The number of women starting construction apprenticeships has risen dramatically in recent years according to a new report from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
The Construction Apprenticeships 2025: Challenges. Opportunities. Support report found that 1,450 women started a construction apprenticeship in 2018-19, but this has jumped to 2,420 to in 2023-24.
The findings, compiled using statistics from the Department for Education, reveal a two-thirds (67%) increase in women starting construction apprenticeships. The positive news is enhanced with CITB’s report also showing that the number of women completing their apprenticeships significantly increased over the same period.
According to the report, 340 women completed their construction apprenticeship in 2018-19, but this had increased by more than 170% to 930 women completing their apprenticeship in 2023-24.
This rise in female starters and completions suggests a future with greater gender diversity in the construction industry, says CITB. Changing attitudes towards gender roles and the introduction of policies aimed at promoting gender equality will help further decrease the gender and skills gaps.
Lucie Wright, head of careers strategy at CITB, said: “We need more women in construction. It’s incredibly heartening to see the number of women starting construction apprenticeships increasing – long may this continue. As an industry, we need to actively promote to as diverse a range of applicants as possible and make sure we get the conditions for working in the industry right for as many different people as possible.
“We recently launched the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards 2025, back for the fourth year running. The programme is one of the ways we strive to recognise the wonderful women and allies who are driving real change in the construction industry.
“For any women thinking about their career options, I and CITB urge you to consider a career in construction. There’s so much to admire about the industry, and it’s a great place for women to work and thrive.”
Image credit: CITB
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