As 2025 kicks off, the Exhibition Design & Build industry continues to be a cornerstone of the creative sector, showcasing the best in innovation, architecture, and craftsmanship. However, despite its exciting opportunities, the industry is still grappling with a persistent gender imbalance—a challenge that, if addressed, could unlock new levels of creativity and collaboration. Live Recruitment have been exploring the data in their latest events industry diversity study to inspire positive change.
Gender & Representation
The exhibition design and build industry remains male-dominated, especially in senior roles and the physical build side. This trend is deeply rooted in historical norms, where skills like carpentry, architecture, and sales were traditionally male associated.
In senior roles, the Male candidates dominate, with 71.2% of senior positions filled by men, compared to 28.8% by women. The gender split in junior roles is closer within the sector with 52.5% male and 47.5% female, offering a positive outlook for future balance and change. Interestingly, whilst the younger cohorts (18-31) are more evenly represented (54.6% female vs 45.4% male), this trend reverses dramatically with age. Almost 85% of candidates in the 60+ category are male, suggesting that retaining women in the industry is as critical as attracting them in the first place.
Salary Disparities
The data reveals a significant gender pay gap within the exhibition design and build industry; the median salary for men is higher than that of women across all levels, plus, male candidates earn more on average, with broader pay ranges and higher maximum salaries.
This disparity isn't just a reflection of roles occupied—it’s a call for reflection across businesses recruitment strategies and processes, sector promotion, and retention strategies.
The Recruitment Landscape: Insights from Live Recruitment
Speaking on the challenges and opportunities in diversifying the industry, Laura Kelly, Managing Director at Live Recruitment, notes that "The Exhibition Design & Build sector has so much to offer, but if the sector is serious about creating lasting change, we need to look beyond simply hiring more women. It’s about fostering an inclusive culture and addressing diversity at every stage—whether that’s careers fairs, mentoring, or outreach at the university level."
At Live Recruitment, our latest data study highlights the median salary within the exhibition design and build sector is slightly lower than the average salary of £38,500 these figures indicate a positively skewed distribution. However, while these averages seem promising, the limited number of higher-paying roles and the gender gap suggest room for improvement.
A Vision for the Future
Building Awareness - Attracting women into the industry starts at the grassroots level. Creating visibility for exhibition design and build careers at schools, colleges, and universities is vital. Equally, initiatives like female-focused networking events and mentorship schemes within the exhibition design and build sector can help bridge the gap.
Challenging Perceptions - The industry's gender disparity isn’t driven by direct bias but by the skillsets historically associated with the field. As Laura Kelly explains: "If you want to diversify your workforce, don’t just set off with the purpose of hiring someone different. Instead, rethink your processes—whether that’s diversifying your talent pipeline or re-evaluating job descriptions to attract broader skillsets."
Retaining Talent - Retention is just as important as recruitment. The drop in female representation in the older age brackets in the exhibition design and build sector suggests a need for more supportive environments, flexible work policies, and clear pathways for career progression.
The Road Ahead
The Exhibition Design & Build industry is at a crossroads; with a growing pool of young, talented women entering the sector, there’s an opportunity to rewrite the narrative. By addressing salary disparities, increasing awareness, and fostering an inclusive culture, the industry can not only attract a more diverse workforce but also tap into new perspectives that drive innovation.
At Live Recruitment, we’re committed to helping businesses build teams that reflect the future they want to create. Let’s work together to turn challenges into opportunities and set a new benchmark for diversity in the industry.