Women in Skilled Trades

It’s important to remember that all skills involved in the trades are skills that women can learn and excel in. Despite the many myths circulating about the skilled trades, skilled trades offer a stable career for both men and women. In fact, women are choosing careers in the trades more and more often due to the high earning potential, job stability and high demand for workers in the trades.

What are skilled trades?

Skilled trades are career paths that offer stable, safe and in-demand work opportunities. While the skilled trades can involve hands-on work, that doesn’t mean skilled trades require manual labour. Instead, these careers require in-depth knowledge, mastery of a specific skill set and the ability to tackle intricate and unique challenges and new technology. The trades include a wide breadth of professions like chef, plumber, millwright, hair stylist and autobody and collision damage repairer.

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Why choose a career in skilled trades?

There are many rewarding career paths in skilled trades, and there are no limits to the roles women can pursue!

As the need for skilled tradespeople increases, women are encouraged to explore if this career path is right for them. There are different programs in place to support women in trades, including bursaries, scholarships and mentorship programs.

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What supports are available to women looking to pursue a skilled trade?

• If you’re a high school student interested in pursuing the trades, consider attending the next Jill of All Trades™ event at Fanshawe. Learn more about the Jill of All Trades™ mission and tips to kick off your skilled trades career.
• Plenty of scholarships and funding options exist to encourage more people to go into the trades to help fill the gap in the skilled trade labour shortage:
  • YMCA’s Build ON Incentives
  • We Build a Dream scholarships
  • Skills Ontario Scholarships and Awards
• Fanshawe’s new Don Crich Skilled Trades Accelerator can assist women in navigating the sometimes daunting pathway of researching and applying for apprenticeships and skilled trades programs.
• For employers, federal, provincial and joint funding exist for those who support and hire apprentices. Also, check out info on hiring an apprentice in Ontario.
• Various support exists for women in the trades through programs like the following:
  • Support Ontario Youth’s Women in the Trades portal
  • Skills Ontario Young Women’s Initiatives
  • Mentorship for female apprentices

Career pathways for women in skilled trades

There are many rewarding job opportunities in skilled trades, and Fanshawe offers a number of apprenticeship programs geared toward preparing students for their careers. Apprenticeship programs at Fanshawe include:

• General Carpenter
• Industrial Electrician
• Auto Body Repairer
• Child Development Practitioner
• Hair Stylist
• Horticulture Technician
• and more!

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Learn more about apprenticeships and skilled trades programs at Fanshawe College