INTRODUCTION

In Canada, women make up less than 10% of all skilled trade workers. The member companies of the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) understand the need to ensure the equitable treatment, acceptance and promotion of both males and females within their organizations. Recognizing that there are effective gender diversity programs and practices in place at some member companies, and within other work sectors, the CEA wishes to compile and distribute a summary of successful approaches to the attraction and retention of female tradespeople. This will enable member companies to adopt and build on best practice gender diversity approaches in order to create organizational strength through improved diversity, inclusion and collaboration.

A skilled trade is a career path that requires hands-on work and specialty knowledge. Skilled trade workers build and maintain infrastructure like homes, schools, hospitals and roads and keep industries running by performing vital services that Canadians rely on every day. There are many benefits to increasing the representation of women within the skilled trades.

These include:

1. Canada is currently facing a shortage in skilled trade workers which threatens to grow in the coming years as the current workforce ages. Attracting more women to take on trade roles is imperative if organizations are to remain competitive.

2. Increased diversity in the workplace fosters respect, exposes workers to different viewpoints, and brings a variety of strengths, talents, and perspectives to the job. All of which, combines to create a safer, more engaged and productive workforce.

3. Hiring women into trade roles means that organizations will better reflect the communities in which they operate and the customers who avail themselves of their services.

4. Providing women with increased access to well-paid career opportunities is beneficial to them, their families and society.

Certainly, there are some challenging societal and systemic reasons for the fact that

over 90% of those working within the trades are men. Nevertheless, there are concrete steps that organizations can take to increase the representation of women in these roles. This guidance document outlines some of the practical and pragmatic measures that have been taken by various CEA member companies - and some companies in other sectors - while acting as a guide to those organizations looking to make progress in this important business imperative.