Meet the women changing the male-dominated construction industry in Hong Kong
Once the sole preserve of men, the construction industry is welcoming ever more women bosses – PostMag meets the Hongkongers changing the game
On a typical work day Doris Yeung Man-shun, 59, plays two traditionally male roles: builder in reality and butler vicariously. Helping her clients through the upheaval of a major home renovation is an aspect of her job as a contractor that fills her with pride.
“I’m with my clients every step of the way, from when they move out for demolition to begin, to when they are settled back in,” she says.
As the gender gap narrows in one of Hong Kong’s biggest industries, the typically softer, detail-oriented approach women can bring to the skilled trades is drawing attention.
It’s a trend not unique to Hong Kong: in countries such as Britain, Australia and the United States, increasing numbers of women are enrolling in engineering and construction courses, or taking up apprenticeships in building trades. The one common denominator is the shortage of skilled workers to meet the growing demand for housing and other urban infrastructure.
Here, as elsewhere, various public, private and institutional initiatives are encouraging women to make this non-traditional career choice and, according to CEIC Data, their numbers have been on a mostly upwards trajectory since 2010.
