Motivating factors for professional women in construction career progression

Purpose - Women in Construction (WiC) professionally registered with the engineering and built environment councils in South Africa work in a male-dominated industry. Many of these women end their construction careers in less than five years. This study aims to establish the core motivating factors contributing to sustainable careers for professional WiC, drawing on self-determination theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework. The study contributes to sustainable development goal (SDG) 10, which seeks to reduce inequalities by addressing barriers to gender diversity. Design/methodology/approach - A quantitative study was conducted utilising a questionnaire survey distributed to professional WiC. The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) facilitated the distribution of the questionnaire. A total of 110 responses were received and analysed using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis to interpret the research data and assess the dimensionality and reliability of the constructs. Findings - The study revealed that family support, job satisfaction and job promotion are the primary motivating factors for professional WiC to benefit from sustainable careers. These factors are consistent with the psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness as identified by SDT, forming the basis of the study’s theoretical framework. Originality/value - The study provides an understanding of motivating factors crucial for retaining professional WiC in South Africa’s construction industry. The study leverages SDT to offer strategies for fostering long-term career perseverance among professional WiC. This could inform policies and practices focused on promoting gender diversity, in line with SDG 10’s goal to reduce inequalities and support sustainability in different sectors.