The Pre-Career Exodus: Why Female AEC Students Consider Leaving Before Entering the Workforce

10 pages•Published: June 2, 2026

Minerva Bonilla, Heba Al Kailani, Uihyeon Lee, Muneera Kabani and Yajie Liu

Abstract

Women remain underrepresented in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) education and careers globally, particularly in technical and leadership roles. This comparative study examines the experiences of female students in AEC programs across China, the United States (U.S), and Ibero-America. Survey results reveal that female representation in academic programs varies widely, with mentorship and support systems less accessible in China and Ibero-America than in the U.S. Anticipated career barriers include poor work-life balance, limited promotion opportunities, low salaries, and discrimination, with 72% of Chinese respondents considering leaving the industry before entering the workforce, compared to 41% in the U.S. and 30% in Ibero-America. Students identified effective strategies for retention, such as mentorship programs, leadership pathways, caregiving flexibility, and mental health resources. Although there are variations between regions, cultural norms and recruitment practices continue to be the most significant factors influencing outcomes. Current studies lack cross-regional analyses of pre-career experiences and motivations among women in AEC, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. This study addresses this gap by providing evidence-based recommendations to improve preparation and long-term retention of women in AEC fields.

Keyphrases: career barriers, cross regional comparisons, mentorship, women in aec

In: Wesley Collins, Anthony Perrenoud and John Posillico (editors). Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 62nd Annual International Conference, vol 7, pages 950-959.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/mCfM
	https://doi.org/10.29007/k1ft

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{ASC2026:Pre_Career_Exodus_Why,
  author    = {Minerva Bonilla and Heba Al Kailani and Uihyeon Lee and Muneera Kabani and Yajie Liu},
  title     = {The Pre-Career Exodus: Why Female AEC Students Consider Leaving Before Entering the Workforce},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 62nd Annual International Conference},
  editor    = {Wesley Collins and Anthony Perrenoud and John Posillico},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Built Environment},
  volume    = {7},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2632-881X},
  url       = {/publications/paper/mCfM},
  doi       = {10.29007/k1ft},
  pages     = {950-959},
  year      = {2026}}

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