New Opportunities

Canada is facing a serious labour shortage, particularly in the area of skilled trades where women are traditionally underrepresented.  The retirement of the country’s aging baby boomers has led some economists to predict that by 2010 there could be a shortage of more than 1.5 million skilled workers in Canada. Women still make up a minority of the country’s skilled trades workforce and are concentrated in lower-paying jobs such as hairstyling, child and youth work, horticulture and cooking. However, as the need for skilled tradespeople increases, so does the proportion of women working in these fields. Women trying to find work in the area of trades and technology often face discrimination. Some employers may discriminate against a prospective female employee based on assumptions about her physical and psychological characteristics. Employers may also hesitate to hire a woman for fear that her domestic responsibilities will obstruct her work. This kind of discrimination is illegal and can be sanctioned by the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Systemic discrimination, which refers to the way we are socialized from a young age to perceive the role of men and women in certain roles along with workplace cultures and practices, also affects women’s entry into trades and technology.  

Immigrant and refugee women face additional barriers including discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity as well as a failure to recognize their foreign credentials and experience recognized. Many also cannot afford to participate in long-term, low-paying apprenticeship programs.  

Did You Know?

• 28.9% of people working in trades occupations in 2006 were women, an increase of 3.7% from 1996.

• 5.6% of Ontarians working in trades are recent immigrants who are most commonly employed as machining tool operators, drafting technologists, bakers and cooks.

• 58% of people working in the trades occupations in Ontario have post- secondary education.

• 39% of self-employed trades people have employees.
  

• The average age of a fully qualified trades person is over 48 indicating a high turnover in many skilled trades in the coming years.
  

What Is IWC Doing?

• IWC is committed to assisting women with information on apprenticeships, labour market trends and employment opportunities.
  

• IWC will build partnerships with government and private sectors to facilitate women’s entry into the trades.
  

• IWC’s Front Line Employment Staff work individually with each client to assist with the most appropriate means of generating family income.  

• IWC provides a multitude of other related services. Please see our Programs and Services section for more details.

Further Reading:

Women  in Trades and Technology
Canadian  Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology
Apprenticesearch.com