For a construction project to be completed successfully there must be an effective and efficient utilization of resources. One of these resources is human resource which includes women worker.
This research focus on the effectiveness analysis of women worker in construction projects at DebreBerhan and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and analyzing its impact towards personal safety and construction accidents, quality of construction, project completion or lead time, and effectiveness in project management as a whole.
Descriptive surveyresearch method were utilized and questionnaire was administered to 200 randomly selected respondents which comprised of women workers, foreman, project managers and contractor firm owner. The results of the overall analysis shows that most of the workers in construction are women in Debre Berhan, whereas the construction industry in Addis Ababa is dominated by males and most of the job positions in Debre Berhan are equally distributed among male and female employees except the foreman position but all job classifications in Addis Ababa are dominated by male workers especially the key positions like Project Manager and Project Supervisors. There is no wide disparity in the salary of construction employees in Debre Berhan except for the Foreman Position. Males are compensated higher than the females while in Addis Ababa there are obvious variations in the average salary of the male and female employees. Male takes higher overtime than females. Women workers committed low frequencies of quality defects. The study also shows that there is a low rate of safety violations, major & minor injuries incurred by women in the workplace yet they have low safety awareness. There is a low absenteeism rate to women workers &they have medium productivity rate. Finally, based on the results recommendations were forwarded that trainings should be given for women workers on safety and awareness should be created on construction firms on the effectiveness of women workers.
Table of Contents
I. Background of the Study
General Objectives
Specific Objectives
II. Related Literature
2.1 Women in Construction
2.2 Issues confronting women in Construction Industry
III. Methodology
3.1 Research Design and Population
3.2 Method of Data Collection and Analysis
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Demographic Information
4.2 Respondent’s Distribution by Job Classification
4.3 Respondents’ Distribution by Salary or Compensation
4.4 Overtime Rates
4.5 Company Expenses on Employee Benefits
4.5 Cost of Rework
4.6 Quality Incidents
4.6 Technical Knowledge
4.7 Quality Control Plan
4.8 Safety Violations
4.9 Safety Incidents
4.10 Safety Knowledge or Safety Awareness
4.11 Knowledge/Awareness
4.12 Key Findings
V. RECOMMENDATIONS
VI. CONCLUSIONS
Research Objectives and Focus Areas
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of women's roles within the construction sector in Debre Berhan and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by analyzing their impact on project safety, quality, lead times, and overall project management performance.
- Analysis of gender distribution and salary disparities in construction roles.
- Assessment of female worker performance regarding quality incidents and adherence to control plans.
- Evaluation of safety awareness, violation rates, and injury frequency among women in the workforce.
- Examination of technical knowledge levels, productivity, and absenteeism rates.
- Exploration of the relationship between technical knowledge, project outcomes, and project management efficiency.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 Issues confronting women in Construction Industry
Studies indicate that the construction industry’s traditional, blue-collared, male-dominated, craft-based culture represents a significant barrier to women recruitment, participation and career progression. The following are issues and barriers opposing the women participation: The assumptions that root the frequent argument are that woman is physically not strong to endure this strenuous task. When entering the gender segregated occupations, these women need to prove their competence despite their qualifications and experiences [13].
On top of proving their technical skills, women workers need to have the ability to fit into the accepted behavior of the workplace which can even be more problematic. In her study on both the physical and psychosocial working environment among the Swedish construction workers, Olofsson [12] stated that most women seem to agree that they can cope with the physical part of the job, while many claimed that they need to be psychologically strong to be on a building site. The women on site feel that they need to be as good as the men. They also need to fit into the accepted behaviour of the workplace which can even mean comprising their ‘female’ identity [13].
Women inexplicably run a greater risk than men of work-related musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). Studies have shown that women were twice as likely as men to leave the industry because of complaints of pain and injury. This may also be linked with low job-control and high job-demand which can lead to MSD [14]. Women have been reported to be in this situation with low job-control and high job-demand than men. Many female workers overlook this safe limit and perform task that in the long run can lead to MSD just to avoid being stereotype by the male colleagues [12]. Important variables for health and good work environment such as control over work influence, meaningfulness, support and professionalism seems to be negatively influenced by gender personal offences.
Summary of Chapters
I. Background of the Study: Outlines the importance of the construction sector in Ethiopia and identifies the lack of empirical research regarding the effectiveness of female workers in this industry.
II. Related Literature: Examines global trends and barriers concerning women in construction, focusing on gender stratification, occupational segregation, and specific workplace challenges.
III. Methodology: Details the quantitative descriptive survey approach and random sampling method used to collect data from 200 construction professionals.
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Presents a comprehensive statistical analysis covering demographics, job distribution, salary disparities, safety performance, and worker productivity metrics.
V. RECOMMENDATIONS: Proposes actionable strategies for construction firms, including targeted training programs and the implementation of better quality and safety management systems.
VI. CONCLUSIONS: Summarizes the key findings, confirming that while gender disparities exist in salaries and industry dominance, female workers demonstrate significant contributions to productivity and safety.
Keywords
Safety, Quality, Cost, Effectiveness, Project Management, Women in Construction, Ethiopia, Construction Industry, Gender Disparity, Workforce Participation, Absenteeism, Technical Knowledge, Productivity, Occupational Health, Survey Research
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research evaluates the role and effectiveness of women in the construction industry in Debre Berhan and Addis Ababa, focusing on their contribution to project success and safety.
What are the primary themes analyzed in the study?
The study covers gender distribution, salary gaps, safety awareness, technical proficiency, and the impact of female labor on construction project quality and productivity.
What is the main objective of the study?
The main objective is to assess the uniqueness and efficacy of women's involvement in construction projects and to identify areas where improvements can be made through training and policy.
What scientific methods were applied?
The researchers utilized a descriptive survey method, distributing questionnaires to 200 respondents, followed by statistical analysis (SPSS) including t-tests and correlation studies.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body discusses demographic data, salary/compensation analysis, overtime rates, safety violation records, quality management, and correlations between technical knowledge and performance.
Which keywords define this research?
Key terms include Safety, Quality, Cost, Effectiveness, Project Management, and Gender Disparity in the construction sector.
How do salary levels differ between genders in the study?
The study found a salary disparity in both locations, with males generally receiving higher compensation than females, particularly in unskilled positions and project management roles.
Does technical knowledge influence project performance?
Yes, the findings indicate a strong, positive correlation between technical knowledge and both lead time performance and overall productivity.
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- Patrick Cerna (Autor), Gene Macabodbod (Autor), Mary Charlemaine Abas (Autor), 2017, Assessment and Effectiveness Analysis of the Women Workers in Construction Projects in Debre Berhan and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/371143
