Background
Given the male-dominated nature of Japan’s construction industry, it cannot be said that workplace environments and systems enabling women to work comfortably and continue their careers are yet fully in place. In 2015, the Japan Federation of Construction Contractors established the nickname “Kensetsu Komachi” for women in construction and launched related activities. Since then, Kensetsu Komachi has developed a variety of initiatives to create workplaces where everyone—including women working in construction—finds it easy to work and wants to keep working.
Initiative details
Kensetsu Komachi undertakes the following to make construction sites more conducive to women’s work:
- Development of guidelines
- Created a “Site Environment Improvement Manual” and a “Site Environment Improvement Checklist” to build workplaces that are comfortable for women as well, and used these to drive environmental improvements.
- Improving workplace environments for women
- Compiled case studies on women‑friendly toilets (separate facilities for men and women, washbasins with mirrors), changing rooms, and break rooms, contributing to the development of work environments in which women can work comfortably.
- Promoting maternity/parental leave systems
- Published “Parenting Support Check Indicators” and “Examples of Member Companies’ Systems Related to Diversity Promotion” to make it easier for employees to take maternity and parental leave.
- Outreach and awareness-raising
- With the concept of making the construction industry a place where everyone—not just women—can work comfortably, Kensetsu Komachi regularly holds seminars and forums. Beyond JFCC’s PR magazine and website, social media and video content introduce women engineers and skilled workers at various construction companies, sharing why they joined the industry and their thoughts about their work. Kensetsu Komachi offers a glimpse into the real lives of women working in construction.
Outcomes
Since Kensetsu Komachi began its activities, improvements in women’s workplace environments and growth in the number of women workers in the construction industry have become evident.
- As on-site environments have been upgraded, the installation rate of women’s toilets on construction sites rose from 45% (2018) to 81.2% (2024), and women’s changing rooms from 31% (2018) to 54.0% (2024).
- The share of women engineers in the construction industry increased from 1.8% (2001) to 8.5% (2024), and the share of women in managerial positions rose to 3.5% (2024).
- Workplace environment improvements have advanced across the industry as a whole, benefiting not only women.
Message
Kensetsu Komachi’s activities began with the voices of people on the ground who wanted the construction industry to provide working environments where women can work comfortably and continue their careers. Today, the scope of our activities is steadily—step by step—expanding toward creating environments in which everyone involved in construction finds it easy to work and wants to keep working. Guided by the Kensetsu Komachi statement that embodies our aspirations, we will continue working together to realize a Kensetsu Komachi–style approach to diversity and inclusion.