Women in construction: 'I’ve taught my son and his cousin how to plaster'

Ahead of International Women’s Day, we talk to women working in the male-dominated construction industry about its challenges and advantages

Patricia Brouder, Plasterer, from Carrikerry County Limerick Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Women represent only 10% of the construction industry workforce, but their number is growing. The new Women in the Labour Market Report 2023-2024 found that the number of women in construction surged from 6,600 in 2014 to 18,000 in 2024. That’s a threefold increase.

Joanne White has been campaigning to make the industry more inclusive of women.