The construction industry is overwhelmingly male dominated and has a rapidly ageing workforce. Comprehensive research shows that women are being considered an untapped resource that can be used to fill the skill gap; however, numerous barriers are hindering women from either entering or progressing in the industry across the board. Globally, governments and organisations within the sector have implemented various attraction strategies considered effective solutions for dealing with gender disparity and lack of diversity. However, there are a limited number of studies available that provide a holistic review that incorporates data extrapolated to reveal geographical and thematic trends of the most common barriers and attraction strategies found in an endeavour to encourage females into the construction industry. This research seeks to bridge that gap by conducting a systematic review using Scopus, from which 51 journals were analysed using qualitative research design. It was identified that Australia has been at the forefront of conducting research in the last decade, and discrimination and apprenticeships/pre-apprenticeship programmes were strong factors impacting or influencing females and their career prospects in the industry. The study offers valuable insight for governments, human resources, educational organisations and self-employed individuals. © 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited: All rights reserved.
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