Comparing the Career Paths of Male and Female Managers in the Construction Industry: Insights from LinkedIn Data

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Zhengyi Yang

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Abstract

As one of the most male-dominated industries, the construction industry in Australia is known for the low representation of women in the workforce. Previous studies have indicated that women face significant obstacles in their career developments, progressing more slowly than their male counterparts and struggling to attain managerial positions. Building on past research, this research compares the differences between the career paths of male and female managers in construction to understand key factors contributing to gender disparities in career progression. Based on an examination of the LinkedIn profiles of 480 managerial level employees from 61 companies, this research leveraged the rich dataset provided by the world's largest professional network, LinkedIn, to examine these key factors, such as educational backgrounds, years of experience, job titles, career transitions, and network sizes. This research contributes to existing literatures on gender disparities in leadership roles within the construction industry. By utilising LinkedIn data, which reflect the lived experiences of managers, this research provides empirical evidence that can inform policymaking, talent management, and diversity initiatives aimed at narrowing the gender gap in construction leadership.

Author Affiliations

@inproceedings{yan2024comparing,
  title = {Comparing the Career Paths of Male and Female Managers in the Construction Industry: Insights from LinkedIn Data},
  author = {Yan, D and Sunindijo, R and Wang, C and Yang, Z},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 40th Annual ARCOM Conference},
  editor = {Thomson, C and Neilson, C J},
  pages = {247--256},
  address = {London, UK},
  publisher = {Association of Researchers in Construction Management},
  year = {2024}
}