NCC promotes diversity and gender equality to increase competitiveness

Construction firm NCC is actively promoting diversity and gender equality as key drivers for improving its competitiveness. The company acknowledges that while gender equality has been achieved at the most senior levels, there is still significant progress to be made across the entire organization. NCC's long-term objective is to ensure its workforce mirrors the society in which it operates.

To address recruitment needs and attract a broader talent pool, NCC is focusing on initiatives to lower barriers for careers in the industry. This includes events for women in production roles and a dedicated program for female site managers. "It is vital that the number of women in production increases, not least so that we can meet our recruitment needs in the industry. We want to be able to recruit the best talent from the entire population," stated Camilla Magnusson, Regional Manager at NCC Infra Stockholm.

NCC is also implementing policies aimed at achieving a more balanced gender representation within teams, setting a target that neither gender will constitute more than 70 percent of a team's members. Furthermore, the company supports STEM education through programs like Mattecentrum and "Introduce a Girl to Engineering" days. The long-standing women's network, Stella, established in 1998, continues its work to increase the number of women in management positions.

Beyond internal initiatives, NCC is committed to fostering integration and diversity through programs like NCC Job School in Denmark, which aids refugees with prior construction experience in entering the industry, and NCC New Start in Sweden, designed to help foreign-born engineers find employment. These programs align with NCC's significant recruitment demands and promote social inclusion.

The company is also confronting cultural challenges within the construction sector, including issues related to "macho culture" and sexual harassment. NCC organized a meeting with industry representatives to discuss solutions and is implementing regional programs focused on diversity and inclusion. "Unfortunately, we have problems with a macho culture and sexual harassment in our industry and we need to accept our responsibility for bringing about a change," said Fredrik Johansson, Department Manager at NCC Building, Western Region.