Mining an untapped resource – Women in non-traditional occupations

Mining an untapped resource –

Women in nontraditional occupations

In 2021, in collaboration with long-time training partner, the NWT Mine Training Society, offered its first Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) for Women program.

Industries and employers across Canada have for years been facing a shortage of skilled tradespeople and individuals experienced in operating heavy equipment. This is due in large part to an aging workforce coupled with fewer young people pursuing these careers.

A 2021 report by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) estimates that 700,000 skilled tradespeople are expected to retire by 2028, and predicts a 10,000-worker deficit in nationally recognized trades over the next five years. The inclusion of provincially regulated trades increase that estimate by a multiplier of 10. As well, new apprenticeships have been on the decline for more than a decade.

The Northwest Territories (NWT) is no exception to the national trend. According to Skills4Success – a 15-year labour market analysis and projection report commissioned by the Government of the Northwest Territories – the NWT will see 28,500 to 36,700 job openings between 2015 and 2030. Most of those positions will require either technical training or certification, or a post-secondary diploma or degree.

The prominence of skilled labour-intensive industries, such as mining and construction, in the NWT creates a vulnerability to such current and projected labour shortages. Traditionally, and at present, a disproportionate number of skilled tradespeople in the north are temporary or fly-in non-resident workers.

One solution to the expected skilled labour shortage may be to take a page out of history: provide more opportunities for the largest underrepresented demographic in the field – women. During the Second World War, the sudden shortage of men in skilled labour positions opened the door to women, who filled the jobs successfully and proved capable of performing the duties of the positions. After the war, however, most skilled labour positions reverted to male employees. Currently, women make up only five per cent of skilled tradespeople in Canada, and that statistic includes the hairstyling and aesthetics sector, of which 84 per cent of the workers are women.

The NWT mining sector is ahead of the national curve, as women make up 15 per cent of that labour force. However, women comprise 51 per cent of the population.

In the Northwest Territories, Aurora College has been delivering skilled trades education for more than 50 years. In 1968, Heavy Equipment Operator was the first course offered, and it has been delivered regularly since then. While women have enroled in many skilled trades and apprenticeship programs at Aurora College, they are still a small minority of students in these programs.

In 2021, to encourage participation of more women, Aurora College – in collaboration with long-time training partner, the NWT Mine Training Society – offered its first Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) for Women program.

HEO for Women is a response to the needs of both the NWT labour market and northern residents. Meaningful employment opportunities exist across the north for trained heavy equipment operators, and women are underrepresented in the field.

The program is part of Aurora College’s larger goal of encouraging more women and under-represented populations to enter trades and industrial training careers. While women can and do enrol in the regularly scheduled deliveries of HEO and industrial training programs at Aurora College, research indicates that many women feel more comfortable attending all-female training programs for non-traditional occupations. The program also allows the opportunity to offer workshops and discussions on topics within the course that are more likely to affect women.

With the success of the pilot program, Aurora College is working to add HEO for Women to its regular program rotation. HEO for Women is one initiative in Aurora College’s larger commitment to providing opportunities additional for women in the non-traditional skilled trade sector. Other programs being considered include Women in Trades and specialized trades introduction programs for women. 7