Gender Issues in the Construction Industry: An Analysis of Research Trends

Gender issues persist as significant concerns, particularly within male-dominated working environments. Despite the growing volume of scholarly literature addressing gender challenges in construction, there remains a notable absence of comprehensive evaluations synthesizing this extensive body of work. The study examines global research trends concerning gender issues within the construction industry. Employing a bibliometric analysis facilitated by VOSviewer, the study utilized key search terms including “gender,” “construction,” and “industry.” At the outset, 1,030 papers were identified using these keywords. Following refinement of the dataset by language, document type, and keywords, a total of 679 papers were considered suitable for analysis. The most influential studies on gender issues in construction have predominantly originated from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. These studies have primarily addressed topics such as women’s employment, gender disparities, status, and discrimination. Current research trends in gender within construction are shifting towards themes such as work-life balance, workplace policies, and mental and occupational health. This shift signifies a transition from solely focusing on gender challenges to emphasizing gender empowerment through initiatives aimed at improving work-life balance, implementing pro-women workplace policies, and prioritizing their mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. This shifting research focus is positioned to draw in and maintain a greater number of women within the construction sector.