Digital Platforms, Structural Barriers and Gender Inclusion: A Systemic Model for the South African Construction Industry

This study examines the systemic structures that limit inclusivity, diversity, equality, and accessibility (IDEA) in South Africa’s construction industry. It develops an empirically grounded framework, linking digital platform/tool (software tools and systems that facilitate construction processes) adoption to the institutional changes needed to advance gender equity. Building on a literature review, an online survey of 112 Construction Industry Development Board (Cidb)-registered practitioners was analyzed in SPSS v26 using descriptive and inferential statistics and principal component analysis (PCA). Results show that gender differences in mastery of core digital tools were not statistically significant ( p > 0.05 across tool categories). The regression model predicting perceived career growth showed weak explanatory power and was not statistically significant (R 2 = 0.068; F(10,100) = 0.734; p = 0.691). Accordingly, the non-significant model is interpreted as indicating that the predictors included are insufficient to explain perceived career growth in this sample, and that other organizational and structural factors may be more influential. PCA produced a three-component digital inclusivity ecosystem composed of operational fairness, technical empowerment, and integrative leadership, demonstrating 62.84% variance explained and a three-pillar systemic architecture for equity composed of legislative frameworks, socioeconomic support, and organizational practice. Leadership representation remained skewed (73.83% male overall; 78.64% at the director level). The study concludes that progress toward IDEA is more likely to result from combining digital adoption with multi-level institutional reforms. Practical implications include integrated policy interventions and organizational practices that address structural barriers while leveraging digital platforms for inclusion.