Evaluating gender equality policy alignment and institutional barriers to women’s retention in the Australian construction industry

Purpose This study aims to evaluate how Australian federal and state government gender equality initiatives align with the key factors influencing women’s retention in the construction industry. Despite an expanding policy landscape, women remain underrepresented, indicating persistent institutional and organisational barriers. Design/methodology/approach A five-step evaluative review integrated a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review, analysis of 30 government initiatives and expert validation involving 12 academics and industry practitioners. Guided by Feminist Institutionalism and the Policy Cycle Model, the analysis assessed alignment with four retention factors: Work Hours and Family Commitment (WHAF), Gendered Culture and Informal Rules (GCIR), Career Opportunities and Available Roles (COAR) and Perceptions of Women’s Ability (POWA). Findings Policy attention to gender equality has increased; however, alignment with women’s retention factors remains uneven. Most initiatives focus on career opportunities and workforce participation, while fewer address workplace culture and informal institutional barriers. Legislative and procurement-based initiatives include stronger accountability mechanisms than voluntary initiatives. Practical implications Improving women’s retention requires policy frameworks that integrate stronger accountability mechanisms with initiatives that promote workplace culture, flexible work practices and leadership pathways. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides the first systematic evaluation of Australian federal and state government gender equality initiatives in relation to women’s retention in the construction industry. By integrating Feminist Institutionalism and the Policy Cycle Model, this study offers a theory-informed framework for assessing policy alignment and informing future gender equality policy development.