2022, further decreasing to 18% at the senior managerial level and a mere 17% at the corporate executive level.

Although there has been a marginal increase from 33% to 38% in the representation of women at entry levels, more needs to be done to create equal opportunities for women in leadership roles. It is not just about hiring more women; instead, organizations should strive to create an environment where women feel included, valued, and fully integrated into the culture.

Unsplash/Representational Image

Women leaders possess a distinctive combination of innate traits, including empathy, open-mindedness, and compassion, which allow them to bring a unique perspective to the table and lead with a human-centred approach. By fostering a diverse group of viewpoints, businesses can generate ideas that reflect the needs of a broad range of customers. This ultimately leads to more successful, innovative, and profitable outcomes.

So, what stops women from reaching their full potential in the workplace?

Studies suggest that factors such as gender bias, lack of representation in leadership positions, and work-life balance challenges can all play a role.

Impeding their professional advancement, one of the most prevalent barriers is the pervasive issue of gender bias that leads to women being overlooked and undervalued, resulting in their voices often being unheard.

Another significant barrier for women is the lack of flexibility in the workplace. Women face a challenge balancing work and family responsibilities in the workplace, which can lead to them having to choose between advancing their careers and taking care of their families. If the demands of their job interfere with their personal lives, they may leave the organization, resulting in the loss of valuable talent.

Unsplash/Representational Image

The few networking opportunities available to women poses yet another challenge. Networking is essential for career advancement, but women frequently have trouble connecting with established networks. As is often observed, network groups are often male-only, which prevents them from networking with powerful people in their industry.

Finally, the lack of female representation in leadership roles means that there are limited role models for women to look up to in their careers. This can make it challenging for women to envision themselves in senior positions and may discourage them from pursuing ambitious career paths. This can make it difficult for women to navigate their careers and get access to the resources they need to succeed. This is frequently accompanied by a delay in having someone senior in the organisation proactively guide them at the grassroots level.

Here's how organizations can take gradual yet effective steps towards achieving greater representation of women in leadership positions

Unsplash/Representational Image

Achieving gender diversity in leadership is not just a matter of ticking boxes or meeting quotas. It requires a fundamental shift in organizational culture and mindset towards valuing and promoting diversity and inclusion.

Developing a culture that motivates and supports women's leadership aspirations is imperative. Men and women alike must take the initiative in creating opportunities for women to lead, acknowledging, and honouring women's accomplishments, and ensuring that women have equal access to resources and opportunities as their male counterparts. Additionally, it is essential to foster a culture where women feel confident and empowered to say no.

To promote gender diversity in leadership positions, companies can adopt a proactive approach by implementing tailored leadership development programs for women. These initiatives can offer coaching and mentoring opportunities that empower women to enhance their skills and confidence, enabling them to excel in leadership roles. In addition, senior leaders within the organization can serve as mentors and advocates for women's leadership, providing valuable guidance, support, and acting as inspiring role models to encourage other women to pursue similar paths. To ensure equitable representation of women in leadership, it is essential to identify and champion their talents from an early stage in their careers.

Lastly, networking events and programs can be powerful tools for women to build relationships, share knowledge and experience, and expand their professional networks. These can lead to potential job opportunities, as well as provide opportunities to learn valuable skills such as self-promotion, negotiation, and assertiveness.

Unsplash/Representational Image

Everyone wins with more women in leadership

The positive impact of diversity on a company's financial performance has been well-documented, as highlighted by a McKinsey report titled "Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters". It found that companies with a higher representation of women on their executive teams - ranking in the top quartile for gender diversity - were 25% more likely to surpass profitability expectations when compared to those in the bottom quartile.

Creating a world where women can fully embrace leadership roles requires a joint effort from organizations and women. Companies can play their part by addressing the barriers that prevent women from achieving their full potential while women work on removing their self-limiting beliefs and advocating for themselves. It is only through collaboration and support that we can achieve gender equality in leadership positions.

The author is Office Managing Principal (OMP), ZS

What challenges do women in the construction and maritime  industries face?