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Survey data shows a higher proportion of men secure the highest salaries compared to women
Women in BIM (WIB) has published the findings from its latest workforce survey, highlighting the disparities between job titles, job responsibilities and salaries.
Earlier this summer, co-author and principal lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, Dr Jenni Barrett, presented the highlights of the Digital Construction Global Work Survey at the WIB London conference.
The key finding at that stage was that a job title with ‘digital’ in it offers a better salary than one with ‘BIM’ in it.
Now that the survey has been published, its full findings can be reviewed.
The training issue
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents reported that they have received training to do their job, with the majority finding that training useful. Of those that received training, 55% reported that this was primarily in relation to the use of specific software packages, Autodesk Revit being the most common. Only 45% indicated that they had received training in relation to their digital or BIM role, or how to ensure effective implementation or compliance.
More than a third (37%) said that they have not received any training to do their job. Many of those who said that they haven’t had any training said they had pursued this themselves via internet search engines, YouTube, or via sharing platforms such as LinkedIn and Lynda. Many had also gained skills by asking colleagues or people in their personal networks questions on areas they were finding difficult.
The survey states: “This suggests that there is a significant training gap and variability in the formal provision of that training that requires attention, especially in a time of rapid digital transformation.”
The survey generated 461 responses from 47 countries: 300 of those responses were from women and 100 from men. The geographic analysis shows that 21% came from the UK, 20% from East Asia, 17% from Australia and New Zealand, 15% from North America, 12% from Europe and 8% from South America.
In most regions, the majority of respondents were positive about their career: two-thirds or more of those in Central and South Asia, East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and North America were positive.
However, a majority of those working in Africa felt negatively about their careers, followed by nearly half of those in Europe and more than a third in the UK and South America.
Gender pay gap
Many aspects contribute to this dissatisfaction. The survey data indicates a perceptible gender pay gap in the global, digital construction sector.
A noticeably higher proportion of men secure the highest salaries compared to women. Nearly a third of men (31%) secure salaries in the highest band compared to only 21% of women.
From the data available, the largest pay disparity between women and men existed in South America. In North America there was no disparity, while in the UK and Australia and New Zealand indications are that a gender pay gap exists.
Reviewing gender regarding career satisfaction, the data indicates that men are more likely to feel more positively about their careers than women.
Nearly 70% of men feel positive about their careers, whereas just over half of women feel the same. Conversely, only a quarter of men feel negatively about their careers, while the percentage of women exceeds this figure.
