The experience of women in construction craftspeople apprenticeship programmes in Nigeria

Abstract

The construction industry needs skilled personnel for its sustainability due to the shortage of skilled workers. Women are reputed to bridge the gap created by skills shortages in construction, which can be achieved by increasing their participation in the industry through the instrumentality of construction craftspeople apprenticeship training. This qualitative study explored the experiences of women in construction craftspeople apprenticeship programmes in Nigeria. Twelve female apprentices and two representatives of stakeholders (senior managers at the apprenticeship programmes) from two construction craftspeople apprenticeship programmes were interviewed on the factors that motivated women to join construction crafts apprenticeship training and the challenges confronting female apprentices. The data retrieved were transcribed and qualitatively analysed using code-based content analysis. Findings indicated that the main factors motivating women to participate in construction craftspeople apprenticeship programmes are: the desire to acquire skills and intrinsic factors such as employment opportunities and better remuneration. Payment issues such as non-payment of allowance, and issues related to apprenticeship training, such as inadequate tools for training, were the prominent challenges faced by female apprentices in construction craftspeople apprenticeship programmes. The study identified factors that can be enhanced by stakeholders in construction craftspeople apprenticeship training to attract women to the construction industry.