by Dr Jenni Barrett, Principal Lecturer, University of Central Lancashire
Our driving mission at Women in BIM (WIB) is to command change for diversity and inclusion across the construction industry.
During many of our global events we were hearing from Members and Allies that they were finding large disparities between job titles, job responsibilities and salaries. This was causing dissatisfaction amongst those working in the digital construction sector which depends on collective success and sector performance depends on recruitment, acquisition and retention of its specialised talent and expertise. It was also causing frustration as, often multi-organisational, international teams struggled to understand and determine the roles and tasks that each member was expected to perform.
But to drive change, we needed evidence. Do disparities exist between countries? Between genders? To find the answers and the evidence we launched a digital construction’s global work survey. We received almost 500 responses in 47 different countries, all providing the vital information we needed to gather a global picture of how careers and work are evolving in the digital construction sector.
The findings of the survey are now live in our Women In BIM Digital Construction Global Work Survey Report 2024 – and there are indeed some striking findings!
Survey Snapshot
We have discovered that there is a huge diversity in job titles. In many cases, those termed leaders and those termed technicians, are essentially doing the same job. Yet, those leaders are being paid more. Those with leadership titles are tasked with strategic organisational and/or project digital transformation, as we might expect. But many working under technical or management job titles are doing that too, and their title thus disempowers them from making a difference due to their position in the organisational hierarchy.
The BIM manager role appears to be the most challenged role. These job titles tend to have the broadest remit and the broadest range of salaries. Career progression from this role is unclear and this is something that is causing dissatisfaction. So many of you are tasked with training others despite not having received any formal training yourselves.
The global disparities and gender gaps were clear too, particularly in terms of both opportunities for career development and pay.
What comes next?
The launch of the global work survey report is not the final part of this journey. We will now use this vital and robust evidence to drive necessary change. We will soon meet with key players in the international digital construction arena to identify strategic change projects that will facilitate more equitable and rewarding careers.
Download the full Women in BIM Digital Construction Global Work Survey 2024.
