BC Initiatives Promote Careers for Women in Trades

Mar 19, 2018

A suite of initiatives will pave the way for women working or entering a career in the building trades through improved workplace supports, services and practices.
Premier Horgan made the announcement following a speech to the BC Building Trades conference on International Women’s Day. “Our construction industry is booming, but we’re facing a shortage of skilled workers in a number of trades,” said Premier Horgan. “Right now, only 5% of apprentices in the construction trades are women. Removing barriers to women’s participation will ensure women can get into these good-paying jobs.”

Less than 3% of working women in the province are in the building trades. A labour-market report released in fall 2017 recommended providing women with workplace supports. It noted that many of the recommended anti-bullying policies and better health and safety practices would benefit everyone on the worksite.

“Changing the culture of trades and focusing on retaining the women currently working in the trades is essential to the future of this industry,” says Lisa Langevin, assistant business manager and journey electrician, IBEW 213. “Those current tradeswomen are excited that we will have the support to pave the road for future women in trades.”
The province has selected two groups to develop a range of programs: the BC Construction Association and the BC Federation of Labour. Services and programs include:

• outreach and mentoring for tradeswomen
• leadership-development training to improve workplace culture by addressing bullying and harassment in the workplace
• employer-human resource supports, including a virtual team to help develop customized workplace policies, plus onsite mediation to manage staff situations
• exemplary employer campaigns to recognize employers

“It’s no secret that women in the construction trades face unnecessary challenges,” says BC Construction Association president Chris Atchison. “The retention rates for tradeswomen are notoriously low, and employers know they need to do better. This funding unites a powerful group of industry partners with a laser focus on improving retention of women, and I see it as a very real opportunity for progress.”

Due to retirement and economic development, around 59,000 job openings are expected in the construction trades in B.C. through to 2027. In-demand trades’ occupations include millwrights, heavy-duty mechanics and carpenters. Increasing the participation of women in the building trades would help to fill many of these job openings and meet labour-market demand.

Funding for the programs is expected to be up to $1.8 million over two years. The programs are funded through the Canada-B.C. Labour Market Development Agreement.

https://www.winnipegconstruction.ca/events/electrical-estimating-fundamentals/