Women in Kildare urged to pursue careers in construction

The Construction Industry Federation is urging women in Kildare to consider a career in construction ahead of its annual International Women’s Day Summit.
This year’s event will take place on Friday, March 7 2025, at The Johnstown Estate, Enfield, Co. Meath with over 600 women from across the country attending.

This year’s summit, themed ‘Accelerate Action’, will hear from leading experts on key topics such as, building Ireland’s infrastructure, health and safety on sites, financial well-being and careers in construction.

The summit will also welcome forty young women from the STEM Passport for Inclusion initiative founded by Dr Katriona O’Sullivan, academic and author of ‘Poor’, to encourage girls from DEIS schools to pursue careers in STEM.

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Joanne Treacy, Southern Regional Director of the Construction Industry Federation said: "The latest Labour Force Survey shows that just 9% of the construction workforce is female, a statistic that has remained unchanged for some years.

“The Construction Industry Federation’s International Women’s Day Summit is a platform to celebrate, inspire, and encourage women to pursue careers in the industry. By showcasing female leaders who are driving change, we aim to highlight the wide range of opportunities available to women in construction.”
While the event is sold out, people from Kildare can join in by registering for a livestream.

Joanne Tracey said: “Whether you’re drawn to engineering, electrical work, human resources, or project management, the industry offers diverse career paths to suit every skill set. We encourage women and students from Kildare to explore these opportunities and to consider building a rewarding future in construction.

“Industry-wide efforts to attract women and girls are gaining momentum, alongside an expanding range of career opportunities. The Construction Industry Federation is committed to fostering gender diversity through initiatives such as the ‘Constructing Careers’ schools programme, with construction companies visiting schools to show what a career in construction means.

“We are also planning a national Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion survey to regularly benchmark diversity in the industry.”

Joanne continued: “This sold-out event, attended by over 650 industry professionals, including our Kildare Branch members, BAM Contractors Ltd, Clonmel Enterprises, and Glenveagh Homes, will highlight the diverse career opportunities available to women in construction, from trades to leadership.

“Tune in and join us to celebrate International Women’s Day.”
To find out more visit www.cif.ie or register for the livestream at: https://cif.ie/event/iwd-2025/