Under-representation of ethnic minorities in the buildings sector: A qualitative study

Abstract

Buildings is a challenging sector to decarbonise, responsible for around one-third of the UK’s energy use, and in dire need to upskill and diversify the workforce. Ethnic minorities remain massively underrepresented in the sector especially at higher levels, in academia and industry, which play a vital role in the development and deployment of energy-efficient technologies to reduce carbon emissions and achieve sustainability goals. The sector requires interventions to harness the talents of all to achieve its carbon reduction target by 2050. The study presented here aims to draw out the needs and preferences of ethnic minority professionals from academia and industry, working in the building sector, for their career progression. Through in-depth interviews, this study highlights the formal and informal support mechanisms available to these individuals and provides actionable insights for organizations and employees to improve work experiences whilst aligning with the 2050 decarbonization target