Before Daughters' Day

Experts: “Women need to have more confidence”

Master builder Sigrid Kobierski (left) and Frau-in-der-Wirtschaft Wien boss Margarete Kriz-Zwittkovits want to encourage girls. Even classic male professions should not be taboo.

(Bild: Max Slovencik)

Unfortunately, women in male-dominated professions are still a rarity. Yet it is precisely in these traditional sectors that better career opportunities and higher salaries currently await.

Statistics show: Women are overrepresented in part-time work - with all its negative side effects. They also work significantly more often in sectors with lower average salaries. However, Margarete Kriz-Zwittkovits, CEO of Frau in der Wirtschaft Wien, is convinced that this does not have to be the case. "It is important that women are aware of their abilities and can also be successful in male domains," she emphasizes during a visit to a construction site. Sigrid Kobierski, master builder and boss at Hammerl Bau, is in charge there. She is the third generation to run the company with around 50 employees. The company will be celebrating its 100th anniversary next year. Kobierski: "I grew into the industry, that's how I got to know it. Now I want to pass this understanding on to other women and girls. Because there's nothing we can't do as women. Women need to be more confident."

Win-win situation
And this commitment is already having an impact. Despite the historical dominance of men in the construction industry, increasing numbers of women are showing a growing interest in careers in traditionally male-dominated fields. The advantages: Women not only contribute technical know-how, but also creative and interpersonal skills that lead to innovative solutions.

Master builder Sigrid Kobierski (left) and Frau-in-der-Wirtschaft Wien boss Margarete Kriz-Zwittkovits

(Bild: Max Slovencik)

Kriz-Zwittkovits: "The increased integration of female specialists in the construction sector also offers companies various advantages: Women can help combat the skills shortage by replacing men who are retiring. Female professionals are seen as innovative, empathetic and gifted with fine motor skills, which can benefit construction companies. Employers with a balanced gender distribution in their workforce appear more attractive and modern. And mixed teams are often more efficient and achieve better work results."

Figures confirm the trend
The Vienna Chamber of Commerce has recorded an increase in the number of women in the previously male-dominated construction industry since 2001. Following records in 2001, in which only 21 female entrepreneurs were registered in the construction trade group, this number has more than doubled and currently stands at 57. A continuous increase has been recorded over the years. A decade ago, in 2013, the number of female bosses in the construction industry was around 40 individual female entrepreneurs, which represents a significant increase compared to the early years. Kriz-Zwittkovits: "This development reflects a positive trend and underlines the growing interest of women in careers in the construction industry. A positive trend, with room for improvement."

Typically male? Not for Vienna's female entrepreneurs
On the occasion of Vienna's Daughters' Day on 25 April, Frau in der Wirtschaft Wien Chairwoman Margarete Kriz-Zwittkovits emphasizes the growing presence of women in traditionally male professions. The increase in girls opting for an apprenticeship in the fields of electrical engineering, painting/coating technology, mechatronics and floor laying is particularly noteworthy. In the field of electrical engineering, the proportion of women increased from 3.1% in 2013 to 9.4% in 2023. Similar increases were also recorded in the apprenticeships for painters/coating technicians, mechatronics technicians and floor layers. These figures clearly show the positive change in traditionally male-dominated industries and professions.

Kriz-Zwittkovits: "Daughters' Day on April 25 is a great opportunity to highlight the diversity of career opportunities and break down prejudices."

Information on Daughters' Day