Swedish construction company Peab has successfully increased its proportion of female employees through a paid apprenticeship program called 'Byggåret,' according to a report from SVT Nyheter. The company's female workforce has grown from 8 percent to 11 percent over ten years, though progress toward gender equality remains slow in the male-dominated industry.
Region manager Susanne Hallgren emphasized the importance of diversifying recruitment: 'We cannot only recruit from half the population.' The construction industry consists of nearly 90 percent men, according to 2023 statistics from Statistics Sweden (SCB).
We cannot only recruit from half the population
Peab's 'Byggåret' program, now in its fourth year, offers a paid apprenticeship year for women wanting to train for craft professions like carpentry or construction work. Participants are employed with salary and complete the industry's basic training over one year with both theory and workplace practice. Currently, 24 percent of all vocational apprentices at Peab are women.
The initiative comes as the construction industry faces significant workforce challenges. A report from Byggföretagen shows 50,000 expected retirements in the sector over the next five years, making attracting new workers a survival issue for the industry.
Two participants who completed the apprenticeship program and now work at Peab are Cornelia Fernerud and Kristina Jonsson. The company plans to continue the program and recruit more women through regular apprenticeship programs and university pathways.