Construction reduces the wage gap to just 1,000 euros and breaks its record for female presence
13.03.2023
In 2022, 7,711 women were employed in the sector, bringing their number to 144,337.
The number of women affiliated to Social Security in the construction sector was 144,337 in 2022. This is therefore 7,711 more female workers than in 2021. “Last year saw the highest percentage weight of female workers in the construction industry since 2016, with 11.1% of the total number of people affiliated,” says María José Leguina, director of the Labour Department of the National Construction Confederation (CNC).
There are several factors that influence this increased presence. One of them has to do with the wage gap. Specifically, and according to data from the Treasury Technicians (Gestha), this gap is only 1,085 euros in the construction and real estate sector.
Only’ because, of all the sectors, it is the one with the smallest wage gap between men and women. For example, in the case of financial institutions and insurance companies, this amount is 15,215 euros; in information and communications, it is 7,820 euros; in business services, 6,598 euros; and in commerce, repairs and transport, 6,292 euros.
Insufficient weight
The average salary for women in the construction sector is 19,122 euros. It is above trade, repairs and transport (16,152 euros) and business services (16,095 euros). It is below industry (21,262 euros), social services (24,737 euros) and financial institutions and insurance (36,710 euros). The latter is the sector that pays women the best.
Another fact that should be taken into consideration is that, in the construction sector, the lowest annual average salary is 4,000 euros higher than the minimum interprofessional wage (SMI).
“The weight of women in the sector is still insufficient. Progress must be made towards parity, especially bearing in mind that a greater presence of women improves performance and increases the creativity of companies, favouring the development of projects with a social impact”, adds María José Leguina.
Looking to the future, it is worth remembering that seven out of every ten euros of Next Generation funds are linked to construction. And that the sector needs 700,000 jobs to cope with the increase in energy production and refurbishment. Not to mention the need to deepen its digital transformation.
For all these reasons, CNC is studying various initiatives to develop active gender policies that promote work-life balance, continue to reduce the wage gap and make construction a more attractive activity for women.
To achieve this, an important pillar will be the General Agreement for the Construction Sector. “Among other measures, it includes the creation of the first sectoral pension plan in our country, and wage increases of 10% for the next three years,” concludes María José Leguina.
By E.E. Diario.
