Although progress is slow, the proportion of women in the construction industry in Quebec reached 4.1 per cent in 2025, or 8200 women.
This is a slight increase compared to the 7885 the previous year, when they represented 3.98 per cent of the total, indicates the Quebec Construction Commission, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
“At 4 per cent, Quebec has caught up with the Canadian average,” said Audrey Murray, President and CEO of the Commission, in an interview on Friday.
Several challenges remain, however, notably retaining them in the industry. One in two women leaves within five years, while this is the case for a third of men during the same period.
It is within this framework that the CCQ commissioned an evaluation of the Program for Equal Access for Women in Industry, for the last 10 years.
The report from the National School of Public Administration (ÉNAP) notes that women’s enrollment in study programs doubled between 2013 and 2023, as did their graduation rate.
However, progress still needs to be made to improve the work environment and make workplaces healthier and more inclusive, it is noted.
The report also emphasizes that the transition from studies to first jobs must be facilitated.
Work also remains to be done in terms of work-family balance.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
