The Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) has launched a National Equity and Inclusion Plan (NEIP) for the construction industry in Scotland to encourage a more diverse workforce
Funded by Scottish Government, this National Equity and Inclusion Plan is part of a wider transformation of the industry, building connections with a wider talent pool to address labour shortages and support growth.
The initiative seeks to address imbalances by mainstreaming equity and inclusion
Figures from the Annual Population Survey 2020 show that there is a gender pay gap in the construction industry of 23% and women account for only 15.4% of the sector’s workforce.
The presence of construction workers who are from a minority ethnic background is only 1.6%, compared to.3% of minority ethnic workers in Scotland as a whole.
Figures show 10.5% of the workforce are disabled, 33% of the construction workforce are aged 50+ and only 2.7% of starts in modern apprentices were female.
The Plan sets out “Six by 2026” strategic aims which the CLF commits to work with industry to achieve.
These aims include the sharing of best practice across industry, using data and industry feedback to benchmark progress, signposting to a range of resources for companies to access, and development of industry-wide E&I accreditation.
The aims of the National Equity and Inclusion Plan for Scotland were developed with industry experts
The Plan was developed following an in-depth study by GenAnalytics.
This study assessed the challenges currently facing the sector and what best practice there is from inside and outside the sector.
It was informed by a wide stakeholder group including E&I experts, industry, and government and found that construction falls way short of equality and inclusion standards compared to other sectors and identified a number of sector-specific issues to be addressed by the Plan.
Creating a more resilient workforce and sustainable economy for Scotland
Business Minister and Construction Leadership Forum chair Ivan McKee said: “I recognise that we face new economic and social challenges of an unprecedented scale. This plan aims to support wider efforts to address inequality and promote greater diversity within the Scottish construction sector to encourage inclusive growth and help address labour shortages.
“Companies with better records of fair work, equity and inclusion do better, have a healthier and more engaged workforce and demonstrate greater diversity of thought. Fairness and inclusiveness encourage better relations with partners, shareholders, customers and employees.
“It will help support the increased resilience of construction and reinforce wider efforts to create a more sustainable economy, in line with the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation.”
