Diversifying Canada's Skilled Trades

Diversifying Canada’s Skilled Trades

Ontario is in the middle of the greatest labour shortage in a generation. From Thunder Bay to Ottawa — and everywhere in between — you see the same “help wanted” signs in shop windows. Over the next decade, to deliver our province’s $185 billion infrastructure plan on time and on budget, we will need 100,000 more workers in construction alone.

Careers in the skilled trades, like electricians, welders, insulators, and carpenters, are well-paying. This is purpose-driven work, with pensions and benefits, where you can buy a home and build a family. Simply put, when you have a job in the trades, you have a job for life.

Unfortunately, we know women are often missing in many of the fastest growing and highest paying sectors, such as STEM, technology, and yes — the skilled trades, where they occupy as little as two per cent of some construction-related positions.

To change that, our government is taking an allhands-on-deck approach, which includes a $1.5 billion investment from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development over four years to bring these life-changing careers within reach for people from all walks of life.

As part of this, our new agency, Skilled Trades Ontario, is simplifying Ontario’s skilled trades and apprenticeship system and bringing it into the 21st century.

We’re also breaking down barriers to give people the hand-up they need to better jobs and bigger paycheques. Whether it’s financial support for childcare, work boots for your first shift, or a transit pass to get to the job site, we’ll cover it.

WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN IN THE

We’re spreading opportunity to every corner of our province and leaving no one behind. This includes a project in Southwestern Ontario preparing more than 50 people from local First Nations for well-paying careers in the skilled trades. For those without access to transport, we’ve acquired a school bus so participants can take themselves to and from the job site.

Our Skills Development Fund has launched 380 projects, just like this, helping 400,000 workers upgrade their skills and start in-demand jobs in their communities, where they can earn more take-home pay for their families.

For too long, parents and children have been sold the myth that university is the only path to success in life. That’s simply not true.

That is why, this year, our government has launched Ontario’s first ever-skilled trades career fairs, taking place in cities across our province. This fall, tens of thousands of students in grades 7–12 got to experience these purpose-driven careers through hands-on exhibits, while meeting with local employers and tradespeople.

Right now, the average age of an apprentice in Ontario is 27. This means a generation of young people have gone to university and accumulated debt before finding their calling in the trades.

One of the best-kept secrets in Ontario is the fact many people in the skilled trades earn more than those with PhDs.

Working together — government, labour, and businesses — it’s time we build an Ontario where everyone has a fair shot at a better life.

Director: Jessica Golyatov Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis

& Production Manager: Raymond Fan Production

Michael Taylor

Karthik Talwar

Ontario is breaking down barriers and spreading opportunity to every corner of the province, helping workers upgrade their skills and start in-demand jobs.

Monte McNaughton Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

Charmaine Williams Ontario’s Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity

Monte McNaughton & Charmaine Williams

One of the best-kept secrets in Ontario is the fact many people in the skilled trades earn more than those with PhDs.

PHOTO

What advice do you want to share with Canadians from diverse backgrounds looking to pursue an education or career in the trades?

Learn as much as you can, ask questions about anything you’re unsure of, and make yourself unique in the knowledge you know that you stand out above the rest. You’re already going to stand out for being under-represented, so why not stand out even more and make sure that you are never missed, always seen, and heard. Bring so much to the table and continue to grow so that you’re a valuable asset that can’t be overlooked.

What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned as a woman in the skilled trades?

When I began working, I was on a mission to prove I could do my job just as well as any other worker. Validation was important to me, so I would work harder to get the “attaboy” than necessary. There’s a looming shadow of bias when it comes to equity in construction. Not everyone is accepting of women in the workplace, regardless of how well you can do your job. I’ve learned to accept that some people will never change, so adaptability is important. Work is a large part of our life, and it’s important that we enjoy what we do. I’ve learned to create healthy boundaries and ignore the background noise, not allowing naysayers to negatively impact my day. I use their invalidation as motivation to do my job better and prove them wrong.

How

The pathway to entering a skilled trade isn’t always clear and direct — especially for those who are from groups typically under-represented in the trades including women, racialized people, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, and others from marginalized communities. Building awareness about viable careers in the skilled trades — an industry ripe with opportunities to thrive — through targeted engagement and programming is crucial to engage people who may not have considered this pathway before.

Sheridan College is working to change that narrative. Its inclusive skilled trades programming is successfully increasing diversity and representation in the trades.

Creating inclusive pathways Melissa Cox, a student who has studied in both Social Service Worker and Electrical Techniques programs at Sheridan, completed years of post-secondary education before realizing that the trades was what she truly wanted to pursue. Upon the recommendation of a family member and feeling unfilled in her social service studies, she decided to try electrical. “I took Electrical Techniques and fell in love,” she says. “I sat there in my classes thinking, ‘Why did I wait so long to do this?’”

Sheridan College is committed to creating pathways for women and more diverse populations to enter the skilled trades, helping more people like Cox find rewarding and fulfilling careers. Its efforts range from hosting

highly regarded international competitions to providing free, inclusive pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training programs.

“Our Magna School for Skilled Trades programs bring together students from diverse backgrounds with industry-connected faculty in a facility with state-of-the-art equipment,” says Greg Royal, Associate Dean, Magna School for the Skilled Trades, Faculty of Applied Science and Technology at Sheridan. “We work hard to foster an environment focused on inclusivity, growth, and development so our graduates are well-positioned for success as they enter in-demand fields.”

Increasing diversity in the skilled trades and technology sectors is essential both to address the skilled trades gap in today’s workforce and to broaden the diversity of perspectives in these high-demand fields. Encouraging more diverse talent from under-represented groups — including people with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, Indigenous Peoples, women, and visible minorities — to join trades and technology programs also improves Canadian companies’ ability to develop unique solutions to complex problems.

Introducing WITT Encouraging and supporting this diverse talent, specifically women, is exactly what Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Women in Trades and Technology (WITT) program has been doing for the past 30 years. While the program has evolved over its long history, its initial goal remains the same: to encourage and assist women interested in trades and technology careers.

“The WITT program works to recruit potential new female students to under-represented careers and also to support them throughout their learning journey,” says Allison Zerr, WITT Program Head, Red Seal and Blue Seal welder, and Red Seal metal fabricator. “We offer award and scholarship information, program-specific tutors, mentorship opportunities, drop-in consultations, networking opportunities, and campus tours. We act as a familiar face on campus for these

female students and we’re here for them no matter what they need.”

Promoting exploration

WITT also provides access to education for those looking to enter a trades or technology field, allowing girls and young women to learn about and try a variety of trades, helping prospective students find their areas of interest.

“With our Women in Trades Exploratory programming, we run short courses — generally workshops on weekends or evenings, to reach people who are already working or current high school students — and give them a full day’s exposure to a specific trade or technology,” says Zerr. The workshops give young women the opportunity to learn basic skills in a variety of trades such as carpentry, welding, electrical, or plumbing, and leave them with tangible skills such as framing and erecting a wall, installing a toilet, or wiring an electrical outlet. Trying a variety of trades often piques participants’ interest in a particular area, Zerr notes, and can be the first step that propels them into a fulfilling career.

The value of outreach Along with the exploratory programming, WITT also offers outreach programming. Since becoming WITT Program Head in May, one of Zerr’s key goals has been to organize more outreach with WITT’s training unit, which hadn’t been used yet due to the pandemic.

The mobile training unit is a 4’ x 8’ trailer that’s stocked with the appropriate tools and supplies to take the classroom on the road and deliver remote programming.

“This fall, we partnered with Nutrien and delivered three weekend exploratory workshops to a group of female high school students near one of their mine sites,” says Zerr. “We introduced them to carpentry, automotive, electrical, plumbing, welding, and machining. We delivered exploratory training just like we would on campus, but in a more remote outreach setting.”

Saskatchewan Polytechnic also partnered with Carlton Trail College and BHP this fall to offer pre-apprenticeship trades training for women in Humboldt. The end goal remains the same: opening up valuable opportunities for women in under-represented careers.

Tania Amardeil

Tania Amardeil

Polytechnic

Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s WITT program has been dedicated to increasing the number of women in Saskatchewan trades and technology for three decades.

Sheridan College has created inclusive entry pathways to its skilled trades programming for women and other under-represented groups.

at Saskatchewan Polytechnic,

witt

Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Melissa Cox Electrical Techniques Student, Sheridan College Learn more

This article was sponsored by Sheridan College

Jennifer Green

Jamie McMillan

Industrial Mechanic Millwright & Director of Competitions, Skills Ontario

Journeyman Ironworker & Founder, KickAss Careers

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHERIDAN COLLEGE

PHOTO COURTESY OF SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC

Windsor-Essex County’s Champion for Employing Newcomers and Women

Anguiano Hurst Executive Director, WEST

Women and newcomers face disproportionately high levels of unemployment. While systemic changes may help rectify their unique barriers to employment integration, the immediate solutions are often local and community-oriented. In Windsor-Essex County, Ont., Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST) has become a champion in this area, creating unique programs and collaborating with local employers to get more newcomers and women into fulfilling employment opportunities.

Understanding barriers to employment WEST was developed in 1984 to address the high unemployment rate among women and the difficulties experienced by women attempting to enter the workforce. As the charitable organization was under development, it became apparent that the most disadvantaged women, in terms of training and employment opportunities, were visible minorities. As a result, a plan was implemented to create technical and life skills training programs specific to the needs of visible minority women residing in Windsor-Essex.

“In terms of the barriers faced, there are always issues of transportation and child care, which cross all sectors of our community of women,” says Rose Anguiano Hurst, Executive Director of WEST. “Some newcomers also face language barriers. Others may arrive with proficient English language skills but have no connections to the Windsor community and its local networks and no information on how to find jobs in our community.”

Dynamic programs for the unemployed

Over the years, WEST’s mission has stayed the same: to provide training for severely employment-disadvantaged visible minority women to improve their employability in the workforce, further their education, or both.

“We provide a wide variety of full-time and part-time training programs for newcomers and women,” says Anguiano Hurst. WEST’s unique programs include its popular Women in Skilled Trades programs, which are funded by the Government of Ontario and help women and young girls pursue careers in the skilled trades while supporting local labour market needs. The programs include the CNC Industrial Mechanic Millwright Pre-Apprenticeship, the Introduction to Construction and Craft Trades for Women, and the recently added Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Women. To date, WEST has helped 260 women through these programs, which Anguiano Hurst notes have been highly successful and described by participants as “life-changing.”

In addition, WEST’s youth program Science, Engineering, Artistry and Technology (SEAT) gives young women between the ages of 15–30 years old the opportunity to work together on a STEAM-related community-based project that will focus on creating positive change for the community and encourages them to consider education and career options in these sectors.

Mentorship Matters for a Successful Career in the Skilled Trades

Across Canada, skilled tradespeople are in high demand to fill well-paying jobs and build rewarding careers. The most recent projections estimate about 700,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire by 2028, growing the need to recruit and train thousands more.

The goal of ApprenticeSearch.com is to fill that gap by intentionally connecting employers with talent. The platform, launched by the non-profit HIEC more than 20 years ago, supports job seekers and employers with free services and programs to increase participation in the apprenticeship pathway.

We also know that mentorship doesn’t only come from an individuals’ employer. Mentors can come from a variety of avenues — especially for individuals from groups that have traditionally been under-represented in the trades.

Breaking down the barriers to entry

There are complex barriers for under-represented groups pursuing a meaningful career in the skilled trades. A recent study by

ApprenticeSearch, Exploring Apprenticeship Training and Support Needs for Underrepresented Ontario Job Seekers, found that overwhelmingly, having access to mentorship was one of the most referenced supports requested: 83 per cent of those with access to mentorship said they wouldn’t have been able to succeed on their path without the support of their mentor, and 92 per cent said they learned something from their mentor they wouldn’t have been able to learn otherwise.

Kelly Hoey, Executive Director of HIECApprenticeSearch.com, notes that the results from this research confirmed what the organization already knew through its experience supporting people along the skilled trades pathway — that mentors help navigate an often fragmented skilled trade and apprenticeship system.

“We also know that mentorship doesn’t only come from an individuals’ employer. Mentors can come from a variety of avenues — especially for individuals from groups that have traditionally been under-represented in the trades,” said Hoey.

Understanding the need for invaluable mentorship experiences, ApprenticeSearch. com has integrated informal and formal mentorship opportunities into a number of their programs.

ApprenticeSearch.com’s Women in Skilled Trades Peer Mentorship Group is a virtual networking event for women at any stage in their skilled trades journey. The research found that under-represented groups often

Recently, WEST also offered another program, Young Women in Motion: Breaking Barriers with Bikes. This program was focused on increasing mobility, physical and social well-being of women while teaching them hands-on skills to repair bikes.

It takes a village WEST also offers Microsoft Office training, the Empowering Women for Employment program (which offers newcomer women the opportunity to enhance their employable skills and build confidence and professional connections to support labour market entry), the Young Women in Leadership, Employment, and Development program (eight weeks of full-time employability essentials training classes followed by a 10-week work placement for young women), and many more.

Part of the success of WEST’s various programs and services lies in the strength of its community collaborations. From industry tours and work placements to employer presentations, networking events, and its Industry Council, WEST has always been big on forming partnerships with the Windsor-Essex business community and bridging the gap between employers and employees.

cite a lack of access to a personal network as a barrier to finding employment in the skilled trades. The group ensures that women have direct access to mentors and industry professionals through panel discussions, speaker series, and one-on-one conversations.

The organization’s popular Gateway to the Trades program is a part-time, facilitated skilled trades exploration and employment-readiness program that equips participants — many of whom have experienced barriers to pursuing an apprenticeship — with the skills and connections to find meaningful employment in the skilled trades. In addition to virtual modules (including numeracy skills for the trades and health and safety) and wrap-around supports (such as trade-related tools and clothing), participants receive mentorship from the program’s experienced facilitators and guest speakers.

“Our facilitators have decades of skilled trades experience that they share with participants,” Hoey explains. “And they can provide mentorship in a variety of unique ways, such as spending one-on-one mentoring time with participants to boost their confidence in building the math skills that are required for success in the skilled trades.”

When asked about their experience in the program, one participant explained, “This was a great experience. I am grateful that I came across this program, which [reassured me] that there are authentic, caring people that care for supporting new, up-and-coming potential candidates for the trades.”

If

This

Tania Amardeil

Melissa Vekil

Rose

Kelly Hoey Executive Director, HIEC-Apprentice Search.com

Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST) is on a mission to help women improve their employability and connect with jobs. Through mentorship and development, ApprenticeSearch.com is filling the gaps and empowering upcoming trade professionals.

WEST is currently seeking both program participants and new community collaborators. Visit westofwindsor.com to learn more.

This article was sponsored by WEST of Windsor Inc

article was sponsored by Apprentice Search.com

We provide a wide variety of full-time and parttime training programs for newcomers and women.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST

PHOTO COURTESY OF APPRENTICESEARCH.COM

Providing Faithful Representation and Advocacy for Skilled Trades Workers

Workers in the skilled trades need representation and advocacy, and that’s exactly what the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) offers.

Formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1888, the IAM’s first Canadian Local Lodge, Local Lodge 103, was formed in 1890 in Stratford, Ont. The association is the leading union in the aerospace sector and the air transportation industry. It currently represents over 40,000 Canadian workers in air transport and a wide range of manufacturing including aircraft, auto parts, autobuses, aerospace, electronics, light and heavy machinery, tools, and appliances. The IAM also represents a growing number of workers in the health care and hospitality sectors as well as office, technical, and other white-collar workers. The association is one of the few unions in Canada that has represented and advocated for skilled trades since its inception.

Addressing labour shortages

The IAM has a vested interest in advocating for its members and also of ensuring that the industries in which they’re employed continue to thrive in the future.

For many skilled trades, labour shortages are a major current challenge. Some of the IAM’s most well-known advocacy is centered on this troublingly low unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio. The IAM actively lobbies governments to increase funding for skilled trades programs and apprenticeship training programs and to ensure that programs prepare students for the world of work. It also lobbies for defunded skilled trades councils to be re-established as a forum for all sectors of skilled trades.

The skilled trades offer great career opportunities — a message that IAM members are keen to share with potential recruits. “There are a lot of different types of jobs within the trades and a lot of opportunities to grow,” says Michelle Park, a CNC machinist and IAM member. “I’m grateful for the IAM because it has advocated me to better and further myself.”

Supporting women

Encouraging women, in particular, to take advantage of the lucrative and rewarding jobs available in the skilled trades is a particular area of focus for the IAM. The association has consistently shown its commitment to supporting women in the skilled trades, particularly in light of the labour shortages, which require new recruitment and hiring strategies — including ones aimed at

women and other non-traditional groups.

The IAM’s lobbying strategy puts members at the heart of advocacy at the provincial and federal levels. Through an internal initiative, it supports women within the organization to step into leadership positions, and through partnerships with allies, it aims to offer support

addressing micro-creden tialling in skilled trades training, which has been shown to de-skill trades, making skilled trade labour cheaper.

The IAM encourages its members to get involved in its advocacy efforts. In turn, its members are grateful for its unwavering support and dedication.

“During contract negotiations and by sticking together, I’ve often felt supported by the strength of the union,” says Janelle Dodge, a journeyman welder at Promac and IAM member.

“The IAM is representing me in a grievance we have currently for our structural technician job outsourcing or non-respect of the collective agreement,” says Annie Bellemare, a technical writer at Air Canada who pre viously worked as a licensed structural technician.

To learn more about the IAM and its advocacy work, visit iamaw.ca

Annie Bellemare Technical Writer, Air Canada & IAM Member

Tania Amardeil

There are a lot of different types of jobs within the trades and a lot of opportunities to grow.

strength of the union.

Janelle Dodge Journeyman Welder, Promac & IAM Member

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ advocacy covers skilled labour shortages, labour market policy, and preserving skilled trades’ integrity.

Michelle Park CNC Machinist &

How LiUNA Is Strengthening Opportunities for Canada’s Workforce

The Labourers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) members are one of the foundational pillars of the Canadian economy, and the skilled trades are a driving force of much of the country’s economic development. Ensuring that our workforce is a reflection of the communities we build is at the forefront of LiUNA’s advocacy.

Giving every worker a safe, respectful, and fair workplace must be the goal of every trade. We’re taking all steps forward to empower opportunity, strengthen retention, and build a strong, equitable workforce. This means doing much more than simply setting hiring quotas for women. Quotas assume the playing field is equal, and all employers need to do is hire more women. The reality is much more challenging than this. We need to provide an environment to acquire the training and knowledge that will ensure a path to success. We must recognize and develop the talent, skill, and ability that women and every worker bring to the job and ensure they’re treated equitably.

The advocacy efforts of LiUNA combined with boots-on-the-ground implementation are taking critical steps forward to dismantle structural barriers and challenge the assumptions and implicit biases that have traditionally prevented women and BIPOC communities from entering the construction industry.

LEADing the way

The Labourers’ for Equity and Diversity (LEAD) campaign reaffirms our steadfast commitment to building and empowering stronger, inclusive communities across our country with zero tolerance for hate, racism, or discrimination. This initiative established by the LiUNA Provincial District Council is a step forward in our advocacy to enact positive reform and to ensure that this advocacy translates into action to raise industry standards for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. By working together, we can lead a stronger, inclusive pathway forward.

LEAD combines both local and national initiatives within our organization, which are embedded in the history and foundation of LiUNA across North America,

including the Women in Trades Department, Indigenous Relations Department, African American Caucus, opportunities for newcomers, youth at risk, and numerous others.

By working proactively and collaboratively with industry, community, and government partners, we are advancing opportunities for Canada’s workforce, and LiUNA training plays a key role in our success.

LiUNA training and mentorship programs

LiUNA training and mentorship programs are a gateway to a rewarding career path with tremendous opportunities for advancement.

Through our commitment to advocacy, outreach, and apprenticeship programs, the hands-on skills acquired through LiUNA training are life-changing tools to ensure job site safety, confidence, and tangible skills required for building stronger, sustainable communities across Canada.

Motivated by ongoing challenges faced in the industry, we continue to take bold action to enact change. Training partnerships have advanced opportunities for women in the industry, including our ongoing partnership with Aecon Women in Trades, Construction Craft Worker pre-apprenticeship programs with the YWCA Hamilton, West of Windsor, and numerous others, which have collectively strengthened the representation of apprentices working in tandem with government-supported initiatives such as the Ontario Skills Development Fund and the federal Union Training Innovation Program (UTIP). Working collaboratively with local school boards, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), and at-risk youth, we continue to dismantle barriers and amplify career-building opportunities while ensuring positive retention through hands-on training, mentorship, and inclusive field experience.

The men and women of LiUNA Meet Sara Henry, LiUNA Sister in Sarnia, who shared her journey on how a career with LiUNA changed her life as an Indigenous woman, inspiring her community members to explore the opportunities that exist in the construction industry. With investments by the Ontario

government Skills Development Fund, our ongoing partnership with local Indigenous communities was able to take one step further and remove the barrier of transportation. LiUNA Mobile Training units are also a key source of eliminating this barrier, ensuring everyone in all spaces has access to tools to reach their full potential.

LiUNA Brother Calvin Brown built his career with LiUNA in partnership with Building Up Toronto as a single father who now works on a large transit project in the city. His skill and perseverance will forever be embedded in this infrastructure that so many individuals and families will rely on. Beyond brick and mortar, Brother Brown built a better life for his family by earning an income, industry-leading health and wellness benefits, and retirement security.

Working in the construction industry is more than a job. It’s a career with pride in knowing “We Built That.” LiUNA Sister Brittany Anderson, a graduate of our partnership with Aecon, shares her life-changing journey. “I love working in the trades. It has changed my life in so many ways. It’s amazing to have found my true calling. A career in which I feel accomplished every day. It has empowered me to be myself and be more outspoken. Being challenged daily in the best ways possible has truly strengthened me physically and mentally. It has been extremely rewarding to have become a lead hand and working toward a role as a foreperson since my construction craft worker apprenticeship and starting my career in utilities as a labourer.”

These are the journeys that must continue to be told. These are the faces, the skill, and the perseverance of the men and women of LiUNA who build and better Canada. The future of our industry and of our country can only succeed with a skilled, inclusive workforce. Without skilled labour, we cannot build important infrastructure projects — like homes, transit, and hospitals that our communities rely on each and every day.

We must continue to work collectively to eliminate barriers, empower equal opportunity, and translate advocacy into action. If we can successfully do so, we can become a global leader in building an equitable workforce. LiUNA stands ready to

empower opportunity for the men and women who build up our economy and better the future of our country.

Victoria Mancinelli, Director of Public Relations, Marketing, and Strategic Partnerships at LiUNA

Follow us on social @liunacanada and visit liuna.ca to build your career today. This

sponsored by LiUNA

I love working in the trades. It has changed my life in so many ways. It’s amazing to have found my true calling. A career in which I feel accomplished every day. It has empowered me to be myself and be more outspoken.

Calvin Brown LiUNA Brother

Brittany Anderson LiUNA Sister, Graduate of LIUNA's Partnership with Aecon

Sara Henry LiUNA Sister, Sarnia

PHOTO S COURTESY OF LiUNA

Diverse and Inclusive Workforces in Canada’s Skilled Trades Are a Win-Win

Some cultural trends and stereotypes are difficult to shift. One of these is that the skilled trades don’t present suitable career opportunities for women. In British Columbia, the number of women in the skilled trades lies at about four per cent. The national average isn’t much better, at around five per cent. This unfortunate trend is hurting us all.

Exploring the issue at hand “Skilled trades are one of the last bastions of very male-dominated industries in Canada,” says Karen Dearlove, Executive Director of the BC Centre for Women in the Trades (BCCWITT), a partnership led by diverse tradespeople, along with industry and labour representatives, that’s committed to increasing the proportion of women and equity-seeking people in the skilled trades. “There’s very little diversity or representation.”

A 2017 report funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement highlights some of the pervasive, systemic barriers that keep women from entering, remaining in, and advancing in the skilled trades. “One of the main reasons is that skilled trades are still not really viewed as a career option for young

women growing up,” says Dearlove. “They don’t have the same exposure to the trades as young men do.”

There are also employers who don’t view trades jobs as work that women can do, Dearlove notes, leading to negligible recruitment efforts. Health and safety concerns, fewer mentorship opportunities, and inflexible workplace policies and practices are contributing factors. Toxic work environments where women face gender-based harassment and discrimination seal the deal, keeping women out of the trades.

This is a major concern for a few reasons, one being the looming labour shortage in the skilled trades sector that Canada is currently facing. It’s also an issue because the lack of women and other equity-seeking groups prevents the sector from building a strong workforce for the future.

The benefits of diversity Research has long shown that creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforces lead to increased productivity, better employee engagement, more creativity and innovation, faster problem-solving, easier recruitment, and less employee turnover. Every industry could benefit from these gains, including the trades industry.

“Diversity enables much more creative and often much more successful workplaces, period,” says Dearlove.

BCCWITT is committed to helping the industry create these more diverse and inclusive workforces. It focuses on three key areas — recruitment, retention, and advancement — to achieve its mission. The organization’s programs address these three core topics: its Trades Training and Employment Program tackles recruitment issues, Be More Than a Bystander Program is aimed at creating diverse and inclusive workplaces, and the RRP Leadership Training Program supports equity-seeking tradespeople with advancing their careers and moving into leadership positions.

“This work isn’t a checkmark, and it’s not something that happens overnight,” says Dearlove. “It has to be deliberate and strategic. But it’s an investment for the future.”

For organizations and tradespeople seeking support on the path to building a strong workforce, BCCWITT is an excellent place to start.

We’re There For You.

IBEW has been there for Canadians since 1899. And we always will be, now and for the next 115 years.

Tania Amardeil

Karen Dearlove Executive Director, BC Centre for Women in the Trades

The BC Centre for Women in the Trades is leading the cultural shift needed to increase diversity in the skilled trades.

bccwitt.ca

learn more. This article was sponsored by the BC Centre for Women in the Trades

Diversity enables much more creative and often much more successful workplaces, period.