Retaining female students through graduation and sending them out into the construction industry remain as challenges for greater women participation in the industry.This study examines the factors affecting early career women's career choice in construction and barriers faced by them at this career stage.Data was collected from female graduates of a construction management degree in an Australian university using an online questionnaire survey.The results show that significant factors affecting their career choice decisions are:(i)career opportunities;(ii)belief of getting better pay;and(iii)self-efficacy and high level of confidence of performing construction tasks.In terms of barriers,four statistically significant barriers are:(i)difficult to integrate into masculine culture in the industry;(ii)stressful and competitive working culture;(iii)long and inflexible working hours;and(iv)lack of informal networks for career opportunities.The results also show that most respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs.These findings have implications for the development of initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining female graduates in the construction industry.
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