Nigerian Professional Female Construction Workers in Vocational Occupations: Diversification or Deviation?

Abstract The construction industry did not just evolve on its own. It is a product of the conscious efforts of several individuals called construction workers. In Nigeria, it is a large employer of the population, skilled, unskilled, and professional. However, the Nigerian construction industry, similar to other industries, is currently in a phase of economic reform. This is largely attributed to the present economic situation. The current recession condition of the Nigerian economy has an adverse effect on the income of the citizenry. This implies that other sources of income alongside the basic firsthand means of income generation have to be sourced. This dilemma is more prominent among women. Considering the construction industry, professional female construction workers have been observed to join the league of those involved in ancillary income generation occupations. It is worth noting, however, that there are few professional female construction workers in the first place. This paper addresses whether this drift is a diversification or deviation of Nigerian professional female construction workers to vocational occupations, by a rigorous review of related literature. The result shows that this new trend among professional female construction workers is a welcome one if it is diversification because this will improve the productiveness of the individual involved and, in the long run, better the economy. On the other hand, this work finds that if these vocational occupations make professional female construction workers leave their construction field totally or almost totally, then there is a threat to female population in the construction industry. However, diversification is encouraged.