Unraveling the barriers and impacts of women’s attraction and retention: a multiperspective analysis for enhancing female participation in the Bangladeshi construction industry

Purpose Gender inequality continues to be a significant challenge in the construction industry worldwide, including in Bangladesh. This study explores the key obstacles to attracting and retaining women in construction and evaluates the effects of addressing or overlooking these issues in public, private and public-private-partnership (PPP) funded projects. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted using a detailed questionnaire distributed to professionals in Bangladesh's construction sector. Data analysis involved Cronbach's alpha, Inter-rater agreement (IRA), the relative importance index (RII) and a fishbone diagram to illustrate the underlying factors limiting women's participation in construction. Findings The study identified the most key barriers and impacts to advance women in construction likes as “Long working hours” and “Lack of support, networking, and mentoring opportunities” and “Inhibiting women from entering the industry” and “Preventing women from advancing in their careers”. Moreover, Ishikawa-Fishbone and effect-flow diagrams were used to visualize and compare the barriers of gender inequality across PPP, public and private construction projects. Originality/value While most studies on gender inequality in construction focus on specific subsectors, this research fills a gap by comparing barriers and impacts across public, private and PPP projects in Bangladesh's construction industry. By addressing these challenges, the study aims to boost women's participation and promote sustainable sector growth.