Perceptions of career development among women in Nigeria Construction Industry
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Date
2019-03
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Publisher
International Conference of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of environmental Sciences, University of Ilorin
Abstract
Despite the fact that women possess the required knowledge, skills, competences, training and experiences to perform effectively and efficiently, they found it difficult to break through in career advancement in built environment, thereby constitute small percentage at the top management positions. This study therefore investigates factors impeding women from being at par with their male counterparts at the highest levels of managerial positions with a view to achieving parity with their male counterparts. Data for the study were collected from construction and consulting firms in Lagos State, Nigeria, through well-structured questionnaire. A total of 150 copies of questionnaire were administered to randomly selected architects, quantity surveyors, engineers and contractors. A total of 95 copies representing 63% were retrieved and found suitable for the analysis. The data collected were analyzed through SPSS using Mean Score (MS) and Standard Deviation (SD). Findings from the analyses revealed the most important factors that constitute barrier to women carrier development in built environment were family/work life balance (MS of 4.11 and SD of 0.900),high degree of stress on the job (MS of 4.06 and SD of 0.873) and lack of flexibility work hours and schedules (MS of 4.03 and SD of 0.822). Better work/life balance and equality in career development opportunity for both male and female were the most important factors facilitating women career development in built environment with MS of 3.89 and 3.69 respectively and SD of 0.896 and 0.834 respectively. It is therefore recommended that employers should establish flexible working practices and provide equality in career development opportunity for both men and women, so that women may be at par with their male counterparts at the highest levels of the managerial positions.
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Keywords
Built Environment, Career, Advancement, Gender