The apprenticeship system and poor careers advice are preventing girls from pursuing careers in construction, an Equal Opportunities Commission report has found.

It claims that Britain is failing to provide opportunities for people who want to work in jobs that are not traditionally associated with their gender.

The commission has called for the government to provide two work experience placements for every student, one of which must be in a non-traditional occupation.

The report found that less than 2% of construction apprentices are female, even though 12% of girls expressed an interest in the industry.

Julie Mellor, chair of the EOC, said: “Tackling occupational segregation needs to be put at the heart of the strategy to raise skills and productivity.”